The Danger Of Being RICH, According To The Bible & What I Believe!

Find out here how to obtain the RICHES that will last for ever!

And how the RICHES of this life can forsake you forever!

We live in a material world, which is surrounded by an invisible spiritual world.

And being RICH with money, means we can almost have anything this world has to offer, which very easily blinds us from the spiritual things of GOD.

Hebrews 4:12 Berean Literal Bible

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even as far as the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrows, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Lets first look at the meaning of the Greek word riches:

Strong's Concordance

ploutos: wealth

Original Word: πλοῦτος, ου, ὁ

Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine; Noun, Neuter

Transliteration: ploutos

Phonetic Spelling: (ploo'-tos)

Definition: wealth

Usage: riches, wealth, abundance, materially or spiritually.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4149 ploútos (from 4183 /polýs, "much in number, quantity") – properly, abundance, possessions of many kinds; riches.

So being RICH means a wealth of abundance in money and material things, or on the other hand we can be RICH in the spiritual things like knowing and understanding the Word of GOD, which is what true Christians should seek for, and often possess, which most of the human race do not know or have.

Jeremiah 23:29 World English Bible

Isn't my word like fire? says Yahweh; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

In fact, Jesus gives us the answer to the dangers of being RICH, as told in the parable of Luke 8:14

Berean Literal Bible

And that having fallen into the thorns, these are those having heard, and moving along are choked under the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not mature.

The Greek word for choked, is: συμπνίγονται, and means: I choke utterly, as weeds do plants; I crowd upon.

HELPS Word-studies

4846 sympnígō (from 4862 /sýn, "identified with" and 4155 /pnígō, "choke") – properly, choke (cut off) – literally, "choked because joined with."

So we read how there are a certain group of people who: are choked under the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not mature.

And we know how RICH People can almost have anything this world has to offer, like great Assets, Mansions, Luxurious Cars, Yacht's, and so on, and therefore do not mature, because as they have almost everything, they mostly believe they do not need anything else, because they believe they already have it all, therefore have no need to seek and know the Heavenly Father of Creation who has given them life in the beginning, and where all good things come from in the beginning.

This all reminds me about the Parable of Jesus of the RICH MAN and the POOR beggar Lazarus, as told in Luke 16:19:

Berean Literal Bible

And there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, making good cheer in splendor every day.

Well, cut a long story short, Jesus was teaching us here about a selfish RICH MAN, and to warn the godless RICH about their need for repentance in this life, and in the end of the Parable we read how this RICH man lost His soul forever, and how that POOR Beggar was saved with eternal life.

However, there is much in common, in that the RICH today are mostly CHOKED by the riches and pleasures of this life, and therefore give no thought of our creator and heavenly Father and what Jesus did for us on the CROSS to save us, and therefore end up forsaking their own Soul in the end, as we read in Matthew 16:26

Berean Literal Bible

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? 

There can be nothing worse than to lose your SOUL/LIFE for ever into annihilation, when instead our Heavenly Father offers us eternal life to come in a perfect renewed world.

John 3:16

Berean Literal Bible

For God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life.

What was the point of living in riches and pleasures in this short life, to only end up DYING by forsaking your own soul/life and eternal life forever in the end, all because we would rather have riches and pleasures now, knowing they don't last forever, and knowing we cant take riches and pleasures with us at death, yet we still rather not even think of the person who gave us life in the beginning?

John 12:48 Berean Literal Bible

The one rejecting Me and not receiving My words has one judging him: The word which I spoke, that will judge him in the last day.

But also notice what we read in the second part of Jesus verse saying: Or what will a man give as an exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26.

The simple truth is, ALL the Money in the world could never pay for a perfect eternal life in a perfect world to come, with a perfect Loving caring Father and Brother.

And Jesus has paid that price for our sins on the Cross, and that's why our Heavenly Father has given us His Son Jesus, to pay the price for our sin, the sin we should pay for ourselves.

Now I hope you understand why we all need Jesus, because by Jesus life, death and resurrection, GOD does exchange and reverse the penalty of death, and sin, because of the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, that is when we believe in Him and take up our cross and deny ourselves.

Living in a perfect world to come where GOD has made us all perfect, because we put our trust in Him seems impossible and too good to be true, and maybe that's one of the reasons why most refuse to believe in the truth.

However if we look at our complex bodies within ourselves, and around us, we see the impossible, that nothing can come from nothing as Evolutionist say and believe.

We can't see GOD Himself, as He is invisible, but we can see GOD everywhere in His Creation which reveals the wonders of GOD's hands in the universe and in His amazing complex world, and there we not only see how Almighty GOD can do the impossible, but we see the hands of GOD Himself in His creation.

Jeremiah 32:27

World English Bible

Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

All a RICH person needs to do is turn and believe and put their life and trust in GOD and Christ before all things and they will be saved.

But a POOR Man has more chance of Entering the Kingdom of GOD, as he is not so blinded as the RICH are.

I believe from what I have learned and read throughout the Bible, is that GOD does not desire anyone to perish, or desire His children to be RICH in money, because being RICH can ruin us and separate us from GOD, and therefore not receiving His real TREASURES to come, which our Heavenly Father so desires to share with those who will believe and trust in Him and His Christ.

Just as our human Father often desires the best for his children.

Just as King David was RICH with everything, and because he had everything, he knew he could have any woman, and therefor lusted over a married woman and went of the rails by committing a terrible sin of murder and adultery, and then He spent the rest of his life regretting it. 

But thank GOD for His kind forgiveness and Mercy, because of King David's faith which in the end saved him from GOD's wrath.

King David expressed his mental torment and pleaded for forgiveness, praying: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Just as King Solomon was also so blessed by GOD, who was also very RICH, and could have anything he desired, which ruined him and separated him from GOD in the end, as he acquired so many foreign wives that led Solomon into idolatry.

