Gup20
Active Member
So rather than go through all that, let's just shorten the process and agree to disagree. How about we meet in heaven and ask Christ to explain it to us. If your right, I'll let you make fun of me when we walk down the golden streets on our way to get fruit from the Tree of Life.
Love Ya,
keith
Keith - here is some food for thought (pardon the lame pun).
Can you walk down Golden Streets without first partaking of the Tree of Life? And where exactly is "paradise" if it is not in heaven?
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (said Jesus to the theif next to him on the cross on the day of his death)
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Jhn 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God. (said Jesus to Mary on the 3rd day after his resurrection)
So if Jesus told the theif he would be with him in Paradise THAT DAY, but 3 days later had not yet ascended to heaven, is Paradise in Hell?
According to Eph 4:9 didn't he decend into Hell before ascending to heaven? And what about Psalms:
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Is Paradise in Hell then?
Also consider Lazarus in Abraham's bosom.
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Is this "Abraham's bosom" place Paradise? A part of Hell where there is no torments, but you are still separated from the Father in heaven?
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
I think Rev 2 talks about a tree of life that is by a river that flows from the throne and judgement seat of God in heaven. But it says "paradise of God".
So what happened to the Tree of life in Genesis 1-3? God put a sword-wielding angel to guard it so that no one could get to it. Then is there one here on earth (maybe in Paradise or hell which is beneath the earth), and one in heaven?
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Eze 31:18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that be] slain by the sword. This [is] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.