PARADISE, GOD'S INCOMPARABLE REWARD

One of the men crucified with Christ Jesus said to Him:

'Lord remember me when You come in Your Kingly Glory!'

He answered him,

'Truly, I tell you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.'

(Luke 23:42, 43, AMP)

The Apostle Paul speaks of his experience in the Spirit:

'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.

And I know that this man--

Whether in the body or apart from the body

I do not know, but God knows--

WAS CAUGHT UP TO PARADISE.

HE HEARD INEXPRESSIBLE THINGS,

THINGS A MAN IS NOT PERMITTED TO TELL.'

(2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

Christ Jesus told the Ephesian Church:

'He who has an ear,

Let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

To him who Overcomes,

I will give the Right to eat from the Tree Of LIFE,

WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD.'

(Revelation 2:7)

Christ Jesus comforts his Disciples with these words:

'In My Father's House there are many rooms;

If it were not so, I would have told you.

IAM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.

And if I go and prepare a Place for you,

I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME

THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM.

YOU KNOW THE WAY TO THE PLACE WHERE I AM GOING.'

Thomas said to Him,

'Lord, we don't know where You are going,

So how can we know the Way?'

Jesus answered,

'I am the Way and the Truth and the LIFE.

No one comes to the Father

EXCEPT THROUGH ME.

If you Really Knew Me,

You would Know My Father as well.

From now on, you do Know Him

AND HAVE SEEN HIM.'

Philip said,

'Lord, show us the Father

And that will be enough for us.'

Jesus answered:

'DON'T YOU KNOW ME, PHILIP,

EVEN AFTER I HAVE BEEN AMONG YOU SUCH A LONG TIME?

ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER.

How can you say,

'SHOW US THE FATHER'?

DON'T YOU BELEIVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER,

AND THAT THE FATHER IS IN ME?

(John 14:2-10)

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians:

'WE LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.

We are Confident, I say,

And would Prefer to be Away from the body

AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD.

So we make it our Goal to Please Him,

Whether we are at Home in the body

Or Away from it.

FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR

BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST,

THAT EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS DUE HIM

For the things done while in the body,

WHETHER GOOD OR BAD.

(2 Corinthians 5:7-10)

The Apostle Paul told the Philippians:

'FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.

If I am to go on living in the body,

This will mean Fruitful Labor for me.

Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

I AM TORN BETWEEN THE TWO:

I DESIRE TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST,

WHICH IS BETTER BY FAR;

But it is more necessary for you

That I remain in the body.'

(Philippians 1:21-24)