The second coming of Christ

[rosered]

 
Hi guys ,
  Does anyone have some clear  thoughts concerning the  second coming of Christ
  I was wondering  because alot of scriptures  speaks of the first coming of Christ was in the flesh  His body prepared to be sent in the fulness of time
  and the second coming is  in our flesh ?
    some scriptures speaks of Him  coming like a thief in the night and  behold I come quickly

and a place where Jesus  speaks of   Israel they did not know the time of their visitation 
any and all imput is appreciated 

   Asking for  and needing  more clear answers  ,
  I could never be clear  enough  for some reason  ?? :sigh:

[Lazarus Short]

As time goes on, it becomes more and more clear that mankind is on a path to inevitable self-extinction - the world is going to "hell" on a rocket sled, not on a hand cart.  God knows that, and made provision, so that these days would be cut short, before that extinction.  God holds back in order to save as many as possible, while births still occur.  At just the right time, Jesus the Christ will appear to all, with shouts, trumpets, and the very sky being rolled aside.  No secret rapture will be possible.  The saints, dead and living, will be taken out and will be with the Lord forever - no worries! 

[rosered]

As time goes on, it becomes more and more clear that mankind is on a path to inevitable self-extinction - the world is going to "hell" on a rocket sled, not on a hand cart.  God knows that, and made provision, so that these days would be cut short, before that extinction.  God holds back in order to save as many as possible, while births still occur.  At just the right time, Jesus the Christ will appear to all, with shouts, trumpets, and the very sky being rolled aside.  No secret rapture will be possible.  The saints, dead and living, will be taken out and will be with the Lord forever - no worries!

Thanks Laz !! :friendstu:


  The birthing of  the Sons of God are going on  right now in the spiritual realm
  just as the natural realm    are    birthing     as they also  marry   and promise marriage
and some just   making  littleones  out of wedlock    , so is it in the spiritual realm 

The second coming of Christ   , in the night  is also  like being'' unaware' He  is come  to them ,  correct ?  If you keep Jesus sayings , you will never taste death   right ?

Jesus pointed out to     those religious leaders that    they  would not  taste death , TILL they seen the kingdom of God



Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.


Jhn 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

Both are true  , as both happen   as life to some and death  to others  , to both types   , so   the rapture  theory  is a bust     for the most part 

its a judgment  of God it seems to me 

[Lazarus Short]

Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

I expect that, as Jesus said those words, Stephen was nearby.  Stephen saw the kingdom of God before he tasted death.  Jesus may have even looked right at Stephen as He said it.

[rosered]

Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

I expect that, as Jesus said those words, Stephen was nearby.  Stephen saw the kingdom of God before he tasted death.  Jesus may have even looked right at Stephen as He said it.

:ty:

wow , yes I can see that now !   ''Heaven opened '' to recive a son / Stephen
an angel of God messenger
  gives new meaning to this verse for me
How they go up and   some down  ?

Act 7:56   And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Jhn 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

[Lazarus Short]

 :gimmefive:

[WhiteWings]

Hi guys ,
  Does anyone have some clear  thoughts concerning the  second coming of Christ
  I was wondering  because alot of scriptures  speaks of the first coming of Christ was in the flesh  His body prepared to be sent in the fulness of time
  and the second coming is  in our flesh ?
    some scriptures speaks of Him  coming like a thief in the night and  behold I come quickly

and a place where Jesus  speaks of   Israel they did not know the time of their visitation 
any and all imput is appreciated 

   Asking for  and needing  more clear answers  ,
  I could never be clear  enough  for some reason  ?? :sigh:

It means the coming of Jesus will be VERY loud and noisy. It means at or 10 days after new year. Yeah, I even think at daybreak on atonement day.
I also think Jesus comes several times or perhaps better wording would be "is revealed to a greater audience". He comes for His bride (some call that rapture). Later He comes on His white horse to crush satan at the battle of Armagedon.

That's my interpretation.

