Ambassador 🇺🇲🇮🇱

Hi Jacky. Like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), let's find out together. There's a translation error in verse 43. In Greek, it is written as, "Verily I say unto you today, shall you be with Me in paradise". The difference? The comma is after the word "today" and not before. Also, in verse 42, the thief said, "REMEMBER me WHEN...". Notice the two important phrases. It shows the thief correctly understood that there's a time element involved in Christ's statement, before His promise would be fulfilled. Yes, the thief knew that much time would pass. Let's paint a vivid picture of when the thief and others will enter into the kingdom of God (note: kingdom OF God, not kingdom IN heaven): "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the [throne] of His glory. All the [nations] will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, [inherit] the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:31-34). To make it unmistakably clear where and when this event will take place, let's examine four key phrases: 1. Throne. 2. Nations. 3. Inherit. 4. Prepared. 1. What throne? Answer, "...and the Lord God will give Him the THRONE of His father David". (Luke 1:32). Christ will sit on the throne of David when He returns. 2. Where are nations? 3. Inherit: If the righteous are already in heaven, which is supposedly their inheritance, then which kingdom are they inheriting upon Christ's return? Here is what God promised the righteous will inherit: "blessed are the meek, for they shall INHERIT the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Heaven is not an inheritance for the righteous. You know why? Because heaven is of the Lord. Of course, both heaven and earth are His. But He has given the earth to man, as an inheritance. (Psalm 115:16). In fact, to desire heaven amounts to coveteousness, which is sin. Knowingly or unknowingly, that's the truth. 4. Prepared: remember when Jesus said He was going away to prepare a place for His people? (John 14:2-3). It's now unmistakably clear where that PREPARED PLACE is, and when the righteous will officially possessed the place. To wrap up, brother. No, the thief is not in paradise; no one is. The dead are in their graves, awaiting the resurrection upon Christ's return, when He will mount the throne of David, and deliver the kingdom to those worthy of it. Again. Like the Bereans, do well to check if these things are so. Cheers.