Remember Jesus is of the Trinity. To be away from the body is to be with the Lord. There is a current Heaven that in the beginning a rebellion took place. This current Heaven is where the soul without the resurrected body resides with God in His 3 manifestations.
Philippians 1:23 ESV
I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Paradise is used in different ways. One of a garden and another as a heavenly place.
2 Corinthians 12:1-4
New International Version
12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
It is simply a current Heaven that is like a paradise during the dispensation of the ages leading up to the day where the current Earth, current Heaven, and Earthly Jerusalem is destroyed.
For a new to be brought forth, there must be an old.
His name was definitely signed to the Book of Life which is important for future events as well as his admission into Heaven.
amen !!
the world is currently divided like this both places running concurrent
“The heaven, even
the heavens, are the Lord's:
but
the earth hath he given to the children of men.”
Psalm 115:16 KJV
when Jesus took his place on the throne in heaven bekng rejected and crucified on earth this became the state of those two places heaven and earth
“And I heard a loud voice saying
in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is
cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for
the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”
Revelation 12:10-12 KJV
the war in heaven was won and the war on earth for the souls of men had begun
when we pass away in Christ it’s different than if we die without him. To die in Christ is blessing and peace and entrance into the kingdom established in heaven
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that
they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
Revelation 14:13 KJV
if we reject the gospel we end up dying in our sins and await in death the final resurrection and judgement of the dead
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
John 8:24
We want to die in THe lord so we can live with him in the kingdom when we leave our flesh rather than dying in our sins and being judged among the dead in the end
“Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And
whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
John 11:25-26 KJV
the thief was a believer and though his body died he did not
