Paradise was taken to heaven

[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 Paradise of Hades where Lazarus was 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.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

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.

Ephesians 4:8-10
"Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

Ephesians 4:8 describes Christ leading captives in His ascension, suggesting that He took the righteous dead to heaven.

Next is Hebrews 12:22-24

Hebrews 12:22-24
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

Here the "heavenly Jerusalem" is identified as the city of God, where the spirits of the righteous dwell. This passage directly links the "spirits of the righteous made perfect" (likely those in paradise) to being in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Finally Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." Jesus is at home with the Father in heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55) so Paul is plainly telling us that when we die, we go to be home with the Lord in heaven.