With all that in mind leads me to understanding why Jesus said in Mark 10:25

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

So as we read, how difficult it becomes when one is RICH in Money and material things, which is why Jesus said: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

While on the other hand when we believe and follow Christ, GOD now instead blesses us with all our needs in this life, as confirmed in Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Most of the human population do NOT understand how every good thing comes from GOD above, and that GOD is everything, and everything is GOD, and if we have GOD through Jesus we have everything, and without GOD and Jesus we will go back to having nothing and being nothing again.

John 14:6

Berean Literal Bible

Jesus says to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, if not by Me.

Even if we are poor in this life, if we know and follow The One True GOD through His One True Christ we are Spiritually RICH forever.

And even the very POOR, do not need to be hungry, or clothless in this life, but who instead can be fruitful and blessed by GOD, that is if they would only leave their sinful life, believe, repent and follow The ONE TRUE GOD through His ONE TRUE Christ, and ask, and they would receive said Jesus in Matthew 7:6

Ask, Seek, Knock

(Luke 11:5-13)

7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened unto you. 8 For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.

9 Or which man is among you who, if his son will ask for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or also, if he will ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 Therefore, if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in the heavens give good things to those asking Him!

When we know and follow The One True GOD and His ONE true Christ, unless it is GOD's will, He will not make us RICH in Money, because GOD does not desire the things of this world to blind us and ruin us, and therefore separating us from Him and His LOVE, but instead He continues to reveal His amazing love by providing all our needs freely in this life, when we SEEK, Believe, Find, Pray and follow the TRUE Christ.

Just as Jesus tells us below in Matthew 6:

Do Not Worry

(Luke 12:22-34)

25 Because of this I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you should eat or what you should drink; nor your body, what you should put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow nor do they reap, nor do they gather into barns, and your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 And who of you by worrying is able to add one cubit to his stature?

28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider carefully how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor nor do they spin. 29 Yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30 But if God thus clothes the grass of the field, existing today and tomorrow being thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ Or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things. For your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient to the day is its own trouble.

No matter whether we are POOR or RICH, we all know we came into this amazing world with nothing, and we leave this amazing world with nothing, so being RICH means nothing, unless we know The One True GOD who is everything, who makes us SPIRITUALLY RICH, by offering us everything to come in a perfect world to come with the only perfect MAN and brother Jesus, the coming King and Prince of peace.

Most of the human race refuse to believe and understand how The WORD of GOD is truly full of more RICHES, or any Material things, that we could possibly imagine.

John 6:63

Berean Literal Bible

It is the Spirit giving life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.

If you don't already, then try reading the WORD of GOD, as it  is like looking into a real life crystal ball, just as true Christian's understand what the RICH and unbelievers do not understand, and understand the best is yet to come and why this present world is dying.

If the RICH would only understand that when we read The WORD of GOD, we are digging for real HIDDEN TREASURES or like seeking out a great Pearl.

Matthew 13:44 Berean Literal Bible

The kingdom of the heavens is like treasure having been hidden in the field, which a man having found, hid. And for joy over it, he goes and he sells all that he has, and buys that field.

And when we understand the WORD of GOD, we jump with joy as we have unlocked and discovered a HIDDEN TREASURE.

And when we obey the word of GOD, and be a Sayer and a Doer, we become GODS children who will receive the RICHES and TREASURES of Heaven that will last forever.

And this is confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 6:19 Treasures in Heaven

(Luke 12:32–34)

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 16:27

Berean Literal Bible

For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory His Father, with His angels, and then He will give to each according to his deeds.

My Conclusion.

In this world the WORD of GOD reveals how the RICH are mostly the Spiritually POOR: 

1 John 2:15

Berean Literal Bible

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone should love the world, the love of the Father is not in him,

We should not love the things of this world, but instead love GOD for sharing with us His wonders of this world.

Just as we should not love the creation, but instead love the creator.

We read how the POOR are not so choked under by the riches and pleasures of life, therefore having less Difficulty in Seeking out the Kingdom of GOD so they may develop and mature into GODS children.

And yet all one needs to do whether RICH or POOR is READ the WORD of GOD, believe, repent, and put them first by following Christ to be saved.

Yet the RICH, BLIND themselves with their own TREASURES that they own, and which owns them, therefore loving and making the material things of this world into there own God, which makes the RICH forsake the heavenly Father who gave us life and offers us eternal life through Christ Jesus, and therefore not receiving the TREASURES that are kept forever.

As Jesus said in Matthew 6:24

Berean Literal Bible

No one is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and he will love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon.

The WORD of GOD portrays how the RICH are mostly Spiritually POOR because the TREASURES of this life have CHOKED them and is blinding them from the heavenly TREASURES of GOD.

And that explains why most of the RICH have severe difficulty entering the Kingdom of GOD to be saved because their own riches and pleasures of life stop them from seeking and finding the real TREASURE.

Mark 10:25

Berean Literal Bible

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

When we know The ONE TRUE GOD and follow Him through His One True Christ, GOD does NOT exclude us from the troubles in this life, in fact Jesus said in this life we will have all sorts of troubles, even Christian persecutions, remembering many of GODS prophets and Disciples were persecuted for their faith, who are now sealed with eternal life for their loyalty to our Heavenly Father.

But the difference is for a true believer, is that our Heavenly Father and brother Christ Jesus is with us, by helping us to overcome our trials and tribulations, which GOD uses to test our faith, and strengthen our foundations, until it is time for GOD to let us die and sleep until Jesus returns, to wake us up to receive the everlasting TREASURE of being with our heavenly Father and loving brother. 

If we only believe and ask, The heavenly Father will bless us in more ways then we could possibly imagine.

We do not need to be RICH in Money and material things, because Our Heavenly Father can and does bless us more than Money can ever do.

The One True GOD can restore our bodies from diseases into healing's, and a struggling marriage into Loyalty, joy and strength.

