Here is a study that explains this common misunderstanding among those who do not study the scriptures.
This is a question that comes down to two key scriptures and how they’re translated and understood:
1. The “Thief on the Cross” – Luke 23:43
Most English Bibles read:
“Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
That sounds like the thief goes to heaven that same day—but the issue is punctuation.
🔎 Important fact:
The original Greek manuscripts had no commas.
So the verse can also be read as:
“Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise.”
👉 In this reading:
- “today” modifies when Yeshua is speaking
- NOT when the thief enters paradise
Why this matters:
- Yeshua often used phrases like “I say to you today” for emphasis (see Deuteronomy 30:18 style Hebrew expression)
- The promise is certain, not immediate
2. Yeshua Did NOT Go to Heaven That Day
After His resurrection, Yeshua told Miriam:
👉 John 20:17
“I have not yet ascended to the Father”
That’s critical:
- This was after the crucifixion
- So He did NOT go to heaven the day He died
👉 Therefore:
The thief could not have been with Him in heaven that day either
3. What Did Yeshua Mean by “Paradise”?
“Paradise” is often assumed to mean heaven—but scripture connects it to:
👉 Revelation 2:7
“the tree of life… in the paradise of God”
👉 Revelation 22:1-2
This is:
- The Kingdom of God
- The restored earth
- After resurrection—not immediately after death
4. No One Has Gone to Heaven
Yeshua plainly said:
👉 John 3:13
“No one has ascended to heaven except the Son of Man”
That includes:
- David
- Prophets
- All mankind
5. Even King David Is Still Dead
👉 Acts 2:34
“David did not ascend into the heavens”
👉 Acts 2:29
So:
- A man after Yahweh’s own heart
- Still in the grave
- Awaiting resurrection
6. The Dead Are Asleep (Not in Heaven)
👉 Ecclesiastes 9:5
“The dead know nothing”
👉 Daniel 12:2
“Many who sleep in the dust… shall awake”
👉 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Pattern:
- Death = sleep
- Resurrection = future event
- Not immediate heaven
7. The Thief’s Hope = FUTURE KINGDOM
Look at what the thief actually asked:
👉 Luke 23:42
He said:
“WHEN you come into your kingdom”
✔ Not “take me today”
✔ He understood a future reign
🔥 Final Conclusion
- The comma in Luke 23:43 is man-added
- Yeshua did not go to heaven that day (John 20:17)
- No man has ascended to heaven (John 3:13)
- The dead are asleep, awaiting resurrection
- The thief will be with Yeshua in the Kingdom—at His return
See my study:
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