Is paradise the same thing as heaven? What is paradise?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible describes paradise as the place where believers are in God's presence, which is also referred to as heaven. Jesus assured the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in paradise, confirming that believers immediately enter heaven upon death. Paul described a heavenly vision as "paradise," and Revelation 2:7 identifies it as the eternal dwelling place of those who conquer in Christ. While the Old Testament does not specifically use the word “paradise” to refer to heaven, it provides a picture of a restored paradise in the future. Paradise will be a place of perfect joy, free from sin and suffering, where we will live forever with God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Genesis 2–3 presents Eden as a place of perfect harmony, where humanity lived in God's presence before sin entered the world. Some see this as a foreshadowing of the restored paradise in the future (Genesis 2:8–10).
• Prophets like Isaiah describe a coming age of peace, justice, and renewal, where creation is restored to its intended glory (Isaiah 11:6–9; 65:17–25).
• While the Old Testament does not explicitly describe heaven or paradise, as the New Testament does, passages like Psalm 16:11 and Daniel 12:2 suggest a future hope of eternal joy with God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus told the thief on the cross, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Where was Jesus going that day? To heaven. The reference to paradise indicates that Jesus accepted the faith of the man on the cross and provided salvation to him, and upon his death, he was in heaven with the Lord.
• Paul referred to paradise when speaking of a heavenly vision. He wrote, "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" (2 Corinthians 12:3). Even though Paul was not sure whether he was really in heaven or not, he described heaven as "paradise."
• Revelation 2:7 uses the phrase "paradise of God" as a reference to the place where believers would dwell: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." It appears paradise and heaven are the same place according to the Bible.
• It is clear from Scripture that every believer who dies is immediately in this paradise, or heaven. Jesus promised the thief on the cross that "today" he would be with Him in paradise. In Philippians 1:21, Paul notes that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Why would it be gain? Because Paul would be with the Lord in heaven.
• The apostle Paul also taught believers they would be "at home with the Lord" after death (2 Corinthians 5:6–9). There was no waiting period, but rather an immediate transition from final breath to eternal life.
• This is also clear through references in Scripture to where previous saints now live. Abraham is already in God's presence (Luke 16:22). The "hall of saints" listed in Hebrews 11 are all said to already be in God's presence in heaven as well. Jesus refuted the Sadducees by teaching Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are already alive in God's presence (Matthew 22:23–32).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Paradise will be wonderful because it is where we will be fully restored to God’s presence, free from sin, pain, and death. Just as Eden was a place of perfect harmony, heaven will be a place of peace, joy, and unbroken fellowship with the Lord. The Bible promises that believers will experience eternal life with God, where every tear will be wiped away, and all things will be made new (Revelation 21:4–5). Unlike the temporary joys of this world, paradise offers an everlasting home, where we will worship, reign with Christ, and enjoy His glory forever. Knowing this gives us hope and reminds us to live faithfully, keeping our eyes on the eternal promise of being with God in paradise.

UNDERSTAND

• Paradise and heaven refer to the same place.
• Jesus and Paul described paradise as the immediate destination for believers after death.
• Paradise will be a place of perfect joy, free from sin and suffering, where believers will dwell with God forever.

REFLECT

• How does the promise of paradise shape the way you view death and the afterlife as a believer?
• What aspects of paradise (peace, joy, unbroken fellowship with God) are you most looking forward to experiencing?
• How does the reality of paradise influence how you live today, particularly in how you view your relationship with God and others?

ENGAGE

• How does understanding that paradise and heaven are the same place deepen our understanding of eternal life with God?
• What does it mean to you personally that believers transition immediately into paradise after death, and how does this contrast with other beliefs about the afterlife?
• What do the depictions of paradise in both the Old and New Testaments teach us about God's plan for restoration and the hope for future glory?