Our Heavenly Father blesses us with wisdom and knowledge, and our hands with many different abilities, like creating and building, while also working on our hearts teaching us love, kindness, gentleness and patience, who also does not forgot our crops or trees but causes His vegetables and fruits to grow in abundance, ready to eat and enjoy.

There is nothing GOD cannot do and does not do when we love Him, GOD even cares and blesses our homes and soaring bills which always go up.

When GOD and Christ are in you and with you the difficult struggles of life become easy and no longer burdensome. 

When we have our Brother Jesus, we are always RICH, because Jesus is always acting for us as our mediator between MAN and our Heavenly Father by helping us overcome the struggles of life, ready for the next life where GOD is making us into His perfect children and warriors, going forward to living in a perfect world forever, where God is with men,

and He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His peoples,

and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4 And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more nor mourning nor crying nor pain; they will be no more, because the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3:

Knowing and trusting in The One True GOD is everything, just as for those who do not believe will one day discover when they are weeping and gnashing their teeth said Jesus Matthew 13:42.

When we come to know our Heavenly Father we discover the true everlasting Treasure of our Heavenly Fathers Beautiful Heart which is full of love and compassion for His children.

We come to know our Heavenly Father's Beautiful Heart by reading  and unlocking the secrets in The Parables of Jesus, and there we see how Our Heavenly Father has sympathy and passion far and beyond for the POOR. inferior and needy.

I believe this is one of the reasons why Jesus teaches us to love and help the POOR, helping to fill the gap between the RICH and the POOR until Jesus returns when there will never again be poverty, suffering or pain, dying or killing Revelation 21:4.

 The Parables of Jesus, brought me to my hands and knees loving and thanking Jesus for teaching us about the hidden secrets of our ONE TRUE GOD and our creator.

If you desire the true Treasure that wont be here today and gone tomorrow, then you must be like the man in The Parables of Jesus, Matthew 13:44 who went out looking for a hidden Treasure, and after discovering the hidden Treasure

which was the GREAT value of GOD and Christ in their new Kingdom to come, he buried the Treasure and

went back to sell everything he had to purchase the whole field where he had discovered the Treasure.

In other words the man went out looking for something he believed to be very precious and above all things - The One True GOD and The One True Christ, and after finding the truth, he was so full of joy that he gave up everything to follow GOD and Christ receiving the everlasting Treasure.

Unbelievers are laughing now, as they were in The days of Noah, but will be sorry and weeping when the time is too late, for just as the Door of Noah was closed because there were only Noah and His family who believed and went in the Ark, and the animals who also believed and went in, so will it be again,

just as the true believers will go into eternal life, which is symbolic for Jesus who is the gate and the door and the life that closes when He returns.

How amazing is our One True GOD, in that He will come down on His Earth He created to live with us!

I find it truly sad how most of the RICH worship their money, riches and possessions of many kinds, when they can be here today and gone tomorrow.

1 Timothy 6

A Charge to the Rich

17 Instruct the rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to have hope in the uncertainty of riches, but on God, the One richly providing us all things for enjoyment; 18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous in distributing, ready to share, 19 treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is indeed life.

Absolutely nothing including riches or Possessions on Earth should come before our Heavenly Father and our Brother Jesus.

But if you are RICH then make good out of what GOD has blessed you with by helping the POOR and the needy and make GOD smile.

We do not need to be RICH if we put our faith in the One True GOD and follow His One True Christ, they will provide all our needs, and we can be confident we have discovered the everlasting Treasures!

Because GOD blesses the ones who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

What an amazing GOD and Father we have, in that he love's good deed's and hates wickedness, He cares so much that He blesses the poor in spirit, the mourning, and the meek and He loves us for being a good Samaritan, by helping the POOR, and loving our neighbour.

Our Heavenly Father even thinks of our loving loyal pets He created to be wonderful friends by blessing them with long lives and protection.

We should not love the riches and pleasures of this life that can be here to day and gone tomorrow, but instead love Our Heavenly Father who is here loving and blessing us through our perfect Brother Jesus for ever!

I would now like to close this article by leaving you with  (The Beatitudes) the blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–11).

There we see the love and blessings of our Heavenly Father!

The Beatitudes

(Psalm 1:1-6; Luke 6:20-23)

3 “Blessed are the poor in the spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

4 Blessed are those mourning,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will receive mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those having been persecuted on account of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

11 Blessed are you when they shall insult you and shall persecute you, and lying shall say all kinds of evil against you on account of Me. 12 Rejoice and exult, because great is your reward in the heavens; for thus they persecuted the prophets before you.

Do you know the everlasting Treasure?

Join me again in my next article Lazarus and the Rich Man.

I am Simon Brown.

What Did Jesus Say and Mean About The FIG Tree? Matthew 24:32-51.

Don't be like most caught out, but read on and find out!

Berean Literal Bible

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33)

32 Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch already may have become tender and it puts forth leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that He is near, at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you that this generation will not have passed away until all these things shall have taken place. 35 The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Genesis 6:1-7; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:35-48)

36 But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until that day Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and took away all; so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field: one is taken, and one is left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one is taken, and one is left.

42 Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes. 43 And know this, that if the master of the house had known in what time of night the thief comes, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Because of this, you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes in that hour you do not expect.

45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has set over his household, to give to them the food in season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, having come, will find thus doing. 47 Truly I say to you that he will set him over all of his possessing.

48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My master delays,’ 49 and should begin to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and to drink with those being drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come in a day in which he does not expect, and in an hour which he is unaware, 51and will cut him in pieces, and will appoint his place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

 And what our Lord teaches is that as surely as the fresh green foliage of the fig tree is a sign of summer, so shall the signs of which He speaks portend the coming of the Son of Man.

Geneva Study Bible

{7} Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet {s} tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

(7) If God has prescribed a certain order to nature, much more has he done so to his eternal judgments; but the wicked do not understand it, or rather they mock it: but the godly make note of it, and wait for it.

(s) When its tenderness shows that the sap which is the life of the tree has come from the roots into the bark.

Simon Brown, my own conclusion!

The Lesson of the Fig Tree is to keep watch, for we do not know on what day Jesus will return, so we must have our faith and life in order, and not be like the Foolish Virgins who were caught off guard.

As many of the last day signs are here leading up to the signs of the end times, just as we see around us, and just as we read, in the last day, just as there are difficult times, evil, lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, proud, verbally abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, savage, haters of good, betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And turn away from these. 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

The world disasters will get worse and worse, just as we see, and just as they are, and just as we read in the Word of GOD, which are the signs of the end times: Matthew 24:8…7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole earth, for a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

MUST WATCH, and see the Three Blunders that led to "the Trinity"

 

The FALSE Christian Teachings of Luke 23:43 Going To Heaven!

By Simon Brown.  

Luke  23:43. Berean Literal Bible

 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, 

today you will be with Me in Paradise."  

Do you have eyes to see, and ears to hear as Jesus said, then follow me in my independent research, as I show you how most of Modern Christianity today are wrong and deceived by believing and teaching how the saved go directly UP INTO HEAVEN AT DEATH, in my hope to present to you the Biblical facts, desiring you to discover the true Christian teachings of Jesus!

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Not all, but most Christian's believe when all people died before Jesus died and was raised to life, their SOULS survived death and lived on, and went DOWN into a spiritual prison called HADES where the LOST went to a fiery part of HADES, and the SAVED went to a Paradise part of HADES.

But now Jesus has died and was raised back to life on the third day, most Christian's now believe the DEAD SAVED no longer go DOWN to HADES, but go UP directly at death into heaven to be with Jesus, while the LOST UNSAVED SOULS remain ALIVE DOWN in a spiritual fiery prison called HADES.

Now this article is about what I now believe what happens to a SAVED person now at death, and not what happens to a LOST person.

The reason why the deceived Christians now believe all the dead saved are not dead or asleep in the grave called Hades, but instead believe the dead saved are in heaven, is because of what was said by Jesus to the man crucified next to Him on the cross, who was a repentant criminal: And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Let's be sure with what Trinitarian's say, believe and preach by looking at some of the Trinitarian Bible Commentaries below.

As we have seen and read above how the well known Trinitarians have explained they believe the dead Old Testament saved SOULS were ALIVE in a region of  Paradise in Hades (Sheol) in which the spirits of the blessed awaited the general Resurrection of Jesus, and then was raised into HEAVEN with Jesus.

Now on my examination of Luke 23:43 saying "Truly I say to you (,) today you will be with Me in Paradise." I discovered this simple deception, because of a simple (,) COMMA, in front of the word TODAY.

This verse and Trinitarian deception is very easy to see and understand why this is simply trickery, causing a simple confusion, which is built upon a single (COMMA ,) seen and found as normal in biased modern Bible translations, which is deceiving people into believing what it says, that: "Truly I (Jesus) say to you '','' today you (the repentant criminal who was also crucified next to Jesus on a cross), will be with Me (Jesus) in Paradise." 

Now, please notice what happens if we REMOVE the simple (,) COMMA which is in front of Jesus saying:  (,) COMMA today you will be with Me (Jesus) in Paradise." 

So we now read: And He said to him, "Truly I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Did you see that? 

You then saw what I plainly see, by now reading Jesus is saying: "Truly I say to you today, (meaning Jesus is saying and meaning (THIS DAY TO DAY I SAY,) to the repentant criminal: 

you will be with Me in Paradise." 

Meaning: I tell you TODAY, a DAY will COME when: you will be with Me in Paradise, and not that same day when Jesus and the criminal would and did die.

But how can we be sure there is NO (COMMA ,) in front of Jesus saying (,) "Truly I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise?

Well did you know, on my search for the truth, I discovered: In actual Greek texts from the era when Koine Greek was used as a day-to-day language, Greek was usually written with no punctuation. 

The words ran together completely, with no spacing or markup. Accents, breathing marks, spaces.

And that part was not written by me, but I found in Koine Greek/1. Alphabet, Pronunciation, and Punctuation, (see below)

So the earliest Greek Bible translations, did not have, or had very little punctuation's or comma's, and the COMMA'S were added in much later translations.

Now lets be sure and see if there are ANY (COMMAS ,) by having a look in one of the oldest Greek Bible translations in the famous Codex Sinaiticus.

Here below is my own diagram of what I found in the famous Codex Sinaiticus.

We are looking in one of the oldest Greek Bible translations in the famous Codex Sinaiticus.

Notice how there is NO (COMMA ,) in the Greek text of Luke 23:43!

But we see how a (COMMA ,) has been added in the modern Bible translations:

Which is deceiving people into believing the repentant criminal went into Paradise that same day he died with Jesus, therefore creating a false doctrine, that the saved also go directly into heaven at death.

And this same false COMMA, is said to be the same case for many of the oldest Greek Bible translations, that its NOT there, or there were few, or no punctuation's marks or COMMA'S in many of the oldest Greek Bible translations, especially in Luke 23:43.

I also read how there are some wise Bible scholars who believe if there were a COMMA, in Luke 23:43, it should be added in AFTER the word TODAY, as we read below:

And He said to him, "Truly I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise."

With all that in mind, a COMMA, may not mean or prove anything to many who are deceived.

So I have saved the best until last.

If that belief and teaching were true, that the saved believers go directly to HEAVEN when they die, then surely there would be many or even ONE teaching else where in the Bible with the same kind of teaching.

We will talk about the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich man on my coming articles soon which is another misunderstood teaching of Jesus by most Christians today. 

However, what we find when we examine the whole Bible instead of cherry picking verses, not only would that false belief of the saved going to heaven instantly at death CONTRADICT the whole Bible, but we instead read how Jesus Himself told us He did not even go to heaven or Paradise, or alive down into the earth instantly at His death, or at His Resurrection.

In fact we read Jesus was DEAD and laid in the tomb for THREE DAYS, and when He was raised by GOD on the third day, He had still not yet ascended to the Father.

Lets have a look at more Biblical facts!

Matthew 16:21

Berean Literal Bible

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that it is necessary for Him to go away to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised on the third day.

Notice how we read Jesus would: be killed, and be raised on the third day.

However, according to most Christians Jesus was not killed, that is if He was ALIVE in hades after He was killed.

And yet we are told countless times throughout the Bible how Jesus would be killed, (put to death), and be buried in a tomb.

And that Jesus would be raised by GOD returning to life from the grave, AFTER the THIRD DAY!

Mark 8:31: And He began to teach them that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise again.

Where do we ever read only a part of Jesus would die, and the other part of Jesus would stay ALIVE in Hades?

I do not know any such teaching in the Bible, but that instead Jesus would DIE for three days.

We continue to read in:

Matthew 12:40

For just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

Again we read the Son of Man (Jesus) will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

But what is the meaning of the heart of the earth?

Let's turn the page to Acts 2:31 in hope to understand where was Jesus for THREE DAYS?

Having foreseen, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was He abandoned into Hades, nor did His flesh see decay.

Did you see that: that neither was He abandoned into Hades, nor did His flesh see decay.

Hades!

According to various deceived Christian denominations, most believe HADES is a place or state for the after life of departed human living SOULS.

However, if we seek we find as Jesus said, and we learn how Jesus was in HADES, which is the Greek word for the Hebrew term שאול (Sheol), and simply means GRAVE.

And this makes perfect sense that Jesus truly did DIE, for THREE DAYS, which must be one of the main beliefs in the foundations of the true Christian's faith to believe that Jesus Is the SON of GOD, the Christ: And that by believing (dedicating your life to GOD by denying yourself and following Jesus), you may have life, in his name. John 20:31. 

And that He was crucified, DIED and raised by GOD on the third day.

1 Thessalonians 4:

13 But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those having fallen asleep, so that you should not be grieved, just as also the rest, those having no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those having fallen asleep.

15 For this we declare to you in the word of the Lord, that we the living, remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those having fallen asleep, 16 because the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we, the living remaining, will be caught away together with them in the clouds for the meeting of the Lord in the air; and so we will be always with the Lord.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

And yet the shocking truth is how MOST Christians believe Jesus was in a physical place ALIVE after Jesus died on the cross.

Which would mean Jesus did NOT DIE if He continued to LIVE in an underworld, and therefore DENIES the death of Jesus.

We also read in 1 Thessalonians 4: how the DEAD in Christ are DEAD, meaning ASLEEP in the GAVE, who will be raised from the DEAD, which simply means the DEAD SAVED are NOT ALIVE in HEAVEN, if they are all asleep and waiting to be woken up by: the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. WHEN: And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Acts 2:31 is interesting by telling us: that neither was He (Jesus) abandoned into Hades, nor did His flesh see decay.

Did you see that: that neither was He (Jesus) abandoned into Hades, meaning Jesus DEAD BODY was not deserted or left: or abandoned, or forgotten in HADES the GRAVE, because GOD the Father raised the DEAD SOUL and BODY of Jesus back to LIFE.

nor did His flesh see decay.

So Acts 2:31 is referring to the BODY of Jesus being DEAD in HADES the GRAVE, because His FLESH did NOT see decay, meaning what it says, that Jesus DEAD BODY did NOT see decay,  meaning, rot or decompose through the action of DEATH, proving HADES is simply the GRAVE where the DEAD BODY would normally rot or decompose and decay, and NOT a spiritual prison for living DEAD SOULS.

Now what does this all mean?

The Bible facts reveal the simple truth, that Jesus and the criminal could NOT have gone DOWN ALIVE, simply because HADES is a GRAVE for the DEAD, and is not for the living, and as both Christ and the Criminal DIED, they also did not go up into HEAVEN, that SAME DAY they died, because Jesus was not raised until the THIRD DAY.

And even more, Jesus confirms Himself in John 20:17

how He did not ascend to His Father even when He was directly raised from the DEAD after three days, proving He DID NOT go up into HEAVEN with the Criminal on that SAME DAY they both died on the cross:

John 20:17

Berean Literal Bible

Jesus says to her, "Do not touch Me, for not yet have I ascended to the Father. Now go to My brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

But there is more, so please do read on!

As I have saved the best to last!

The deceived Christians teach and believe the saved Christians who have died are already in heaven, or those who are still alive when Jesus returns will go to Heaven.

But WHERE in the Bible do we read the saved Christians will go to Heaven, or are already in HEAVEN?

On that note I would now like to bring in my next witness.

As we saw how the DEAD saved Believers are DEAD, meaning ASLEEP, who are waiting for: the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. WHEN: And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4: 

And Jesus also spoke of this in Matthew 24

And that amazing prophecy has not yet come to pass.

Because this most exciting time to come when the DEAD in Christ are raised is at the end of the great tribulation 

Matthew 24

The Return of the Son of Man

(Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28)

26 Therefore if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go forth; or ‘Behold, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe. 27 For just as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 For wherever the carcass may be, there the vultures will be gathered.

29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days:

‘The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great trumpet call, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens to the ends thereof.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33)

32 Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch already may have become tender and it puts forth leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33So also you, when you see all these things, know that He is near, at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you that this generation will not have passed away until all these things shall have taken place. 35 The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Genesis 6:1-7; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:35-48)

36 But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until that day Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and took away all; so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field: one is taken, and one is left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one is taken, and one is left.

