Christ told one of the thieves crucified with Him that he would be in paradise (Luke 23:43).
Since many believe in continued consciousness, they placed the comma before "today".
"Today" was the day Christ made the promise, not the day they would be in paradise.
Jesus emphasized "today" because the thief repented and believed in Jesus that day. The previous day he was lost.
Moses uses the word "today" similarly in Deuteronomy 30:16-18. In verse 16, he commands them "today" to follow the Lord. He was not saying they only had to follow the Lord that day. Just as Moses gave the command that day, Jesus gave the promise that day.
Then Moses says, "But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish . . ." (Dt. 30: 17-18).
They did not perish that day. In fact, they did not even perish the first day they turned away, because of God's patience and mercy.
Since many believe in continued consciousness, they placed the comma before "today".
"Today" was the day Christ made the promise, not the day they would be in paradise.
Jesus emphasized "today" because the thief repented and believed in Jesus that day. The previous day he was lost.
Moses uses the word "today" similarly in Deuteronomy 30:16-18. In verse 16, he commands them "today" to follow the Lord. He was not saying they only had to follow the Lord that day. Just as Moses gave the command that day, Jesus gave the promise that day.
Then Moses says, "But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish . . ." (Dt. 30: 17-18).
They did not perish that day. In fact, they did not even perish the first day they turned away, because of God's patience and mercy.