This Bible class was one of the most interesting yet, because questions were permitted to be asked, and research permitted to be done. Pastor Catron had somewhat of an open forum to discuss and ask questions. Our study started off with the account of the thieves on the cross with Jesus.

Luke 23:32-34, 38

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done 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.

On the subject of paradise, when a saint dies, they don’t immediately go to heaven as some might think. They go to paradise. The word says “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” The remark was posed as to what the rest of this particular passage says:

1 Corinthians 2:8-10

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

So as believers we know these things. Are you a believer who does not know by the Spirit these things? Pastor Catron says in order to hear what the Spirit says, you have to open yourself to God’s influence. Many things don’t happen in our lives because we so locked up on ourselves. “If I don’t read it, if I don’t have someone who shows me, then I can’t believe it.” This is the mentality we are prone to, and this is not a mentality to have when you want the Spirit to reveal things to you.

Back to the subject of the thief on the cross in Luke 23, moving to verse 39-44. Now, think about the situation of both malefactors who hung crucified with Jesus. One of them represented people who are caught in their sins, and can only think about themselves. The other represents the people who are remorseful and pose repenting hearts. Is this not like the conflicts in your life? The thief of remorse admitted that he and the other thief were getting their just desserts. Repentance starts in the heart. Christ knew his heart. Christ said “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Now is that robber going to heaven or hell? Well if he’s going to paradise, he’s going to a holding place waiting for the Lord to return.

The question arose about heaven and paradise. Are they two separate places? A look in the Bible dictionary tells us that the original paradise was a garden. In traditional Hebrew theology, the dead would descend to Sheol or simply put the grave. After the emergence in the belief of resurrection however, this view was drastically modified. After resurrection the dead would go to a place much like Eden. Does this resurrection to and Eden like place coincide with our view of Heaven or Paradise? It seems as though they equate paradise to heaven.

What does the bible dictionary say about heaven? A word expressing several distinctive concepts in the Bible. 1) An expansion over the earth 2) Heaven is also the dwelling place of God, and the source of New Jerusalem. Because of the works of Christ on the cross, heaven is in part present with believers on the Earth as they obey God’s commandments 3)The word heaven is also used as a substitute for the name of God. At the end of time, a new heaven will be created to surround the Earth (Revelation 21:1).

Well, we will look more into this in next weeks bible study.