Paradise is a place. If you were wandering around the Persian Gulf a while back you would have seen a sign that said "You are now entering the country of Eden. Get your passport ready."

After you entered Eden and traveled east for a while you would come to another sign, "Paradise City Limits."

Paradise is a place. In Paradise was everything we could ever want in Heaven, including the Presence of God. There were no mansions because the weather was nice, like in Heaven.

Because we sinned God drove us from the garden and lifted Paradise out of Iraq up to the third heaven where it is to this day.

From some of the statements of the Prophet Isaiah it appears that Paradise will be restored to the earth when the Lord returns. The children will love this.

There was a man hanging on a cross next to Jesus. We know nothing of the history of this individual. But we know he was a true man because he didn't blame other people for his misbehavior.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:40-43)

"Today you will be with Me in Paradise."

The criminal said, "Lord, remember me when You come into your kingdom."

Your kingdom! He recognized Jesus as a king.

Then note Jesus' answer: "Today you will be with Me in Paradise"; not in the Kingdom but in Paradise.

Why? Because Paradise is a place. Soon after this statement the man and Jesus were walking in the garden of God.

Why not the Kingdom of God? Because the Kingdom of God is not a place where you can take somebody. You can bring someone under the rule of the Kingdom but not into the Kingdom itself. Let us go on to explain.

The Kingdom of God is God in Christ in the saints governing and blessing the creation of God. The Kingdom of God came into existence when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead.

The Kingdom of God is being created in response to the rebellion of the angels. The purpose of the Kingdom of God is to get the snakes out of Paradise. Sin is not only possible in Paradise, sin began in Paradise!

At some point in an era so far back in time as to be incomprehensible to us, Satan was one of two cherubim who overshadowed the Throne of God with their wings. While in the holiest area of all of the Paradise of God it came into Satan's heart to rebel against God and to set himself above the other creatures of God.

To be continued.