Part 1 of 5 of the theme 'Where are the dead' by Gijs van den Brink
Where are the dead after they die? And how are they there? Do they live consciously and with memory and recognition? To these and other questions, we want to seek answers in five blogs.
Just before his death, one of the criminals crucified with Jesus asked him, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). The man receives a clear answer from Jesus: 'I promise you, today you will be with Me in paradise' (vs.43). On this very day, the day of their crucifixion, the criminal's request will be granted.
The phrase "paradise" brings to mind Gen. 2:8v, but that earthly court, which was located somewhere in Mesopotamia, is no longer there. Now among the Jews there was the thought that because of Adam's transgression, paradise had been moved to a hidden place, far beyond the reach of men. They usually thought of heaven, sometimes even the third heaven. We read in the Jewish book 2Baruch, "I (God) showed her (the heavenly Jerusalem) to Adam before he sinned, but when he transgressed the commandment, she was taken away from him, as well as paradise .... And behold, now she remains preserved with me, as also paradise" (2Bar.4:3, 6; cf. 4Ezra 4:7-8).
Paul also speaks of this paradise, and he too locates it in the third heaven. This is evident from the description of the special experience he went through and of which he tells in 2 Cor. 12:2-4.
'I know of a person in Christ ... that person was carried away into the third heaven. And I know of that person ... that he was carried away into paradise and heard unspeakable words.
Paradise as a place of harmony and peace was for the Jews a designation of the temporary resting place, where the souls of the righteous reside after death until the resurrection of the dead.
Against this background, we can say that Jesus promises the murderer who hung on the cross beside Him that immediately after His death He may go with Him to this paradisiacal resting place. And into this abode Paul was allowed by God's grace to glimpse.
Author: Gijs van den Brink
From: Study Bible Magazine
This is part 1 of 5 concise articles on the theme "Where are the Dead?" from Study Bible Magazine, Some of which we will be posting online in the near future. We hope this will help you understand the Bible better!
