” Jesus turned to the thief next to him and said he would join Him in heaven.”
No, Jesus said “Paradise”. He did not say Heaven and Jesus did not go to Heaven that day. And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, TODAY you will be with me in PARADISE’” (Luke 23:32-43).
It was "today," but he would be with Jesus, and Paul said paradise was the third Heaven, (2Cor. 2,4) not a natural one, while the Lord first descended first into the lower parts of the earth," before He ascended. (Ephesians 4:8-9) And which it is supposed that OT saints went, as they could not go directly into glory, not due to a lack on their part, but bcz "the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing," (Hebrews 9:8) "for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. " (Hebrews 10:4)
But when Christ made the perfect atonement, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" when Christ made the atonement for our sins, (Mt. 27:51) then descended first into the lower parts of the earth? " (Ephesians 4:8-9) and then behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. " (Matthew 27:51-53)
Thus "paradise" would be the third Heaven, the thief being with Christ who set the OT free and ascended to glory. And thus as affirmed in the NT when specifically speaking of the postmortem place of the elect, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Acts 7:59) And thus living believers would go to be with the Lord if He returns in their lifetime. (1Ths. 4:7)
Some here is speculation, but it is a reasonable conclusion.
And paradise was where all the souls of the faithful from the Old Testament were waiting. Catholics call this waiting place Purgatory, correct?
“Paradise,” not “heaven.” Thanks. Got it.