[JulieTang84]

Hi RoseRed,


I found this on a forum just a little while ago. The brutal honesty of it really caught my attention and I place it here for the truth it contains.


I am really unsure what to make of this.......


Love Julie  :HeartThrob:



Here's proof..........


Jesus was born and walked on earth < first time.He died, arose 3 DAYS LATER AND RETURNED TO THE LIVING A -SECOND TIME-


a second time,a second time. Why do you believe the traditions taught by men and not the word?


Remember the other thief on the cross? Luke 23:43 And Jesus said" I ASSURE YOU,-TODAY- you will be with me in Paradise".Jesus said -TODAY- not in some "second" rapture.


JESUS AND THE OTHER THIEF ASCENDED THAT DAY along with the PEOPLE from the graves busting open as stated by Matthew the moment JesUS died.


If your waiting for jesus to come back, you are waiting on A 3rd coming.


CAN YOU NOT READ AND COUNT TO 3?
The other thief did not have to wait on a -SECOND- rapture.


THEY WERE ALL CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE. OH AND WE NEVER LEFT, we are the ones that not all sleep. It only takes a twinkling of an eye to go to the thrown room and back with our god-given authority.


Have you died and been resuscitated? Congratulations,you have been to the thrown room too.

[Tom]

Sometimes it makes a big difference where you put a little comma. See the attachment.

Christ alone has immortality, but we're next when the time comes.

...unto the advent of our Lord, Christ Jesus,
15 which, to its own eras, the happy and only Potentate will be showing: He is King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 Who alone has immortality, making His home in light inaccessible, Whom not one of mankind perceived nor can be perceiving (1 Timothy 6:14-16)

20 Yet now Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing.
21 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.
22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.
23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence;
24 thereafter the consummation (1 Corinthians 15:20-24)

14 For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him.
15 For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose,
16 for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first.
17 Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord.
18 So that, console one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

[attachment deleted by admin]

[ded2daworld]

There are two problems with greek and hebrew writings. No caps (or all caps in the greek) and no punctuation.

For example, "I tell you, Today you will be with me in paradise."

or "I tell you today. You will be with me in Paradise."

The words are exact but the punctuation which wasn't there at all in the original, changes the meaning.

[JulieTang84]

Oh goshTom you beat me to it. I ccame back to delete my post.

Thanks for yours  :HeartThrob:

Love Julie

[JulieTang84]

There are two problems with greek and hebrew writings. No caps (or all caps in the greek) and no punctuation.

For example, "I tell you, Today you will be with me in paradise."

or "I tell you today. You will be with me in Paradise."

The words are exact but the punctuation which wasn't there at all in the original, changes the meaning.

Is Greek a language whose meaning is derived by how it is spoken ie emphsiss, and not how it is written?

[jbertonbounds]

Punctuation can make a huge difference. IMO the Rotherham Emphasized Bible does a good job with the punctuation. In addition, they developed a whole set of new punctuation just for that version of the bible. Love my Rotherham Emphasized!

Sometimes it's like the difference between "Let's eat, Grandma!" and "Let's eat Grandma!"
:laugh: :laughing7: :laugh: :laugh: :LH:  :laughing7:
:rolllol: :laughing7: :laughing7: :laugh: :LH: :LH:
:mock: :rolllol: :laughing7: :laughing7: :laugh: :laugh:

[ded2daworld]

The theif did not ascend with Christ. Christ did not ascend till the third day and no mention is made of the theif.
Paul, wrote in Galatians (about 20 years after the ascension of Jesus that, "No one has ascended to the Father except he who descended from the Father" :Peace2:

[jbertonbounds]

The theif did not ascend with Christ. Christ did not ascend till the third day and no mention is made of the theif.
Paul, wrote in Galatians (about 20 years after the ascension of Jesus that, "No one has ascended to the Father except he who descended from the Father" :Peace2:

A good example of scripture interpreting scripture. :thumbsup:

[JulieTang84]

Amen to that
  :HeartThrob:

[sheila]

[/b   whoo descended?    I see a whole city descending out of heaven prepared as a Bride.............

   if He be lifted up..and draw all men unto Him..surely they ascend also.

