Sheol, Hades, Hell, Paradise, & Heaven

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There was no time, no opportunity. He just believed, depended on Jesus, and as a result he went to Paradise (Rev. 2:7).

If we compare the Old Testament and the New Testament, we see that Sheol and Hades are below (Luke 10:15) and Paradise or heaven is above. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul told us that he was taken up to the third heaven. In Acts 1:11 the apostles saw Jesus ascend upward into heaven.

Since the Cross. For the Old Testament saints and for New Testament Christians, death is wonderful. The Old Testament indicates that God received the Old Testament saints at death (Psalms 49:15) and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 tells us,

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord - for we walk by faith, not by sight - We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. (NASB) 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Conclusion. Because Jesus died and returned to life to forgive our sins if we want Him to, each man or woman can go to heaven. If we choose against Him, we go to hell. The decision belongs to each one to make. Those who choose not to believe are in real trouble because John 3:18 says,

He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NASB) John 3:18

And John 3:36 says those who do not believe have the wrath of God waiting for them. The New Testament says unbelievers go to Hades when they die, and they eventually go to hell or the lake of fire.

Today when Christians die, they immediately go to Paradise to be with Jesus. Some day in the future Jesus Christ will return to earth to take all Christians to heaven. We call it the Second Advent. When this happens, all Christians who are alive at that time will meet Christ in the air,

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. (NASB) 1 Thess 4:17

They will instantly be changed and receive immortal or heavenly bodies. God has prepared a wonderful place for Christians. In Revelation 21-22 He calls it the new heaven and new earth. It is a place of joy, comfort, peace and harmony. There will no longer be any suffering of any kind. We will inherit all these things (Rev. 21:7). We will spend eternity with our Lord Jesus.

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Sheol, Hades, Hell, Paradise, & Heaven