Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

Note: In 1989 I began preaching a series of sermons concerning death and where we go when we die. During this time I was approached with a typed manuscript opposing these views. The title of that manuscript was, "Five Reasons That Jesus Did Not Take Paradise To Heaven With Him." The following are those reasons and my response to them. I pray that through this presentation many will gain a greater understanding of this great question.

#1 Paul did not teach that the soul of the righteous go to be with Christ at death. Let's read the entire passage in 2 Corinthians 5:1-11. Paul does not say that we go to be with the Lord as soon as we die. He is exhorting Christians to remain faithful while we are in this tabernacle, (vs. 4 - body) because he knows the terror of the Lord (vs. 11) Paul also knows we must all appear before our lord on the Judgement Day (vs. 10). We must remain faithful while in the body so that we can be present with the Lord throughout eternity.

(Response J.D.S.) Isn't it funny how some people can read what Jesus said and say; "He didn't really mean that." This same attitude to Scriptures is used in Paul's case. Let's see what Paul said. 2 Corinthians 5:6 states that AS LONG AS we are at home in the body we are AWAY from the Lord. If we are not in our body are we still away from the Lord? Paul only said AS LONG. In 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul said he would prefer to be AWAY from the body and at HOME with the Lord. Paul is talking to Christians, so if we are away from the body won't we be present with the Lord? Verse 9 states that no matter if we are in the body (ALIVE) or away from the body (DEAD), James 2:26 we are to serve the Lord. I agree we MUST remain faithful (vs. 10) while in the body because we will stand before Christ in the Judgement.

#2 Paul did not say Paradise was in the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) Verse one clearly states that the following was ". . . visions and revelations of the Lord." The Greek word translated "Paradise" occurs three times in the New Testament. It is found in Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12:4, and Revelation 2:7. Literally translated "Garden Of The Lord." It often means a place of unspeakable beauty. Whether Paul was caught UP to Heaven or to "The Unseen Abode Of The Dead" cannot be determined by these verses. Where ever Paul was caught UP to in this vision or revelation, we can be assured that it was a "Paradise" to him with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

(JDS) Does this mean that VISIONS and REVELATIONS of the LORD GOD cannot be trusted to be true? Doesn't GOD know what He is talking about? Does GOD lie? Titus 1:2 says God does not lie. Was Paul confused as to where he was? 2 Peter 1:20 & 21 states that men wrote the Holy Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Was Paul confused? What did he say? Whether in the body or out of the body he did not know, but he was NOT confused where he went UP to, the third heaven. He was caught up to Paradise. The Jews taught that the first heaven was where the birds flew. The second was where the planets are and the third heaven was where God lives. Here again we see the false doctrine that Paul didn't mean what he said. I believe without a doubt that you can determine where Paul went. John 17:17 proclaims that God's word above what any man may try to explain away. Paul said he went to Paradise and I believe it. If I don't believe this I can't believe anything else he said. A statement is not true because it is in the Bible; it is in the Bible because it is true.

It is important to note where Hades is. First of all, it is not UP. Hades is in the center of the Earth. In Luke 23:43 Jesus told the thief that this day he would be with HIM in Paradise. In Matthew 12:40 Christ proclaimed that HE would be three days and 3 nights in the heart of the Earth. Ephesians 4:9 & 10 says, Now that he ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same that ascended up above all heavens, that He might fill all things. Jesus went down. Hades is DOWN not up. The Apostle Paul went UP. Paul could not have been caught UP to the unseen abode of the dead, because it was BELOW. I believe the Holy Spirit know the difference between UP and DOWN. Also, how could it be full of glory without Jesus?

#3 Paradise does not have to be removed from Hades for Revelation 20:14 to be true. Notice Revelation 20:11-13, the judgement takes place in these verses. So the setting of verse 14 occurs with no souls in Hades whether good or bad. Hades is empty and no longer needed. Physical death is no more since there are no living to die. Death and Hades are therefore cast into the Lake of Fire.

(JDS) If Paradise wasn't removed from Hades when Christ ascended, when was it? Notice in Revelation 20:12 that Hades is not even mentioned, but the Christians are judged. Every time the Bible speaks about the judgement it is always the Christians who are judged first. Look at Matthew 25:31, Jesus called the sheep (Christians) then the goats (UNBELIEVERS). You have two judgements here. The saved in verse 12 and the lost in verse 13. The reason the Bible doesn't make a distinction between Paradise and Tartarus in verse 13 is because Christ already removed Paradise when He ascended. Since Paradise was removed from Hades the only thing left in Hades is Tartarus. Therefore, when Hades gave up the dead which were in it (vs. 13), they were the lost dead. The KEY words in verses 12 & 13 are and they were judged. The saints are judged first because they will stand with Christ when He passes judgement. (1 Corinthians 6:1-3).

#4a Paul did not describe Christ taking Paradise to Heaven in Ephesians 4:7-11. This view is apparently held because of a misunderstanding of Ephesians 4:7-22. Verse 8 says, "Wherefore he saith, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Notice it does not say as the song says, "He set the captives free." But rather, "He led the captivity captive."

(Response to 4a) When someone holds a song above the word of God, I have problems with him. It is not what a song says, but what the Word of God states that matters. 1 Peter 4:11 says speak as the oracles of God. In fact it says, if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God or the very words of God. Not a song. When Jesus descended, where did he go? He told the thief he would be with Him in Paradise. Who was in Paradise? Luke 16 tells us that Lazarus, Abraham and Moses were there. What were they waiting for? Jesus to die and shed His blood. Matthew 13:17 tells us that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. The reason being, that they foretold of Christ's coming. They knew He had to come to shed His blood for them. He died for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9) They were held captive until Jesus died. Abraham, Moses and Lazarus were waiting for the KING of KINGS to set them free. Webster's, which is not the Word of God, says a captive is a person held in confinement. Captivity is the condition of being a captive. Jesus set them free. He proclaimed, I have died for you. Jesus took them (the righteous souls) to the third heaven, which the Scriptures proclaim as Paradise.

#4b Hebrews 1:1-13 tells how God was going to make Jesus' enemies his footstool.

(JDS) Hebrews 2:8 says this won't happen till the Judgement Day. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:25.

#4c 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 tells us that Jesus through death destroyed him who had power over death and delivered them who were in bondage through the fear of death.

(JDS) Does this mean that we are not going to die a physical death? Not unless we are alive at His second coming. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58) Paul wasn't talking about physical death, but about the second death. (Revelation 20:14).

#4d 1 Corinthians 15:26 says that death is the last enemy to be destroyed. What is this captivity that He led captive? Christ led captive the power of the Devil to keep mankind in bondage through the fear of death. Christ has proven by His resurrection that He conquered death and now this captivity (fear of death) was led captive (Jesus overcame death - conquered it).

(JDS) When will the last enemy be destroyed? When will death be cast into the Lake of Fire? (Revelation 20:14 & 15) You have to go to a long way to get that conclusion from this text.

#4e 1 Corinthians 15:12-13 says, that Christ is the first fruits of them that slept (died) and afterward them that are Christ's at His coming.

(JDS) This is true, but what is this Scripture talking about? We are not debating that the bodies will be resurrected, but rather where the soul goes when we die. That is the issue.

Editor's Note: For the conclusion of this article see "Where Are The Dead - Part II" by James D. Spinnati.