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Hi Agnus, the scripture will answer your question. Let's see: Firstly, we are souls, we don't have a soul (Genesis 2:7). However, there's what the scripture called, "the spirit of the man" or spirit of man (1 Corinthians 2:11, Ecclesiastes 3:21). This spirit is the same as the breath of God in Genesis 2:7. Proof? Here: "...when You take away their breath, they die..." (Psalm 104:29). Now, let's answer: Where are the souls of the just; in the grave with their corpse? Here: "...and return to their dust" (same Psalm 104). And the spirit or breath of life? It simply returned to God who gave it. Again, remember how man became a soul in the first place. Further proofs that the dead are in their graves, is David, a man after God's own heart. See: "For David did not ascend into the heavens...". So where is David, if he's not in heaven? "...he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29, 34). But is the grave the end of man? Absolutely no! Job asked, "if a man die, shall he live again?" He continued, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my CHANGE come" (Job 14:14). So, where is Job waiting? The grave! And what CHANGE was he speaking of? "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be CHANGED" (1 Cor. 15:52). The CHANGE job spoke of is the resurrection of the dead, where he, as all the saints, are changed from mortals to immortals, v. 53. Cheers.

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.