Note: This post is a response to a private question I received regarding the last post, “The When of Eternal Life: It Matters” (10/11/23). Basically, the question was, When Jesus told the criminal on the cross that he would see him in “paradise” (Luke 23:42 – 43), does that not mean that he would die and go to heaven?
Short answer:No. In this context, “paradise” does not mean heaven as we think of it today.
Background:
Among those at this time who believed in afterlife "holding places" of the dead, there were a couple of traditions about where the dead went:
1) The underworld, Hades, (this was complemented by the depths of seas that will also give up their dead at the resurrection). In Greek tradition, which got picked up by some Jews, there were different regions in the underworld, uncomfortable places for bad people and comfortable places for good people -- like the Elysian Fields for heroic souls.
2) In one of the levels of the heavens above -- generally the 3rd heaven, often of seven -- in which there were also different places that separated the virtuous and the wicked dead (2 Enoch). In 2Cor 12:2-4, Paul speaks about being taken to the 3rd heaven, in Paradise, which might be what we would call a near-death experience -- I don't know.
Answer: "Paradise,” then, was a term sometimes used for the place of the virtuous dead apparently in both underworld and heavenly after-death-place traditions. So, Jesus was saying that this virtuous place is where he and the thief would be upon their forthcoming deaths. (See comment, too, at NET Bible.)
Application: A couple of points strike me. The first is the reminder that we never know the state of another person’s heart and how and when it might soften and surrender to God. Today, it is almost unimaginable for me to pray for those in Hamas. (I do not even like writing this.) But, if Jesus could pray from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), then that is the model I must follow – like it or not. The “evildoer” (kakourgos) heard Jesus, recognized Jesus for who he is, and he changed.
Second, I have the joyful reminder that the gates of Hades could not contain my Savior. His resurrection foreshadows that of all the dead in Christ. Hallelujah!
Lord, help me to pray for all of those for whom you suffered to redeem. And, praise to you that the gates of Hades could never contain you, my Hope, my Life, my Redeemer!
Yes, that makes sense (from the NET comment "In the NT, paradise is mentioned three times. Here it refers to the abode of the righteous dead."). Presumably one such abode is under the altar in heaven per Revelation 6:9?
ReplyDelete(The three times in the NT are Luke 23:43; 2Cor 12:4; and Rev 2:7, the last of which might not be as a holding place.) To your question: Yes, great observation. "Under the altar" is probably not in the immediate presence of God, but close by holding place, due to the honored status of this group as martyrs. Revelation actually has two resurrections of the dead; the first is for those martyred (20:4-6, referring to those of 6:9-11.) Note, too, contrary to the Dispensation "rapture," Rev. 7:14 does not refer to raptured people, but to these martyrs who had white robes.
ReplyDeleteHeaven, a new perspective? As we are incapable of understanding God, so we are also incapable of understanding other dimensions of time and space (or the absence thereof.) Albert Einstein proved some things about another dimension, including that at the speed of light, time ceases to exist. It is at that condition that I believe "heaven" exists. Viewed through that lens, there are scriptures that make more sense about the after, or shall I say, the next life.
ReplyDeleteI like your analogy about time ceasing. It seems reasonable to me to suppose that for those who are dead/sleeping, they "awake" at the Resurrection without the passage of time. In that sense, one does "die and go to heaven."
ReplyDelete