   I saaw a sheet coming down out of heaven...with all kinds of animals,both clean and unclean...and rise back up to heaven

    3times!  Rise,Peter..kill and eat.........=ministry of recnciliation........carnal understanding killed[wisdom hath slain her beaasts]

   mind of Christ given.[both clean and unclean beasts]

   exercize in good and evil for those  born again from above

[ded2daworld]

"No one has ascended to the Father except he who descended from the Father"
He who descended from the father is Christ, then born of the virgin Mary, then 3 days after his death ascended to heaven - the only human to do so.

animals in visions don't count

We will surely ascend eventually. 20 years after Christ had ascended, no other human had done so.

[Tom]

9 Now the 'He ascended,' what is it except that He first descended also into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He Who descends is the Same Who ascends also, up over all who are of the heavens, that He should be completing all. (Ephesians 4:9,10)

I was thinking about when I saw somebody on the forum discussing the meaning of descending to the lower parts of the earth that the Dead Sea is said to be the lowest elevation on earth, and Jerusalem and all the other places Christ is said to have walked aren't far from there.

[ded2daworld]

I (rightly or wrongly) assumed it was his burial (symbolic of under like underwater in Baptism) :Peace2:

[Tom]

me too

[WhiteWings]

Jesus' Promise Of Paradise To The Thief On The Cross

"And Jesus said unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:43

This verse is often quoted in support of the belief that souls go to their reward immediately after death. Upon closer examination, this verse can be brought into harmony with the scores of Bible texts that teach otherwise.

1) Paradise Synonymous With Heaven

The word "paradise," translated from the Greek "paradeisos," means an "enclosure," "park," or "preserve" containing trees, in which animals were often kept for the hunt. It was enclosed by walls and sometimes furnished with towers for the hunters. Translated from the Hebrew "pardes" it means "forest," or "orchard" (see on Nehemiah 2:8; Ecclesiastes 2:5). In the LXX the "garden" of Eden is spoken of as the "paradise" of Eden (see on Genesis 2:8). In fact, "paradeisos" is common in the LXX where the word "garden" (Hebrew "gan") appears in the English translation (see Genesis 3:1; Isaiah 51:3; Joel 2:3; etc.).

In the New Testament "paradeisos" occurs only in Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the fact that Paul refers to no earthly "paradise" is doubly clear from the fact that he equates being "caught up" to "heaven" with being "caught up" to "paradise." According to Revelation 2:7 the "tree of life" is said to be "in the midst of the paradise of God," whereas in Revelation 21:1-3, 10; 22:1-5 the tree of life is associated with the new earth, the New Jerusalem, the river of life, and the throne of God. There can be no doubt that New Testament usage of "paradeisos" consistently makes it synonymous with "heaven."

2) "Be With Me in Paradise."

On the eve of the betrayal-less than 24 hours before making this promise to the thief-Jesus had told the Twelve Disciples, "In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you....I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (see on John 14:1-3). Yet, three days later Jesus informed Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father" (John 20:17). Obviously, therefore, Jesus did not go to paradise ("heaven," see above), and was not in paradise, on the day of His crucifixion. Accordingly, the thief could not have been with Jesus in paradise.

Therefore, when Jesus assured the thief of a place with Him in "paradise," He referred to the "many mansions" of His "Father's house" and to the time when He would "receive" unto Himself His own (see on John 14:1-3). Throughout His ministry Jesus had specifically stated that He would "reward every man according to his works" when He returned in triumph "in the glory of his Father with his angels" (see on Matthew 16:27). Not until that time will he invite the saved of earth to "inherit the kingdom prepared for" them "from the foundation of the world" (see on Matthew 25:31,34; cf. Revelation 22:12). Paul taught that those who fall asleep in Jesus will come forth from their graves at Christ's second coming (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23) to receive immortality (vs. 51-55). The resurrected righteous and the righteous living will "be caught up together...to meet the Lord in the air," and thus "ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). The thief will, accordingly, be "with" Jesus in "paradise" following the resurrection of the just, at His second coming.

