Quote:
Originally Posted by bearbear
In his book "The Way for a Christian to Mature in Life", Witness Lee taught that Paradise is still in Hades and saints who die do not go to heaven but instead go to the same place as Lazarus as described in Luke 16. This belief is still held by those meeting in the local churches associated with Witness Lee.
However many evangelical Christians believe that paradise was taken up to heaven after Jesus died and rose and earned the right to obtain the keys to death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). I believe they have a strong biblical basis for this belief and that it is not out of ignorance.
In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4: Paul describes being "caught up to the third heaven" and hearing things in "paradise."
The third heaven is understood as God's dwelling place. If paradise is located in the third heaven, it suggests that it is now part of heaven.
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If the resting place of the dead believers was in heaven, then clearly there would be no need to be resurrected.
2 Corinthians 12 speaks of being taken to both Paradise and the 3rd heaven indicating they are not the same place.
I’m still looking for that verse that says we “go to heaven” when we die. I thought it was John 3.16 but it doesn’t say that.