Jesus said to the thief, “Today you shall be with Me in paradise”.
Let's explore what Jesus meant by the two key words' "today" and "paradise". I am not convinced that the exact translation means "today" as we understand it in modern English.
"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day." - 2 Peter 3:8
Paradise does not necessarily mean heaven, either. Paradise can mean the state of mankind before original sin as is portrayed by the Garden of Eden. We are however, told more clearly by St. John what paradise means:
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God." - Revelation 2:7
But Paradise was this waiting place.....not heaven. That took three days.