Where is Paradise?

While Jesus was on the cross, one of the criminals crucified beside Jesus turned to him and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” In response, Jesus told him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42–43). What is this “paradise” that Jesus was referring to here?

Paradise in the New Testament

Besides this passage, the word “paradise” occurs two other times in the New Testament:

• In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul describes the journey of a man who was “caught up to the third heaven” (v. 2). Later on, he identifies this third heaven as “paradise” (v. 4).
• In Revelation 2:7, it is written that the tree of life is “in the paradise of God”. Later on, in Revelation 22:2, we find that the tree of life is in the New Jerusalem. Therefore, Paradise is the New Jerusalem.

The New Jerusalem

However, according to Revelation 21:1–2, the New Jerusalem will only be realized after the end time. How was the Apostle John able to see the New Jerusalem before that time? In verse 10, the Apostle John wrote that an angel carried him away “in spirit” and showed him the New Jerusalem. This was probably the same way that the man in 2 Corinthians 12 was also able to see Paradise before the end time or before his death.

In Luke 23:43, Jesus told the righteous criminal on the cross that he will be with him “in paradise” after the both of them have died. According to Revelation 2:7, Paradise is the place where the saved will go to after they die. Several other New Testament passages also indicate that for believers, death will be followed by their presence with the Lord Jesus (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23), which will doubtless be in Paradise. This is why, at the end of the Book of Revelation, the New Jerusalem (= Paradise) is described as God being with man (Rev. 21:2–3; 22:3).

Conclusion

Putting it all together: Paradise is the New Jerusalem, which will be realized after the end time, where the saved will be with the Lord Jesus, their God and Saviour, forever.