To him that overcome will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).
Is there a Paradise somewhere? There are many places called Paradise on earth, but let’s think about one area, the Garden of Eden. It was a genuine Paradise on earth. It embodied an ideal environment. There has never been any beauty or glory that surpassed it. The ground was so fertile that every tree grew and flourished with blossoms of exceptional beauty and yielded nourishing food in abundance. This perfect place that God created was certainly a Paradise on earth. Because of sin, however, it became a lost Paradise, and it passed away. Since that time, God created a new Paradise for the righteous, called the Paradise of God. However, it does not have an earthly location, for it is located in Heaven.
There are many places on earth that men call Paradise because of the prominent beauty and excellent scenery displayed, but they are no comparison to God’s Paradise. Kashmir, for example, is called “Paradise on Earth” because of its incredible beauty. This remarkable place of luxury is celebrated as genuine gorgeousness. It has picture-perfect panoramas and flourishing vales. There are charismatic bodies of water with the glamour of wintertime utopia. It is beautiful to behold. Yet, it is no comparison to the Paradise of God.
When thinking of a Paradise, some phrases that come to mind are remarkable beauty, intense happiness, and perfect peace. Webster defines the Heavenly Paradise as “an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous anticipate the resurrection and the final judgment, a place for the deceased righteous.” In other words, it is a place of absolute peacefulness and tranquility for the righteous who exits this life, ready to be escorted into the Paradise of God. Isaiah declares it to be “the place where the righteous enters into peace, taken away from the evil to come” (57:2).
Scripture reveals that the Paradise of God is unexplainable, indescribable, even incomprehensible, and will never pass away. Apostle Paul was caught up (raptured) into Paradise. What an experience! According to him, it was so unimaginable that the words he heard were not lawful to speak. Although he was allowed to hear heavenly words, he was forbidden and perhaps unable to communicate what he heard to anyone on earth.
As Jesus was nearing His death on the cross, He saved a sinner who also hung on a cross next to Him. He said to the thief, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise” (St. Luke 23:43). Jesus’ words indicated that they both would depart this life that very day and enter into Paradise. Although Jesus did not specifically describe Paradise, He implied that another life exists in which the righteous will forever adore the Paradise of God.
God’s Paradise is a prepared place with no more dark clouds. Everything will be at its best and its brightest. The Bible confirms that the site that awaits the righteous cannot be imagined. It is worth trading a complete lifetime for just one day there. 1 Corinthians 2:9 states
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Answering questions that may be raised concerning Paradise, such as “Is Paradise real?” or “Where is Paradise?” I have an excellent response. I say unto you, “Yes, Paradise is real because you can decree that place to be Paradise wherever God is.” The Bible affirms that:
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. (Revelations 2:7).
My question to you is, “Will you be one of them?”
Prayer is Key: Dear Lord, my deepest gratitude flows to You for all the beautiful things You have provided for us. I thank You for endowing me with a righteous heart, and I ask that You keep me in righteousness so that I will be counted worthy to sit at Your welcome table in the Paradise of God. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
