Jesus told the thief "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise." All 3 New Testament occurrences (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7) refer to abode of the righteous dead (heaven).

Another Answer:

The thief was never fastened to a 'cross'. The Romans back then used a simply upright post.

The Cyclopædia of Biblical,Theological, and EcclesiasticalLiterature says that the crux simplex was a "mere stake 'of one single piece without transom [crossbar].'

Appendix No. 162 of The Companion Biblestates concerning staurós that it "denotes an upright pale or stake, to which the criminals were nailed for execution. . . . It never means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle, but always of one piece alone." The appendix concludes: "The evidence is thus complete, that the Lord was put to death upon an upright stake, and not on two pieces of timber placed at any angle."

While the Bible does state that Jesus was nailed to the stake; the record does not say whether the evildoers were nailed or simply tied to the stakes. This might explain why, when Jesus was found dead, the evildoers were still alive, and had to have their legs broken. Death by suffocation soon followed the breaking of their legs, since, this would have prevented the raising of the body to ease tension of chest muscles.

Regarding where the thief went when he died, the Bible states that: "from dust you are, and to dust you will return." That's where the evildoer went. Even Jesus did not go to heaven right away. He lay dead in the grave. Three days later he was resurrected.

Jesus promised the thief a resurrection. The resurrection is not till the 'last day' when Christ Jesus would receive The Kingdom from God. Then Jesus would 'restore the Paradise' that was lost to mankind by Adam & Eve. This is the Paradise the thief will be resurrected to. He was an evildoer; he was never baptized by water & spirit; he was not promised a heavenly kingdom with Christ.

Additonal Answer:

When one considers the fact that punctuation was not part of the original text and only came much later, then one must consider the structure of the verse that supposedly said the thief was going to Heaven that day - something contrary to other Biblie teachings (John 3:13 for example).

Consider this punctuation vis-a-vis the traditional. This punctuation considers the colloquialisms of the day: first the traditional then the colloquial:

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Luke 23:43New International Version (NIV)

43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Should be as follows:

"Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise."

Jesus promised at that moment/day, that thief would be with Him at his resurrection in the future - not immediately as some teach as no man but Jesus has ascended into Heaven. This therefore, is consistent with all other Scripture.

The one above here is Correct. NO person then or ever has gone to Heaven except Yeshua/Jesus, He said SO, in Acts it says David is both dead and buried, then He comes out and says David has Not gone up to Heaven. The earth was made to be inhabited Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else.

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