1. Paradise Luke 23:39-43

2. Introduction
While He was hanging on the cross, Jesus told the penitent thief that on that day he would be with Him in Paradise
This is the first of only three times the word Paradise is used in the New Testament (NKJV)
It comes from a Persian word which means a pleasure garden
It is used today to refer to a place or a condition of great happiness where everything is exactly as you would like it to be
I want to consider the three places suggested by this word in our lesson

3. The First Paradise-1
The home that God prepared for our first ancestors- Gen. 2:8-9
That garden must have been a beautiful place with all of it fruit trees and blooming flowers
God provided for all of their needs
It was a healthy place
There was no pollution, either physical or spiritual, there
Adam and Eve live in purity and innocence in that paradise
There they enjoyed close and free fellowship with God

4. The First Paradise-2
God gave them only one prohibition, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil on penalty of death- Gen. 2:16-17
Satan deceived Eve into eating of that fruit, and later Adam ate it also
They were driven out of the garden of Eden and prevented from returning- Gen. 3:24
By their disobedience, sin and death entered into the world- Rom. 5:12
There hasn’t been a paradise on earth since

5. The Paradise of Hades-1
Hades is the place of departed spirits- Eccl. 12:7
It is called Sheol in the Old Testament
It is incorrectly translated Hell in the KJV
It contains a place of torment and a place that Jesus called Abraham’s bosom- Lk. 16:22
The place where Jesus’ spirit went when He died, and where He promised that the penitent thief would be with Him- Lk. 23:43

6. The Paradise of Hades-2
It is a place of comfort and rest for the spirits of righteous people- Job 3:17 & Rev. 14:13
Where the beggar Lazarus was carried by angels when he died
It is a temporary resting place
Hades is going to give up its inhabitants in the day of the great judgment- Rev. 20:13
Then, the righteous will inherit an eternal Paradise with God

7. The Paradise in Heaven-1
The Paradise Christ promised to the faithful Christians at Ephesus- Rev. 2:7
A place where all that was lost due to the sin of Adam and Eve will be restored
Its citizens will have free access to the tree of life which grows on each side of the river of life- Rev. 22:2
Let us notice some things that the scriptures reveal about this Paradise

8. The Paradise in Heaven-2
1. It is a paradise of great beauty
It is described as a city called New Jerusalem
Having streets of pure gold and walls of jasper- Rev. 21:2
With 12 foundations of precious gems
And gates made of pearls
Constant light to see and enjoy its beauty- v. 23
Beauty beyond our present comprehension

9. The Paradise in Heaven-3
It is a Holy paradise
Where the spiritual plague that began with Adam and Eve will be eliminated- Rev. 21:27
The causes of sadness that result from sin will not be there
No sorrow, pain, crying or death- Rev. 21:4
The best people who have ever lived will be there
Heaven is the home of the perfectly Holy One
There we will have close fellowship with God
And can ever be near to Him- Rev. 21:3

10. The Paradise in Heaven-4
3. It is an eternal paradise
Here the best and most enjoyable times are brief
The only lasting joys are in spiritual things which are often mingled with trouble and sorrows
Here there are many separations
The pleasures and joys of Heaven are eternal
They never fade nor will we grow tired of them- I Pet. 1:4
And there will be no separations in that Paradise

11. The Paradise in Heaven-5
It is a paradise prepared for the righteous
It has been prepared by God for His people- Heb. 11:16
Not everyone will have that city
Only those who have prepared to enter it
It is for those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life- Rev. 21:27
For those who keep His commandments- Rev. 22:14
Is your name written in that Book this morning?