Re: Riots and Protests

I believe the "Paradise" Jesus was referring to in Luke 23:43 is the New Heavens and New Earth.  
So I believe Jesus was telling the thief on the cross, "I'm telling you right now (today as we both hang here on the cross) you will be with me in paradise. There were no commas in the original manuscripts.  So Luke 23:43 could have been translated with the comma this way instead, and even the biblical scholars can't deny this, but it does very much change the meaning:
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” 

Jesus didn't go to paradise that day. He was in the grave three days and three nights the scriptures say.  
We see in Rev. 2:7, that those who overcome will eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the "paradise" (same greek word as from Luke 23:23) of God:

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.

And where do we find the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God?  
Rev. 22:14In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Rev. 22:14 is a vision of the New Heavens and New Earth. 
And no one goes to the New Heaven and Earth before the resurrection.  
The end of Rev. 20 talks about the resurrection of the dead and judgement day.  Those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire.  But those found in the book of life then go into eternal life in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21).  Tweet