Living 

ByTheSpirit







What is the Paradise 

of God? 



They teach incorrectly that the paradise of God is a location in heaven!

 The paradise of God is Spiritual! 

How can we enter "God's paradise"?




By Nab B. 

February 12, 2023

(updated Sep 17, 2025)





Unlike what others teach, the paradise of God in the New Testament has nothing to do with either an earthly paradise of material delights or a literal location somewhere in heaven! Now, let me explain with scriptures in context, and you be the judge!



Everything under the Law of Christ is now spiritual and must be spiritually discerned. To make a case for the meaning of the Paradise of God, I will present three cases where references to paradise are made. This will help in understanding the deeper and tangible meaning. Knowing the intended meaning makes all the difference! If understood irrationally, one will miss an opportunity, for example, to also enter that "paradise" in the here and now.




Case #1

A Paradise of God for the Thief



The thief asked Jesus, “Jesus, Lord, remember me when you comest into thy kingdom”. Jesus said to him, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:42-43)



Just from the above verse, were you able to see that the word "kingdom" corresponds with the word "paradise"? The thief asked to be in Christ's Kingdom, and Jesus answered, "Yes, you will be with me in paradise." This is proof positive that being in paradise is the same as being in Christ's Kingdom. Jesus could have easily said, "You shall be with me in the kingdom, as you asked." Instead, he used "paradise" as the parallel word to "kingdom".



Why was the thief able to enter the kingdom (paradise)? Although the thief's conversation was understandably so short, once you examine his words to Jesus, you will see why Jesus ranked him high in his paradise kingdom:



I can go on, but you get the picture!



Since the thief was about to die and would remain in a death state until the resurrection day, Jesus' use of the word "TODAY" assures him that, as of "today" (the last day on earth for Jesus and the thief), he is guaranteed a resurrection to life, to be with the Lord forever on that day. The thief's name was entered in the "Lamb's Book of Life" on that "day".



Fortunately, most believers are not in the same predicament as the thief was! We have ample time to choose to spiritually die to our sinful nature and actually experience Christ in this paradise of God. Even now, we get to be seated with Him in His kingdom, as clearly shown in Ephesians 2:6 


“And [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places [by being born of the spirit] in Christ Jesus.” 



This is the Paradise of God, the New Kingdom of God and Christ, which we experience now, and for which the thief longed to enter, but had to wait!




Case #2

Which Paradise Did Paul See?


Unlike the thief, Paul was blessed to experience the “Paradise of God” without having to die! We read this in 2 Corinthians 12:3-4: 


“and I have known such a man, whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.” (YLT)



So many speculations have been made about this passage, especially if one uses his imagination, rather than the written word in full context. Again, one must engage the mind and thinking faculty so as not to be open to "deceiving spirits".


What paradise was Paul “caught away” to? Is it a location somewhere in heaven? Pay close attention to the context in verse 1 as it reveals the answer: 

“To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” (YLT)



I hope you noticed that Paul's “Paradise” was not a momentary transportation to a heavenly location! So, what was it? It was simply this:




Paul was relating his encounter with His Lord, Jesus Christ, and how it changed him, from a carnal Pharisee, limited in understanding, to a spirit-born son of God communicating and receiving heavenly visions and revelations from Jesus "in the spirit".



That was the paradise of God to which Paul was caught up. Also, true born-again believers get glimpses of this in their spiritual walk with God and Jesus. This is the Kingdom of God, the realm of God, which is otherworldly and is best described as "Paradise". The same expression "caught up" is used of the resurrected to life who shall be caught up to be always with Jesus Christ, describing their blissful, joyous state. (See 1 Thess 4:17)



Paul couldn't express what he saw and heard because Christ's revelations are too wonderful to describe in human language. What Paul experienced was only a glimpse of what awaits all true believers, being in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, "Who will transform our body of humiliation, conformed to the body of His glory." (Phil 3:21) BLB




Case #3

The Paradise of God in Revelation


Revelation 2:7 reads, 

“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.”  



Christ's Revelation is given in signs and symbols. The Tree of Life is a symbol of the life of God, which flows to Christ and unto all of us.



Where is this "Paradise"? We have already established it is a heavenly (spiritual) condition, a state, or a realm where God dwells. Anyone who is genuinely led by God's Spirit is already dwelling in this paradise to some degree. 



Born-again true believers, although sojourners on this earth, are actually citizens of heaven or heaven-dwellers. While in the flesh, they have a foothold in God's Kingdom, the Paradise of God, to some extent. At the resurrection, they will always be with the Lord. 


"But our citizenship is in heaven." (Phil 3:20)

"You...are fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God." (Eph 2:19)

"An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled...reserved in heaven for you." (1 Pet 1:4)

"I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3) [took place on Pentcost Day]

"We have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor 5:1)


❯❳❲❮


The paradise of God 

isn't a location, it is a condition!


❯❳❲❮




Other Names for the Paradise of God


Certain concepts in the scriptures are often expressed in different ways and given different names. This is intended to confuse but to enlighten and enlarge our vantage points. The paradise of God is also given other names in the scriptures. Any of the words below, though they mean the same, the variations allow us to build a better mental picture of their meaning.



Here are some other descriptions for the "Paradise of God":




This short study showed that “The Paradise of God” is not an earthly or heavenly location. It’s a spiritual condition to which many spirit-born believers are “caught up”. Some may experience this condition more than others as the life of God flows and enters them through Christ.



On this side of heaven, a true believer seeks diligently to be “caught away,” encountering Christ "in the spirit," "in visions and revelations," "in prophetic words," "in teachings," "in association," not only in this age, but also in one to come. 



You don't have to go anywhere; the spirit of God will do it in cooperation with our full use of our mental faculties.