3) Misplaced Punctuation Inserted During Translation

The comma between the words "thee" and "to day" was inserted by the translators. The original Greek text, which had neither punctuation nor word division reads: "amen soi lego semeron met emou ese en to paradeiso," literally, "truly to-you I-say today with-me you-will-be in the paradise." The adverb "semeron," "today," stands between the two verbs "lego," "I-say," and "ese," "you-will-be," and might properly apply to either. Its position immediately following the verb "lego," "I-say," may imply a closer grammatical relationship to it than to the verb "ese," "you will be."

Obviously, in placing the comma before the word "to day," the translators were guided by the unscriptural concept that the dead enter into their rewards at death. But, as set forth above, it is manifest that neither Jesus nor the writers of the New Testament believed or taught such a doctrine. To place the comma before the word "today" thus makes Christ contradict what He and the various New Testament writers have plainly stated elsewhere. Accordingly, the Scriptures themselves require that the comma be placed after the word "to day," not before it.

Joseph B. Rotherham in the emphasized New Testament, renders this passage in these words: "Verily I say unto thee this day: With Me shalt thou be in Paradise." Luke 23:43. And George M. Lamsa, in his translation of the New Testament from Aramaic sources, renders it as follows: "Truly I say to you today, You will be with Me in Paradise."

Thus, when Christ said to the thief on the cross: "Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with me in paradise," He was answering the great question the thief was pondering at the moment: not when he would reach paradise, but whether he would get there at all. Jesus' simple statement assures him that, however undeserving he may be, and however impossible it may appear for Jesus to make good such a promise while dying the death of a condemned criminal Himself, the thief will most assuredly be there. In fact, it was Jesus' presence on the cross that made such a hope possible.

[dajomaco]

On the eve of the betrayal-less than 24 hours before making this promise to the thief-Jesus had told the Twelve Disciples, "In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you....I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (see on John 14:1-3). Yet, three days later Jesus informed Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father" (John 20:17). Obviously, therefore, Jesus did not go to paradise ("heaven," see above), and was not in paradise, on the day of His crucifixion. Accordingly, the thief could not have been with Jesus in paradise.

This is based on the assumption that after death.
An hour has 60 minutes and a minute has 60 seconds as recorded on Mans Atomic Clock.

[jbertonbounds]

Jesus' Promise Of Paradise To The Thief On The Cross

"And Jesus said unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:43

This verse is often quoted in support of the belief that souls go to their reward immediately after death. Upon closer examination, this verse can be brought into harmony with the scores of Bible texts that teach otherwise.

1) Paradise Synonymous With Heaven

The word "paradise," translated from the Greek "paradeisos," means an "enclosure," "park," or "preserve" containing trees, in which animals were often kept for the hunt. It was enclosed by walls and sometimes furnished with towers for the hunters. Translated from the Hebrew "pardes" it means "forest," or "orchard" (see on Nehemiah 2:8; Ecclesiastes 2:5). In the LXX the "garden" of Eden is spoken of as the "paradise" of Eden (see on Genesis 2:8). In fact, "paradeisos" is common in the LXX where the word "garden" (Hebrew "gan") appears in the English translation (see Genesis 3:1; Isaiah 51:3; Joel 2:3; etc.).

In the New Testament "paradeisos" occurs only in Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the fact that Paul refers to no earthly "paradise" is doubly clear from the fact that he equates being "caught up" to "heaven" with being "caught up" to "paradise." According to Revelation 2:7 the "tree of life" is said to be "in the midst of the paradise of God," whereas in Revelation 21:1-3, 10; 22:1-5 the tree of life is associated with the new earth, the New Jerusalem, the river of life, and the throne of God. There can be no doubt that New Testament usage of "paradeisos" consistently makes it synonymous with "heaven."

