Luke 23:43,43
And he said unto JESUS, "LORD, remember me when thou comest into Thy Kingdom". And JESUS said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The words, "with me" ring out as we read these verses. Paradise, was a place prepared for Old Testament departed souls who were faithful to GOD and awaited the promise of Eternal Life with GOD through the resurrection. JESUS is the Resurrection and the Life, so these souls were waiting for JESUS.
JESUS was not yet raised from the dead, so this thief on the cross next to JESUS would be among those awaiting the coming of JESUS to set them free from Hades. When JESUS arose from the dead and went into Hades to set the captives free from their "waiting place", this thief was brought into Heaven with the others, and the "waiting place" was closed forever.
Some think that this thief was a traveling companion with JESUS when He went to release those who longed for His appearing; some say that he was waiting for the resurrection with the others; some believe that he was the first to enter into Heaven after JESUS - who is the first born of the dead. No matter what you believe, the fact is that JESUS went into Hades and brought with Him a train of souls into the promised Land, prepared by JESUS.
NOW, when we die in the LORD, we are raised from the dead and live with Him forever. "Death has no sting and the grave has no victory for death is swallowed up in victory." Thanks be to GOD for giving us the victory through our LORD JESUS Christ.
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