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Where is Paradise? And how do we reconcile John 20:17 when He talks to Mary on Easter (and therefore two-three days after the conversation with the thief) and tells her He has not yet ascended to His Father? Wouldn’t Paradise include where the Father is?

Jesus descended into a place divided into two distinct regions, with a great gulf fixed between the regions. On one side is 'the comforting of Abraham's bosom', on the other suffering and misery. Jesus exposed this in His telling of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. When Jesus came out of the tomb, He led those on the Abraham's bosom side out of that holding place. He left those in misery there to await the Great White Throne of Judgment day of reckoning. We have no clear notion of time for the events, from the 'other side' perspective, so the thief on the cross was with Jesus in the Abraham's bosom side and was led from there out of the holding place. I assume the thief then went in spirit with Jesus to Heaven, from whence GOD will bring with Jesus for the Rapture event exposed in 1Thess 4:13-17.

Many truthas in The Word of God need edifying by The Word of God, so read the Lazarus story and 1 Thess 4.

An example of Bible edifying Bible is: faith is He that calleth you for He will also do it; many are called but few are chosen; why are so few chosen who are called?... Because few will not let JESUS do it. Salvation is by Faith in Him, not faith in what we can do to earn salvation.