StanJ said:
To Paradise as Jesus said in Luke 23:43, and as he depicted in Luke 16:22-25. Rev 2 is not talking about Paradise, but about THE paradise that existed in the Garden of Eden and has been duplicated in the NEW Jerusalem. Rev 22:1-2
Are you speaking of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? Jesus calls the place where Lazarus was "the bosom of Abraham". How do you get Paradise from this?
I always thought this story was a parable...
Rev 2 is not talking about Paradise, but about THE paradise that existed in the Garden of Eden and has been duplicated in the NEW Jerusalem. Rev 22:1-2
First of all, I'm not sure how you get that.
And second, the New Jerusalem begins as a part of "heaven":
Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God,
What Paul is talking about in 2 Cor 12 is how Jesus taught him personally. He himself didn't really know for sure, but I would have no problem with it being the Paradise that Lazarus and the thief went to.
2Co 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2Co 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
I've never really understood how people get that Paul was speaking of himself, here...I had always thought that he was speaking of John, who wrote the Book of Revelation.
However, let's assume that Paul was speaking of himself...still, I do not see how you get that he was caught up to "Abraham's bosom".
What Paul was unsure about was whether this one who was caught up into Paradise, whether it was him, or some other man, was caught up in his body, or out of his body. There doesn't seem to be any confusion in his mind about where...only how.
Heaven is where God exists, resides, lives, whatever you want to call it, but again as Jesus said, NO MAN has ever seen God.
The NT talks about heaven, and about heavenly things, and the Kingdom of God/Heaven. They are all three different realities or things.
Speaking of The Book of Revelation....where was John, and what was he writing about?
He does seem to have been in the place where God has His throne...
John 3:13
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
When Jesus spoke these words, He had not yet been to the cross.
The question is, where did He and the thief go,
after the cross?
Where is Jesus right now? Is the thief there with Him?
And where is He preparing the place for us?