2) "Be With Me in Paradise."

On the eve of the betrayal-less than 24 hours before making this promise to the thief-Jesus had told the Twelve Disciples, "In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you....I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (see on John 14:1-3). Yet, three days later Jesus informed Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father" (John 20:17). Obviously, therefore, Jesus did not go to paradise ("heaven," see above), and was not in paradise, on the day of His crucifixion. Accordingly, the thief could not have been with Jesus in paradise.

Therefore, when Jesus assured the thief of a place with Him in "paradise," He referred to the "many mansions" of His "Father's house" and to the time when He would "receive" unto Himself His own (see on John 14:1-3). Throughout His ministry Jesus had specifically stated that He would "reward every man according to his works" when He returned in triumph "in the glory of his Father with his angels" (see on Matthew 16:27). Not until that time will he invite the saved of earth to "inherit the kingdom prepared for" them "from the foundation of the world" (see on Matthew 25:31,34; cf. Revelation 22:12). Paul taught that those who fall asleep in Jesus will come forth from their graves at Christ's second coming (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23) to receive immortality (vs. 51-55). The resurrected righteous and the righteous living will "be caught up together...to meet the Lord in the air," and thus "ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). The thief will, accordingly, be "with" Jesus in "paradise" following the resurrection of the just, at His second coming.

3) Misplaced Punctuation Inserted During Translation

The comma between the words "thee" and "to day" was inserted by the translators. The original Greek text, which had neither punctuation nor word division reads: "amen soi lego semeron met emou ese en to paradeiso," literally, "truly to-you I-say today with-me you-will-be in the paradise." The adverb "semeron," "today," stands between the two verbs "lego," "I-say," and "ese," "you-will-be," and might properly apply to either. Its position immediately following the verb "lego," "I-say," may imply a closer grammatical relationship to it than to the verb "ese," "you will be."

Obviously, in placing the comma before the word "to day," the translators were guided by the unscriptural concept that the dead enter into their rewards at death. But, as set forth above, it is manifest that neither Jesus nor the writers of the New Testament believed or taught such a doctrine. To place the comma before the word "today" thus makes Christ contradict what He and the various New Testament writers have plainly stated elsewhere. Accordingly, the Scriptures themselves require that the comma be placed after the word "to day," not before it.

Joseph B. Rotherham in the emphasized New Testament, renders this passage in these words: "Verily I say unto thee this day: With Me shalt thou be in Paradise." Luke 23:43. And George M. Lamsa, in his translation of the New Testament from Aramaic sources, renders it as follows: "Truly I say to you today, You will be with Me in Paradise."

Thus, when Christ said to the thief on the cross: "Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with me in paradise," He was answering the great question the thief was pondering at the moment: not when he would reach paradise, but whether he would get there at all. Jesus' simple statement assures him that, however undeserving he may be, and however impossible it may appear for Jesus to make good such a promise while dying the death of a condemned criminal Himself, the thief will most assuredly be there. In fact, it was Jesus' presence on the cross that made such a hope possible.

This is good stuff.   :thumbsup:   Thanks WW!

[JulieTang84]

Jesus' Promise Of Paradise To The Thief On The Cross

"And Jesus said unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:43

This verse is often quoted in support of the belief that souls go to their reward immediately after death. Upon closer examination, this verse can be brought into harmony with the scores of Bible texts that teach otherwise.

1) Paradise Synonymous With Heaven

The word "paradise," translated from the Greek "paradeisos," means an "enclosure," "park," or "preserve" containing trees, in which animals were often kept for the hunt. It was enclosed by walls and sometimes furnished with towers for the hunters. Translated from the Hebrew "pardes" it means "forest," or "orchard" (see on Nehemiah 2:8; Ecclesiastes 2:5). In the LXX the "garden" of Eden is spoken of as the "paradise" of Eden (see on Genesis 2:8). In fact, "paradeisos" is common in the LXX where the word "garden" (Hebrew "gan") appears in the English translation (see Genesis 3:1; Isaiah 51:3; Joel 2:3; etc.).