42 Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes. 43 And know this, that if the master of the house had known in what time of night the thief comes, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Because of this, you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes in that hour you do not expect.

Now going back to my next witness, WHERE does the Bible ever teach the saved go up and live in HEAVEN?

Many Christians seem to believe because Jesus said today you will be with Me in Paradise."

They therefore conclude that means Jesus and the criminal went directly into PARADISE/HEAVEN on that SAME DAY they both died!

And yet we saw how Jesus clearly destroys that teaching by telling us in John 20:17 that He had NOT yet ascended to the Father, therefore proving Jesus and the Criminal were NOT even ALIVE AFTER they had died on that SAME DAY.

And Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4, also destroys that teaching that most Christians believe the DEAD are not DEAD but alive in heaven, by Paul instead telling us the dead in Christ who are at present asleep, will be raised and rise at the return of Jesus on the second coming.

Let's now examine the word Paradise.

Because while I was searching, I discovered how Paradise is NOT even in HEAVEN.

Let's look in Revelation 2:7 because there we have the same Greek word used in Luke 23:43 for 3857 [e] Paradeisō Παραδείσῳ  .Paradise

Revelation 2:7

Berean Literal Bible

The one having an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one overcoming, I will give to him to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Notice: the paradise of God.

Strong's Concordance

paradeisos: a park, a garden, a paradise

Original Word: παράδεισος, ου, ὁ

Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine

Transliteration: paradeisos

Phonetic Spelling: (par-ad'-i-sos)

Definition: a park, a garden, a paradise

Usage: Paradise.

HELPS Word-studies

3857 parádeisos – an ancient Persian word meaning "enclosure, garden, park."

As we see the word for Paradise in Greek in Revelation 2:7

is: 3857 [e] Paradeisō Παραδείσῳ paradise

Which is identical to the same word for Paradise in Greek Luke 23:43 for 3857 [e] Paradeisō Παραδείσῳ  .Paradise.

Do you now see what I see?

The word for Paradise does NOT mean Heaven.

So what does the word for Paradise mean?

I confess, I am not a Bible Scholar, but thanks to GOD we have ways and tools to help us be good students and researchers.

Let's see what the Trinitarians say Paradise means?

for that delightful region, 'the garden of Eden,' in which our first parents dwelt before the fall: Genesis 2:8ff; 3:1ff.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) He that hath an ear . . .--Or. Let him that hath an ear, hear. These words--an echo from the Gospels--recur in all the seven epistles. In the first three, however, they are placed before the promise; in the remaining four they follow it. The heart which is hardened is the precursor of the ear that is deaf (Jeremiah 6:10, and John 12:37-40). The "spiritual truth" needs a spiritual organ for its discernment. These are truths, then, only heard

"When the soul seeks to hear; when all is hushed,

And the heart listens."--Coleridge, Reflection.

To him that overcometh (or, conquereth) will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.--The reference to conquering is a prominent feature of St. John's other writings. The word--used but once in the three Gospels (Luke 11:22), and but once by St. Paul (Romans 12:21)--is found in John 16:33; 1John 2:13-14; 1John 5:4-5; and occurs in all these epistles to the churches. The promise of the tree of life is appropriate (1) to the virtue commended: those who had not indulged in the license of Nicolaitanes shall eat of the tree of life; (2) to the special weakness of the Ephesians: to those who had fallen, and lost the paradise of first loving communion and fellowship with God (comp. Genesis 3:8, and 1John 1:3), is held out the promise of a restored paradise and participation in the tree of life. (Comp. Revelation 22:2; Revelation 22:14; Genesis 3:22.) This boon of immortality is the gift of Christ--I will give. It is tasted in knowledge of God and of His Son (John 17:3); it is enjoyed in their presence (Revelation 22:3-4). . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - He that hath an ear, let him hear. These solemn conclusions of these epistles remind us of the conclusion of many of Christ's parables (Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23, [7:16]; Luke 8:8; Luke 14:35; not in St. John's Gospel, in which there are no parables). It is very noteworthy that, although the epistle is addressed in each case to a Church in the person of its angel, yet the concluding exhortation and promise are always addressed to the individual Christian. Each must hear for himself. His Church may perish, yet, if he overcomes, he shall live. His Church may be crowned with eternal life, yet, if he is overcome, he will lose the reward. What the Spirit saith to the Churches; not "what he saith to this Church." The contents of each epistle are for all; for each individual Christian and for the Church at large, as well as for the particular Church addressed in the epistle. The epistle in each case is not from John, who is only the instrument, but from the Son of God and from the Spirit of God (Revelation 1:4). In the first three epistles the exhortation to hearken precedes the promise to the victor; in the four last it follows the promise, and closes the epistle. Is this change of arrangement accidental or deliberate? There should be a full stop at "Churches." In the Authorized Version it looks as if "what the Spirit saith" were confined to the promise in the second half of the verse. This error was avoided by Tyndale and Cranmer. It comes from the Genevan and the Rhemish Versions. The verb to "overcome" or "conquer" (νικᾷν) is strongly characteristic of St. John. It occurs seven times in the Gospel and the First Epistle, and sixteen times in the Revelation; elsewhere only in Luke 11:22; Romans 3:4 (quotation from Psalm 51:6) and Romans 12:21; comp. especially Revelation 21:7, where, as in these epistles, it is not stated what is to be overcome. We might render, "to the victor," or "to the conqueror." The expression, "tree of life," of course comes from Genesis; we have it again in Revelation 22:2, 14. It means the tree which gives life. So also "the water of life" (Revelation 21:6) and "the bread of life" (John 6:35). In all these cases "life" is ζώη, the vital principle which man shares with God, not βίος, the life which he shares with his fellow men. The latter word occurs less than a dozen times in the New Testament; the former, which sums up the New Testament, occurs more than a hundred times. The Paradise of God. The word "Paradise" occurs only thrice in the New Testament (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4). It is of Persian origin, and signified a park or pleasure ground. In the New Testament it seems to mean the resting place of departed saints. There is strong evidence (B, versions, Cyprian, Origen) in favour of reading, "the Paradise of my God" (see notes on Revelation 3:2, 12). In considering this passage, Genesis 3:22 should be carefully compared with John 6:51. "For him who conquers" the curse which barred Adam from the tree of life will be revoked by Christ.

