CHAPTER VII
THE SCRIPTURE REVELATION OF THE
RIGHTEOUS IN THE PRESENT PARADISE
We have seen from many Scripture references that the souls of the
departed dead are alive and conscious. Now let us inquire into the
Scripture to see what else is revealed concerning the departed dead,
besides the fact that they are conscious.
Let us consider the righteous dead. What is revealed about them?
And what is known of their abode paradise?
First, It can be positively said that for a Christian to depart in
death is to enter a condition "FAR BETTER" than what we have known
in this world. Philippians 1:21-24. The assurance of entering a condition
"far better" immediately after death, should be a great source of comfort
for the Christian.
The most outstanding fact revealed concerning the righteous in paradise
is that they are "PRESENT WITH THE LORD." Think of it, the
righteous dead are in the presence of Jesus Christ Himself! What could
be more wonderful than the blessing and glory of being present with
Jesus our Saviour?
In II Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul uses strong words in expressing that
"to be absent from the body" is to be present with the Lord. Twice,
he uses the phrase, "We are confident" which is, in the literal translation
("We can say with absolute boldness") "to be absent from the
body, and to be present with the Lord."
Other Scriptures shed light and give us greater understanding of
what it really means to be present with the Lord.
Here is the blessedness of being present with Christ. John 17:24.
In Christ's prayer for the Church the Christians He says "Father,
I will that they also whom thou has given me, BE WITH ME WHERE
I AM, that THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY." At death the true
Christians go to be with Christ where He is, there to "BEHOLD HIS
GLORY." What more could anyone possibly ask than to behold the
glory of Christ? Yet there are those of us, at times, who desire to
have our loved ones back with us again. But if we truly understood
in the fullest sense what it means to be "present with the Lord" and
to "behold his glory" there would not be one of us who would desire
our righteous loved ones to return from paradise to this earth. We
love them too much to have them leave paradise where they "are
beholding the glory of Christ" to return to this ordinary realm.
In addition to what has already been noted about the righteous being
in the presence of Christ, and beholding His glory, is an outstanding
reference in one of the Messianic Psalms.
Psalm 16:11, "In thy presence is fullness of Joy; at thy right hand
there are pleasures for evermore."
Truly it is a wonderful place to which the righteous have gone.
This reference not only gives us an idea of what it means to be present
with Christ, but it is also more positive proof that the departed dead
are conscious. They must be conscious in order to enjoy "fullness of
joy" and "pleasures for evermore." There is joy in heaven, we are
told, over the conversions that take place on earth. In Luke 15:7, we
read, "I say unto.you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one
sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-and-nine just persons
which need no repentance."
It is certain that paradise is a most glorious and wonderful place.
The word "paradise," itself signifies "pleasure" or "delight." It is glorious
and wonderful to the extent that it is impossible for human words
to express it. When Paul was caught up into paradise (II Corinthians
12:1-4) he heard "unspeakable words which were not lawful (not possible)
for a man to utter."
He heard such unspeakable and glorious things that it was impossible
for man to explain them. Yes, he saw such exceedingly great and
marvelous things that it was impossible for Paul to find words to tell
what he saw, and because of the "abundance of revelation" because
of the great wonders and glories that only he had been privileged
to see and know, a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him to keep
him from becoming exalted or puffed up.
It is certain then that the souls of the righteous in paradise are
in a wonderful place, for Paul could not find words beautiful enough
to describe it, and a messenger of Satan was sent to keep him from
becoming puffed up over the glories that had been revealed to him.
Concerning Paradise, the following reference makes it clear that
the righteous, those who die in the Lord, are "blessed" and are resting.
Revelation 14:13, "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."
The Greek word for "henceforth" is "aparti" and means from this
time on, immediately - now! Those who die in the Lord have not to
sleep in the grave, or be out of existence for perhaps thousands of
years before their heavenly joys begin, but they enter at once,
immediately into "Blessedness."
The word "blessed" means "happy." This implies consciousness,
because happiness is an emotion that demands consciousness.
The reference quoted above is written primarily of those who shall
die sometime during the tribulation, yet it also can be applied to those
who now die in the Lord.
Another verse that will add to the evidence of what we have already
learned concerning the righteous in paradise is Psalm 116:15. The
death of the believer is "precious" to the Lord. "Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His saints." Certainly it would not be precious
in the sight of the Lord to send His saints into oblivion, or to put
them out of existence until the resurrection. The death of the believer
is "precious" to Him because it brings the spirit into a perfect and
permanent communion with Himself; because it is the beginning of
joyful and never ending reunion; because it is freedom from mortal
limitations; and because it is deliverance from the realm of Satan
and sin.
