Is the thief that was on the cross with Jesus in heaven today?
Yes, the thief on the cross is with the Lord Jesus in heaven today. When they were on the cross and died almost 2,000 years ago, both of their spirits went back to God in heaven, but both of their souls went into the comfort side of hell, also called Abraham's bosom and Paradise.
In the old tstament (before Christ's death, burial and resurrection for sins), the souls of believers could not go to heaven yet, until the Lord paid their sin debt with his own blood. Rather, God had the angels escort them down into hell/Abraham's bosom/paradise
Luke 16:22-26
And it came to pass, that the beggar [Lazarus, a believer] died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man [an unnamed unbeliever] also died, and [his body] was buried; And in hell he [the rich man] lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Hell was in two compartments: one side the bible calls “torment” and the other is called “paradise.” So believers went to paradise side of hell and unbelievers went to the torment side of hell.
Even Jesus, himself, went to hell, i.e., the paradise side, and it was prophesied...
Psalm 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul [David] in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One [Jesus] to see corruption.
Peter tells Israel on the day of pentecost that that prophecy was about the Lord, who went to hell/paradise at his death.
Acts 2:25-27
For David speaketh concerning him [Jesus], I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
So before the Lord paid the price for sin with his blood, believers could NOT go to heaven yet. That is why the Lord and the thief both went into the heart of the earth [Matthew 12:40], to the paradise side of hell.
Luke 23:43, 46
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
So the Lord's spirit went to heaven with God, but his soul went into the comfort of hell/Abraham's bosom/paradise. And, his body was put in a tomb.
Matthew 27:59-60
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Now, after the cross work is complete and redemption of mankind's sins is done, believers can now go to the paradise that God has moved into the third heaven, the place where God currently resides.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
So although the soul of the thief on the cross went into the paradise side of hell in the heart of the earth at his death, his soul is now up in the third heaven/paradise of God, where God himself lives.
The souls of all believers (including all of God's holy prophets) are now up there in the third heaven with God.
Hopefully this helps!
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