Paradise and Hades

Sources: Full of Grace and Truth, Volume 1 and 2, CFP, Watchman Nee; and Believer's Passage Through Death, LSM.

Watchman Nee believed Paradise was Heaven or an aspect of heaven. I counted no less than 10 times where Nee described Paradise this way in the Scriptures. Witness Lee's LSM says differently. Instead, LSM believes Paradise is Hades or Abraham's Bosom, not the paradise of heaven. There is no way that Paradise is Hades, even though it is true that the good side of Hades is Abraham's Bosom. Hades is not hell, either. There is a bad side of Hades in which those who will go to hell will be resurrected to judgment at Great White Throne and then cast into the lake of fire.

The repentant thief was told by Jesus that this day he shall see Paradise. The thief would indeed go down to Hades. But the sense of time stops in Hades, so that the resurrected state is the same condition when one fell asleep. Even though many centuries may pass after one leaves the world, it is as if time stands still in Hades. This perspective allows one to appreciate that the thief will see Paradise this day, because the time spent in Abraham’s bosom is timeless.

Discipline for non-overcoming Christians will take place concurrently during the millennial kingdom in "outer darkness". Unbelievers suffer in the bad side of Hades while they wait for resurrection, and ultimately, perdition. Non-overcoming Christians will not be chastened in Hades, but will be disciplined for their own good in "outer darkness" in order for them to be ready for the new city after the 1000 years ends.

Rev. 2.7 "the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God". The New Jerusalem is the Paradise of God. The garden was man's paradise. Now God is leading man into something better. The tree of life is literal in Revelation 22.2 for if it was not, and was a symbol, it would be instantly explained as such, since in Rev. 17.15 "many waters" is instantly explained, but here in Revelation 22 it is not.

Troy Brooks