The following is a brief summary of what is revealed concerning
the righteous in paradise. For the Christian to depart in death to
paradise is to enter a place that is "far better" than we have known
in this world. It is a place in which the righteous are "present with
the Lord" a place in which there is "fullness of joy" and "pleasures
for evermore." It is so wonderful and glorious that man cannot find
words to explain it. It is "unspeakable." It is a place in which the
righteous dead are said to be "blessed" and at "rest." And the death
of His saints is termed "precious" in the sight of the Lord because
it brings them to this place and is the beginning of joyful and never
ending reunion.
NOTE
Often writers try to give many details about paradise and heaven,
and attempt to answer a great many questions for those who would
like to have them answered. However, the Bible reveals very little
about details in paradise and heaven. The Bible carries the subject
only to a certain point, and no further, and to go beyond what the
Bible reveals is only speculation and guesswork in attempting to answer
questions.
It is probably better that the Bible reveals only a certain amount
about the conditions in paradise and heaven, for if we knew all about
it we would not be content to remain here a single hour. Remember
that Paul was caught up into paradise and because of the "abundance
of revelation" because of the exceedingly great glories that he beheld,
it was necessary that a messenger of Satan buffet him to keep him
from being.too much puffed up (II Corinthians 12:1-4).
It will be wonderful enough when we get there. Let us thank God
for the "fore-taste" He has given us.
WILL WE RECOGNIZE ONE ANOTHER
IN PARADISE?
This question has been of great concern to many people. In answering
this important question, the following considerations are worthy of
our attention:
- David, the inspired Psalmist, said regarding his son who had died,
"He shall not return to me, but I shall go to him." (II Sam. 12:23).
Surely David knew he would recognize his son, when he would go
to him at death. If David would not recognize his son there would
be no purpose in making the statement.
- Christ said to the dying thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in
paradise." (Luke 23:43). Certainly they expected to recognize each
other in paradise, or the thief would have no consolation or comfort
in the promise.
- Certainly Paul would not have desired to be with Christ if he
were not sure he would recognize and know the One Whom he desired
to be with. (Philippians 1:21-24).
- If the disciples recognized Moses and Elijah when they appeared
with Christ on the "Mount of Transfiguration," certainly the disciples
would be able to recognize them in paradise. (Matthew 17:1-8). Moses
and Elijah were recognized by the disciples without a formal introduction.
These men had departed from the earth centuries before, yet
when they returned they had sufficient of the earth personality to
be instantly recognized by men who knew them only by their description.
- The rich man, in the account of the rich man and Lazarus, recognized
both Abraham and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31).
- Since to be in paradise is "far better" than to be here, we may
be sure that we shall NOT know less in paradise than we know here.
If we know loved ones here surely we will know them there.
I Corinthians 13:12 declares that we shall then see, not "darkly" but
"face to face." "Now we know in part," but then we shall know even
as we are known.
We may certainly expect to know our beloved ones in paradise, and
it is very probable that we will know every person there, and that
they will all be "our friends and loved ones."
No doubt there are many who are wondering whether or not the
righteous are able to speak with the Lord. That the saved are able
to speak with the Lord with whom they are thus "at home," seems
beyond doubt. We are able to speak to Him even from here; surely
those who are in His bodily presence will not be less privileged than
we are. As an indirect reference we cite Revelation 6:9-11, in which
the tribulation saints who have died address the Lord. "They cried
with a loud voice, saying. How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou
not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
This verse applies to the tribulation which is still future, however
if these saints will be able to address the Lord, why wouldn't those
who are now in paradise be able to do the same?
Let us direct our thoughts again to the righteous in paradise. It
has been shown from the Scripture that they are conscious, and that
they are in the presence of Christ in a condition "far better" and are
"blessed" having "fullness of joy" in this "unspeakable" place. While
all this is true of the righteous, still it can be said of them that they
are in a condition of "incompleteness."
In paradise, man is said to be "incomplete," because at death the
real man the spiritual nature separates and leaves the physical
body on earth. Before man can be a '"trinity" again he must get his
physical body which will be resurrected. All the righteous are in Paradise
awaiting their resurrection bodies.
It should be carefully noted that no saint has yet entered the final
heaven, nor is any sinner yet said to be in the final hell. Paradise
is not the final heaven for eternity. At death the souls of the righteous
go to this paradise in the presence of Christ, not to the final heaven.
This eternal heaven, which the saints will occupy after they receive
their resurrection bodies, is described in the last chapters of Revelation,
and should not be confused with the present paradise, which the righteous
occupy until the resurrection.
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