By Rev. C.J. Barry Kentner
The Holy Scriptures say in Luke Chapter 23;39-43; “One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him saying ‘if thou be Christ, save thyself and us!'”
But the other, answering him, rebuked him, saying “Doest thou not fear God, seeing that thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, foe we receive the Due reward of our deeds; but this man hath doe nothing amiss!”
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.”
Let me take you to Proverbs, Chapter 15. verse 11. There it says in the King James Version “Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more than the hearts of the children of men.”
In the New International Bible, the same verse reads “Death and destruction lie open Before the Lord…how much more do human hearts!’
In this verse of the Bible, Destruction (or Abbadon ) and Hell are open before the LORD. Also, so is Sheol .
This is not mentioned in Proverbs, because there is no need.
The place they will be going to is paradise…which is in the bosom of Abraham.
In Luke 16; 20. During the story of the rich man and Lazarus this verse clearly shows that Angels carried the body of Lazarus into Abraham’s bosom.
The original understanding of the ancients made reference (in many incidents) to the Bosom of Abraham….as a pre- resurrection life.
Therefore, the pre- resurrection life is not a life without GOD. And remember that Jesus was in the tomb three days before his resurrection.. Paradise is a place of postmortem peace and repose with the righteous until the resurrection.
As the Psalmist declares of the Lord: “If I ascend to heaven you are there, and if I make my bed in Sheol you are there. (Psalm l39: 8)