As we see, the Trinitarian commentaries tell us the meaning of Paradise which means: a delightful region, 'the garden of Eden,'

Now, there are children who understand how  'the garden of Eden, was on this same planet, and was where Adam and Eve were living in a beautiful Garden, and where the tree of LIFE was, which was not in heaven.

Lets see in Genesis 2:9: World English Bible

Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Hebrew word for garden, means in the  Strong's Concordance

gan: an enclosure, garden

Original Word: גַּן

Part of Speech: noun masculine; feminine; proper name, of a location

Transliteration: gan

Phonetic Spelling: (gan)

Definition: an enclosure, garden

My Conclusion:

I am a simple man off the street who is still always seeking, researching and learning, so please do help me if you believe I am wrong, just as I am hoping to help you see and know what I now know, as at the moment what I simply see here is that Paradise does not mean a place in Heaven, or BELOW in the earth, but even according to Trinitarians it means a park, a garden, a paradise, where we  are told in Revelation 2:7 is a future place to come here on earth where GOD will give to him (THE SAVED,) to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God, and is on this earth.

We also read in the verses below what and where the Paradise will be:

Revelation 22:2

The River of Life

1 And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street and of the river, on this side and on that side, was a tree of life, producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit according to each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

3 And there will not be any curse any longer. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him. 4 And they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there, and they have no need of the light of a lamp and of the light of the sun, because the Lord God will enlighten upon them, and they will reign to the ages of the ages.

14 Blessed are those washing their robes, that their right will be to the tree of life, and they shall enter into the city by the gates.

So as we see, Paradise is NOT in HEAVEN, and has NOT yet come to pass.

But as we see Paradise WIIL BE here on earth, and this simple fact agrees with the whole Bible, that GOD is and will through Christ RE-NEW and RE-STORE this fallen world back to being a Paradise John 1:10, Colossians 1:13, Colossians 1:16.

Just as we read in Revelation 21:4 the true born again believers are looking forward for, and where there will never again be any more suffering or pain, dying or killing. 

Where we are told, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6.

There is another important fact to consider!

Jesus also confirmed in Matthew 6:10 how GODS Kingdom will come on earth and that GOD and His SON Christ will come down to live with us, and NOT that we go into heaven and live with GOD:

Your kingdom come. Your will be done as in heaven, so also upon earth. Matthew 6:10.

Notice: Your kingdom come. Your will be done as in heaven, so also upon earth.

On top of all that we are told how the DEAD know nothing: For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5

So as we see, to believe the DEAD are alive in heaven or Hell is simply to contradict the whole Bible.

With all of my research in mind showing the Biblical facts, this finally concludes that the (COMMA) added in by biased Trinitarians in Luke 16:19 saying:

And He said to him, "Truly I say to you (,) today you will be with Me in Paradise." makes this yet again another one of MANY FALSE Bible translations, deceiving many into believing the saved are ALIVE in HEAVEN, making yet again another FALSE Christian Teaching of Luke 23:43 Going To Heaven! 

Most Christians today believe before Jesus was crucified, this place that Jesus called (Paradise) was DOWN, IN the EARTH, and is where they believed the saved lived in a place like 'the garden of Eden' which had rivers, perfect sunny weather, trees and possibly all sorts of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

And yet most people know how there is nothing like the garden of Eden which has rivers, perfect sunny weather and trees, fruit, vegetables and flowers, DOWN in the earth, which reveals how most Christians are so confused and deceived.

And yes, I was one of most who believed in this daft, ridiculous fairytale, because I like most believed what false teachers taught, instead of doing my own research.

However, as we have seen, this amazing prophecy of (Paradise) has NOT YET come to pass, but the will of GOD through His Christ will be done, where GOD's Kingdom will come, when a perfect age will come, where the saved will see (Paradise), a delightful region like 'the garden of Eden' with the tree of life.

Revelation 22 

The River of Life

1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

Dear friend, WILL YOU BE THERE? 

Where will your soul end up? Are you saved? Click on the banner below and give your life to Jesus. 

Jesus was sent to set us free by reversing the curse of the earth. 

Once we accept GOD’S love, forgiveness and grace, by accepting His SON Jesus, as Jesus was raised from the dead, AFTER THREE days that was, so are we raised from the dead, NOT directly when we die, but when Jesus returns, He has ‘’set us free'' from the curse, sin and death. 

This is why Jesus was sent and crucified, and raised from the dead, to save us, not condom us proving GOD's divan love.

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Related Articles:

Related article by my good brother Ken.

Who put the comma between Jesus and the thief?

By Ken Osborne

When Jesus was hanging on the cross the thief to one side said,

 “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power” 

And Jesus replied “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” …….??   (RSV. Luke 23:42,43)

In this exchange there are at least two things where misunderstandings arise.

The first one appears based on bias of church tradition, and pagan influences. (1)

 The second one, which is key to the first, is the thought; ‘what is this coming in kingly power’ all about?

The first and major question here should arise to the logical brain, ‘If Jesus was to be in the grave for three days and nights, then how was he going to be with the thief in Paradise on the day he died????’

