This study almost unavoidably touches upon other related mistaken understandings fostered by manmade religion, such as the truth regarding;

1) ‘the thief on the cross,’ and

2) Jesus story of ‘the rich man and Lazarus,’ as addressed already in Part 1 of this Study Series.

The so-called ‘Thief on the Cross’ raises this question;

Do believers go to heaven immediately when they die, as many Christians erroneously believe?

Let’s permit the Scripture to answer our questions and concerns about the exact dwelling place of the dead while they await their resurrections in their graves.

“All [men] that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” (John 5:28-29)

“David ... is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day” “For David is not ascended into the heavens.” (Acts 2:29, 34)

(Note: This was stated by Peter even after Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost.)

“If I [Job] wait, the grave is mine house.” (Job 17:13)

Most Christians maintain the idea that ‘the thief on the cross’ must have died and gone directly to heaven, but this is not true. They sight Jesus’ words in John 23:43, below

“Jesus said unto him [to the thief], Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 (KJV)

Moving the comma in Luke 23:43 to its proper position reveals the ‘truth.’ The reason as to why we should move the comma will be obvious and it may be startling for many people. This has to be because… if you just think about it, and ask yourself this question;

Question: Could it really be that Jesus went into “the grave” (the belly of the whale) for three days …. while … the thief becomes the first human to go to heaven?

Ridiculous on its face!

So, we must note the error in the ‘comma’ placement in Luke 23:43 as seen in the KJV (above) and most Bibles. We need to realize that the original Greek and Hebrew texts had no ‘capital letters’ and no punctuation. All punctuation was added to our Bible’s through the years by various translators according to the accepted theology of their day.

Now note the proper placement of the comma, making it in accord with the balance of Scripture’s often repeated use of the same phrases “to day,” and “this day,”.

“Jesus said unto him [the thief], Verily I say unto thee to day [this day], shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Now, by correctly placing the ‘comma’ after the words “to day, [this day]” - the verse then says “Paradise” is NOT the immediate abode of the thief or any believer of any age. Christ alone is the first fruits in resurrection unto God.

“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” (1 Corinthians 15:23 (KJV)

Consider these facts;

• It was not “to day” when Christ ascended to heaven. It was only after “three days and nights” of sleeping in “the grave” that Jesus rose and ascended to heaven; then returning for 40 days before He was taken up from the Mount of Olivet, ascending to the Father. Jesus remains in heaven today as ‘Israel’s King in exile’… until His ‘enemies are made His footstool’ (cf. Matt. 22:44) by the Tribulation judgments.

• “The Paradise of God” with its “tree of life” are currently in heaven (cf. 2 Cor 12:4, Rev 2:7). The fact is that the saved ‘thief on the cross’ will ultimately go to the “Paradise of God,” but only in “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:6) along with all those of believing Israel who are saved under Jesus’ “gospel of the kingdom,” which He preached to Israel only. The saved thief along with all the believers of Israel who today still sleep in their graves will be resurrected to dwell eternally in “The Paradise of God” having “the Tree of Life” only when it comes down from heaven to the “the new earth,” as seen in Rev. 22:14.

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:6 (KJV)

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14 (KJV)

Only religious tradition concocts such ideas, usually from Pagan sources. Much of Protestant reformers understanding still came through corrupt Catholic teaching that is built upon man’s Pagan religious traditions. The Roman Emperor Constantine (AD 306-337) and many others added such Pagan ideas to the Roman church, and many of these ideas have passed into Christendom’s understanding to this day.

FACT:

Nobody, neither saved or lost will immediately go either to ‘heaven’ or ‘Gehenna’s Hell-fire.’ First comes their time to “sleep in the grave,” awaiting their resurrection. Jesus clearly equated “death” with “sleep.”

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2 (KJV)

As seen below Jesus referred to “death,” as “sleep”

“These things said he [Jesus]: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus SLEEPETH; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. ¹² Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. ¹³ Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. ¹⁴ Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is DEAD.” (John 11:11-14 (KJV)

Thus, all the dead initially go to “the grave” to “sleep,” awaiting the time of their “resurrection.”

• The resurrection of the grace believers of today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” will be at ‘the Rapture’
• The resurrection of the believers of all other ages will be in what John called “the first resurrection” in Revelation 20:6.