“The “Paradise” that Christ spoke of was a waiting place. Where do you think all the good people of the Old Testament were until Jesus opened heaven?
You do believe that Jesus was the first one into heaven, don’t you?”
I think believers - those who believed in a Messiah yet to come - went to heaven and continue to go there. I think of Enoch, who walked with God, and then was no more, because God took him. Or Moses and Elijah, appearing on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah actually went to heaven in a chariot of fire. Or Lazarus in the parable Jesus told. He was in Abraham’s bosom, so therefore Abraham is there.
I think Jesus was in heaven from the beginning, since He is God, and then came to earth at the appointed time as an incarnate human being. He was resurrected and has returned to heaven and remains there to this day, sitting at the right hand of the Father until all His enemies are made the footstool of His feet.
That’s how I read it.
Interesting point of view.
How to do you explain all the graves being opened after Christ’s death on the Cross and the spirits of the dead walking around Jerusalem — visibile to only believers?
I interpretation, and I believe that of the Church too, is that those people’s spirits did rise from their graves and wait until Jesus rose from his to follow him into heaven.
I’m no theologian, this is just what I have always believed.
The other thing that is always evident is that God can do all things and has no lateral timeline as we interpret a timeline.
There are quotes about a short time being as a thousand years.
So during those three days, an instant with God, Jesus visited Purgatory and announced the good news to them. Could be possible, right?