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The Thief on the Cross This study is a difficult one. To understand it, you really should read the previous lesson Does Anyone Go Directly to Heaven? The story of the thief on the cross is more complicated that you would expect. If you are really and truly interested in what the bible says about what happens when we die, you should carefully consider the scriptures in this study. If you would rather remain simplistic in your beliefs and stick to preconceived notions, then this website is not meant for you. If you want believe the status quo, then leave now. On the other hand, you can stick around and consider what the Word really says. Here is the starting point. One of the "arguments" that people use to prove that the dead go directly to heaven (or hell) when they die is the experience of the thief on the cross. There are two major points to consider when looking at the thief on the cross. Point # 1 The thief went to paradise which is not the same as heaven! The story of the thief pertains to the day that Jesus died on the cross. There were two thieves who were crucified on that day with Jesus. One criminal hurled insults at Jesus while the other recognized his own wrong doing. Let's read the story... Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. What did Jesus mean,. "...today you will be with me in paradise"? Did he mean to say that the thief would join him in "heaven" on that very day? In the previous lesson on Does Anyone Go Directly to Heaven, we saw that while Jesus body lay in the tomb, he went to a place to preach to spirits of the dead. Jesus went to Hades - the unseen world of the dead. On the day that Jesus died, he went to Hades, he did NOT go to heaven on that day! After the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. Let's examine it from another angle. To know for sure, we must define the word PARADISE and then compare it to the definition of HEAVEN. Definition of Paradise The word paradise the original language, Greek, is "paradeisos" which is defined as "a park, an eden, or place of future happiness." Is this the same as "heaven?" In the previous lesson, we discussed the fact that Jesus was caught up in the sky and taken to heaven. He was taken to a place called "heaven" and the Greek word for heaven is "ouranos" which means elevation to air, sky, the abode of God. Heaven (THE heaven) is the abode of God. Remember that Jesus said that NO man has ascended into heaven, except himself:  John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. The two words, "paradise" and "heaven" are different AND their definitions are different. Don't you think that IF the thief's spirit had gone to heaven, Jesus would have used the word "Ouranos" rather than "Paradeisos" or paradise. One is the abode of God, the other is a park. Since Jesus said "NO man has entered heaven" then it seems obvious that paradise and heaven are not exactly in the same place. What if I could show you that paradise is the third level of heaven? Stay with me on this! Let's look at a scripture that says just that: 2 Corinthians 12: 2-4 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man... How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. I made the following diagram to help you visualize this. It combines the Hebrew teachings about the seven levels of heaven, how the levels go from matter to heat to light and then to pure thought, and I combined that with hades, and Heaven (the abode of God). According to this scripture, the thief went to the third level, called paradise. It says, he went to the third heaven and in the same verse this place is called paradise! It is a wonderful park, but it is not as close to God (the same place that Jesus went) the abode of God! Two different words are used: One is "Paradeisios" and the other is "Ouranos". The terms are different and the definitions are different. Therefore, we must conclude that it is not the same place. What is in this paradise, this park? All I know is that the tree of life exists there. Revelations 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. According to ancient Jews, the "third heaven" seems to have been a common stopping-point in the spirit's journey, and it is mentioned in historic Jewish works. The Talmud relates how a group of Rabbis discoursed so impressively about Ezekiel's mysterious vision of the heavenly chariot, that a heavenly voice was prompted to announce: "A place is prepared to you, and a table is set for you--you and your students are admitted to the third level." As far as I can tell from the scriptures, paradise is a wonderful place of God, in which eternal life exists, but it is not place as close to God as where Jesus exists. Paradise and heaven are not exactly the same place. In a previous lesson, we also discussed Lazarus. His spirit exists in a realm called hades, a place of comfort. It seems reasonable that it is the same place that thief went to - a place called paradise - the third level of heaven. I found a scripture that is interesting. What do you think of this? Zechariah 13: 8-9 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. This is my Theory In my opinion, based on allot of study (not included in this website) we are on level 1 right now. We are matter. When our spirit separates from our body then we will go to another level. If your spirit is dark, it will stay in level 2 in darkness. If your spirit is light, it will pass through level 2 and go to the third level called paradise. My spirit cannot possibly get stuck in level 2 in darkness because I have been "enlightened." My soul is not in darkness, but in the light. So, I think that I will go to paradise, level 3, and I will meet Abraham, Lazarus, and the thief who died on the cross. And we all will stay there until the day of judgment. On the day of judgement, level one and two will be cut off and all the souls/spirits therein will die. The saints will become higher than the angels and will be in the presence of God - level seven. I know there is a scripture that says we (Christians) will be higher than the angels, but I cannot find it. If you know where it is, please email it to me! I would like to include it here. So, a "simplistic" view of heaven and hell just won't do for me! The scriptures tell the story, but it does take some study to examine all the details. Argument number one is that the thief did not go to heaven, per se'. It is not the typical place that we call "Heaven." He did not go to the same place that Jesus resides, the abode of God.   No, he went to place by a different name, paradise, which is the third level of heaven. Point #2 We should not compare ourselves to the thief on the cross, because he lived under the old law. Many people say, "No way! We do not need to be baptized for forgiveness because the thief on the cross was not baptized!" To understand how and when we get forgiven, you need to read the section on The Truth About How to Get Into Jesus. Many people use the story of the thief on the cross to "prove" that water baptism, or being baptized into Christ, is unnecessary for salvation. After all, the thief was not baptized. He made a "death bed confession" so to say. In order to understand, we must consider that the thief lived under the old law. While Jesus was alive, John the Baptist baptized for the purpose of repentance, to prepare the way for the coming of the Savior. AFTER the death and resurrection, however, the apostles baptized people for a different reason. In fact many people were re-baptized. A passage in Romans chapter 6 explains the purpose of baptism... Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection... The thief on the cross died BEFORE the death and resurrection of Christ. Like Abraham, he was justified by the fact that he believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Romans 4:3 Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Like Abraham, the thief on the cross was under the old covenant. You and I are living AFTER the death and resurrection, therefore baptism into Christ's death and resurrection IS relevant for us now! How could the thief be baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus if he died BEFORE the death and resurrection of Jesus? Baptism into the death and resurrection was irrelevant for the thief on the cross. Neither Abraham, Moses, or any of the prophets were baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus, for they all lived before that time. They were under the old law. So too, the thief was under the old law. Before Jesus died and was resurrected, many people were baptized by John the Baptist for repentance. However, John baptized BEFORE the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, his baptism was only for repentance. See for yourself, in the book of Acts, there are stories of all conversions. After the resurrection of Christ, people were baptized AGAIN into the death and resurrection of Jesus for forgiveness of sins. You and I live AFTER the death and resurrection, therefore, being baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ IS relevant now! Summary You and I are living in a different time than that of the thief on the cross. He died BEFORE the resurrection took place. Therefore, when people make the assumption that water baptism is not an essential part of salvation because the thief on the cross was not baptized, you need to realize that argument is irrelevant! You are under the New Law, the blood of Christ, and you should be baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus so that you may share in the resurrection someday. Romans 6: 3 + 5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection... There you have it!    If you want to share in the likeness of the resurrection, then you need to be baptized into Christ's death and resurrection. If you are still not sure of this fact, please read What Must I Do to be Saved? The Best Kept Secret. The next study is on the Resurrection and the Rapture.