Many Rose With Him

Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author   Close Window

Paradise

Luke 23

39. And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.
40. But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42. And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.
43. And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

In the above verses Jesus stated they would be in paradise that day, not the next and they would be together. Paradise was where those who died in the law waited until the day came when they could enter heaven and the next life.

First notice that Jesus said He would be there that very day, meaning He took sin on Him went to Hell and dropped all the sin there. It did not belong on Him or in paradise and, being sin free, he went over to Paradise.

He was only in Hell a short time and then spent the remainder of the 3 days that He was dead in paradise.

The following verses show us there was an Abraham's bosom (Paradise), a Hell, and a gulf between the two.

Luke 16

19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

So what did Jesus do for 3 days?

He did the same as He did here; He told all who would listen about the next life and how to have it.

Those who listened and believed arose with Him from the dead.

Matthew 27

52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Remember all who were in Jerusalem had yelled, "Crucify Him!"(3 days earlier). Now (3 days later) they see the dead walking through the streets. Why and what for?

Romans 10

9. because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
10. for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

As stated in the above verses those who rose with Jesus had to profess Jesus as Lord. So they went into the holy city (Jerusalem) and walked the streets professing Jesus as Lord.

Now imagine how those who had lost someone, a mother, father, child, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, friend, neighbor, had to feel seeing them alive, walking and professing as Lord the One they yelled to be crucified.

Or was it as Abraham had said to the rich man, not even the dead would help as in Luke 16:31.

Jesus even foretold this event as well as the one to come.

John 5

28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Here is something to consider; we know that Israel exceeded a million in Egypt, and that for 40 years they spent in the wilderness until that generation had died, so there may not have been even close to a million that went on. Over the next couple thousand years Israel had been conquered more than once and its people killed and put into slavery. So with this and the fact that in the Old Testament we have read that at times God had a hard time finding even one to believe and to use. So my point is there may not have been even a thousand in Paradise and not all of them came out. Maybe a hundred or so, just enough to make a difference in the belief of those who would hear the apostles 50 days later, but not enough to be noticed by all, especially the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees. Considering how many of them were of God, maybe one through out the whole time of Jesus, the one who helped in His burial. So most if not all of them would have discounted the dead walking the streets as something of the followers of Jesus doings.

There are three things you should get here. One is a form of rapture, two is the fact that there is another life, (or where else would they have gone to) and third that not all will believe, even in the grave. Those who did not believe had at least lived a good enough life to go to Paradise, they also saw Jesus descend into Hell and then cross over, and still they did not believe. If you are wondering where they are, that is easy, they are in Hell because after Jesus rose there was no more need for paradise.

Genesis 5

24. and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

2 Kings 2

9. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Now for those of you who want to be sure they are going on to the next life here are a few suggestions to follow

In Matthew 6 we learn how and when to pray. In 7 we learn never to judge. This is also told to us in other places but not as clearly as Matthew 7 or John 3:17. We also learn to forgive, best told in Mark 11:22-27 and in Matthew 5 that I have below just gives a sample of how Jesus came and completed the law. He did not do away with it, or justify its continued use as before, but completed it.

Matthew 5

20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Strong's Ref. # 4469

Romanized rhaka

Pronounced rhak-ah'

of Aramaic origin [compare HSN7386]; O empty one, i.e. thou worthless (as a term of utter vilification):

KJV--Raca.

Of course you should read, and re-read the Bible over and over, but no Matter what the following verses you should know and know well.

Matthew 6:1-34

Matthew 7:1-25

John 3:16-20

John 14:25

John 15:26

Romans 8:1, 16

Romans 10:9-10, 17

I Cor. 1:24

Hebrews 11:1-6

I John 2:20-27

The above 86 verses are not that hard to get a hold of and by no means are all you need to know, but they will get you on the way to growing and learning.

My prayer for you is:

3 John 1
2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

Remember to show faith when you pray, then praise and give thanks.

God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.

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