The answer is centred in another subject, that of understanding the difference between Heaven and Kingdom, but we will stay off that one for the moment that is another study matter.  Let’s take the basic shorthand answer for this simple study;

The term “come in your kingly power” is in reference to the second coming of Jesus, when he returns at the end of the tribulation and sets up his kingdom ruling from Jerusalem, as many OT prophecies attest to. This is what the thief, a Hebrew guy who knew the scripture, was referring to, the Resurrection, when Jesus returns in his Kingly power with “his saints with him.” I believe that is us, because 1Thes4 says we the Body meet Jesus in the air, where in this study context in Rev19:13 Jesus is returning to the ground to conquer his enemies and subdue the nations, with his armies attending him. (see also Zech14:5, 1thes3:13, Jude14:14) 

Around the third day Mary went to the grave. She saw two angels, and then who she thought might be the gardener, but it was Jesus. What did Jesus say to her? (Jn 20:17) “Do not cling to me for I HAVE NOT YET ASCENDED TO THE FATHER.”

What further proof do we need to see that during those days Jesus was not in heaven with the thief! So, did he drop the thief off on the way to Hades?

He was in the grave, from where God raised him as the first raised from the dead of many to follow, that is us, and the (still to occur) resurrection. 1Cor.15:20   “…… Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” This was written over 50 years after Christ, and so if the thief went to “paradise” with Jesus then more questions arise. Where is Paradise, and why did only Jesus be raised? Surely the comma implies the thief rose too, didn’t he? And three days prior!

In our Bibles, Paradise is another word for the restoration of this world under the kingship of Jesus after the resurrection. It’s the kingdom.

It is the 1000 years Millennial Reign of Jesus the King, future then and yet future now!

Jesus all through the earlier part of each Gospel is proclaiming the coming kingdom, and his Messiah ship, the kingship over that kingdom. He was rejected, tried and crucified as a blasphemer. The thief recognized him as that Messiah, and cries out to him in repentance. Jesus says in effect “you will be there in my kingdom.” Or as John Lynn would joke, “I see that hand.”

So what’s with my heading about the Comma?

This comma is a device used to delineate a time period in this verse. Our English punctuation was not used in Greek scripture, Greek and Hebrew tended to be written all in one case and with no spaces between the words and no punctuation marks. So the layout and the comma were decided on by the translators, hundreds of years later. They placed the comma to best show what they understood Jesus intending to say.

By placing it after “you,” they are making the word “today” be a strong statement of time, meaning it will occur that very day. 

If we eliminate the comma or place it after “today,” then it becomes a statement of strength in saying to the thief, there and then, “you will be with me in my kingdom.”  The first way makes verse 43 into a timetable. The second way makes the verse an emphasized future promise. I believe this is the correct interpretation for one reason because it eliminates the three day confusion and is logical in the greater biblical context. The verse is a confirmation from Messiah to the thief that his plea is heard and indeed he will be saved and “in the (future) kingdom.” This is why the mention of confusion between heaven and kingdom is relevant and shows how all these subjects inter relate. Hence my enthusiasm to bring up all subjects at once

What a difference a comma makes.

So my point in this is to show the use of the comma is a hindrance to correct understanding of plain scripture, placed there by well meaning translators because of the bias they have. The same bias hanging on from religious tradition out of the dark ages which people like Luther partly addressed. This hindrance causes us to reinterpret all sorts of other pieces of scripture, based on believing that the thief and Jesus went off immediately to heaven where he might be leaning over the railing ever since, watching us.

We Christians claim all scripture was inspired of God, in the NT its to the apostles who recorded it, in this case in Greek. If we claim all translators are also inspired by God to correctly translate each and every Greek word, then surely we would not have so many Bible versions and controversy, nor so many protestant denominations!  Is this a fair thing to assume?  The translators, if God controlled them, would have had to be like robots, but they are men like us. They are free will people and are freely doing what they can with the knowledge they have within their understanding and bias, just as the Bible Colleges and seminaries, and us as individuals, do even now.

The translators and academics are FREE WILL AGENTS. They can write and say what they believe is correct just as we can, and indeed I am doing now. God does not strike us down for saying or writing something incorrectly, whether by accident or on purpose, nor does he force our hand. He leads us with encouragement like a Father for his child.

So this comes down to what God knows and doesn’t know in what we will say or do next as true agents of FREE WILL, as imagers of God. i.e. we are made in Gods Image, in being able to think and act freely as God does, and not as a robot controlled by God. If we were totally led and controlled by a predetermining God then we would not do the silly things we have all done at times. We are IMAGERS of God (not very good images, in this fallen sin plagued state). We are designed to bear Gods image, His presence, into His created world, by the fall we have corrupted that image, hence the confusion over the nature of God, angry controlling or lovingly leading.

This simple study is to open our thoughts to consider that what we read in English in our favourite version of our Bible, might not be exactly that which God intended to be conveyed in the original.

I am not saying that we can’t trust our Bibles! I am trying to point out that just as Luther challenged and broke many man made traditions in the religious establishment of the Roman church at the reformation, we also have a responsibility to make sure we diligently study our scripture against the possibility of continued or new religious leaven. Israel did not recognize their Messiah because tradition over time had added so much confusion by the expansion of extra thoughts and misunderstandings. Inserted into Israels understanding of what they were told the scriptures said. By not each being diligent themselves they allowed the religious traditions to creep into the nations understanding of Gods word. This is what Jesus meant when he said;  “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees.”

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Pagan influences; This is the Greek ideas from Plato etc on the separation of created matter (evil) and spirit (pure) which became Gnosticism, the heresy plaguing John and Paul in the later epistles. This Hellenistic philosophy was extended into the early Roman church to attract the pagans, and unify the religions of the state in the Empire, under a ‘Christian’ banner. Christmas, All Saints ’ Day and Easter among others are similar in this concept. Pagan celebrations Christianized for the unity of the religious state of Rome, ideas which we absorb into our understanding of Gods word. It is event still in the concept of separation of body and soul at death as a tradition in the Christian church ever since.  This distracts us from a true understanding of scripture as delivered to a Hebrew understanding when it was written in the first century AD. That of resurrection into Christ’s future kingdom.