Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^" Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

We are taught in church that Jesus took this thief with him immediately into Heaven, on this day... But is this what Jesus really meant?

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Wait a minute! Do these two verses contradict?

Keep in mind, that the thief asked Jesus to "remember me" when he went into his kingdom. He did not ask Jesus to "take him along to the kingdom". Therefore when Jesus said, "I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise", Jesus was responding to the thief's request, "remember me".

It's amazing how an entire Doctrine can be formed by simply misplacing a 'comma'! Notice the difference by reading the same verse from the Concordant Literal New Testament:

Luke 23:42-43 And he said to Jesus, "Be reminded of me, Lord, whenever Thou mayest be coming in Thy kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Verily, to you am I saying today, with Me shall you be in paradise."

Suddenly, there is no contradiction between Luke and John!

More Proof:

John 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Right here Jesus says that he had not yet returned to the Father. But this was 3 DAYS after the crucifixion! How is it that the thief was with Jesus in paradise, when 3 days later, Jesus Himself still had not ascended there?

Acts 1:3b He [Jesus] appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He taught His message for forty days after He had resurrected. Thus, another Scripture that proves He did not ascend into heaven the same day he died, [which is, of course, because He was dead!] and therefore could not have been promising the thief that he would be with Him in Paradise on that day. However, Jesus did that day promise him on that he would not be forgotten, ["remember me"] and that one day, he will be together with Christ in Heaven.

Matthew 10:32 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

2nd witness, Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.

John 6:44 No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me, draw him: and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY

Where are the "dead"? Well, they aren't anywhere. They are dead. Please read my article "Where Are The Dead?"

Til next time...