In the New Testament "paradeisos" occurs only in Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the fact that Paul refers to no earthly "paradise" is doubly clear from the fact that he equates being "caught up" to "heaven" with being "caught up" to "paradise." According to Revelation 2:7 the "tree of life" is said to be "in the midst of the paradise of God," whereas in Revelation 21:1-3, 10; 22:1-5 the tree of life is associated with the new earth, the New Jerusalem, the river of life, and the throne of God. There can be no doubt that New Testament usage of "paradeisos" consistently makes it synonymous with "heaven."

2) "Be With Me in Paradise."

On the eve of the betrayal-less than 24 hours before making this promise to the thief-Jesus had told the Twelve Disciples, "In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you....I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (see on John 14:1-3). Yet, three days later Jesus informed Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father" (John 20:17). Obviously, therefore, Jesus did not go to paradise ("heaven," see above), and was not in paradise, on the day of His crucifixion. Accordingly, the thief could not have been with Jesus in paradise.

Therefore, when Jesus assured the thief of a place with Him in "paradise," He referred to the "many mansions" of His "Father's house" and to the time when He would "receive" unto Himself His own (see on John 14:1-3). Throughout His ministry Jesus had specifically stated that He would "reward every man according to his works" when He returned in triumph "in the glory of his Father with his angels" (see on Matthew 16:27). Not until that time will he invite the saved of earth to "inherit the kingdom prepared for" them "from the foundation of the world" (see on Matthew 25:31,34; cf. Revelation 22:12). Paul taught that those who fall asleep in Jesus will come forth from their graves at Christ's second coming (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23) to receive immortality (vs. 51-55). The resurrected righteous and the righteous living will "be caught up together...to meet the Lord in the air," and thus "ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). The thief will, accordingly, be "with" Jesus in "paradise" following the resurrection of the just, at His second coming.

3) Misplaced Punctuation Inserted During Translation

The comma between the words "thee" and "to day" was inserted by the translators. The origina l Greek text, which had neither punctuation nor word division reads: "amen soi lego semeron met emou ese en to paradeiso," literally, "truly to-you I-say today with-me you-will-be in the paradise." The adverb "semeron," "today," stands between the two verbs "lego," "I-say," and "ese," "you-will-be," and might properly apply to either. Its position immediately following the verb "lego," "I-say," may imply a closer grammatical relationship to it than to the verb "ese," "you will be."

Obviously, in placing the comma before the word "to day," the translators were guided by the unscriptural concept that the dead enter into their rewards at death. But, as set forth above, it is manifest that neither Jesus nor the writers of the New Testament believed or taught such a doctrine. To place the comma before the word "today" thus makes Christ contradict what He and the various New Testament writers have plainly stated elsewhere. Accordingly, the Scriptures themselves require that the comma be placed after the word "to day," not before it.

Joseph B. Rotherham in the emphasized New Testament, renders this passage in these words: "Verily I say unto thee this day: With Me shalt thou be in Paradise." Luke 23:43. And George M. Lamsa, in his translation of the New Testament from Aramaic sources, renders it as follows: "Truly I say to you today, You will be with Me in Paradise."

Thus, when Christ said to the thief on the cross: "Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with me in paradise," He was answering the great question the thief was pondering at the moment: not when he would reach paradise, but whether he would get there at all. Jesus' simple statement assures him that, however undeserving he may be, and however impossible it may appear for Jesus to make good such a promise while dying the death of a condemned criminal Himself, the thief will most assuredly be there. In fact, it was Jesus' presence on the cross that made such a hope possible.

Forgive me WW.    :HeartThrob:

But for your reasoning to be correct, there must be a "tomorrow" in death. Clearly the Sriptures speak of there being no time in death. To this point, there is no time in Father either. He is the End as well as the beginning. We must not assume that Jesus meant something other than he said in order to satisfy our understanding.

Please accept this with the love on which it was written.

Love Julie  :HeartThrob: