Are Paradise And Hell Holding Places?

First let's look at Paradise. We all know that Jesus told the thief on the cross that, today he would be with Him in Paradise. In Second Corinthians 12 we are told about a man who is "caught up into Paradise". Revelation chapter 2 says that he that he who overcomes will eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of Paradise.
Revelation gives great detail about what Heaven will look like. All the way down to the size of it! We know Heaven will come down from the sky and be placed where Jerusalem is now. Therefore, the eternal Heaven that we are all anxious to see does not exist yet. So, I believe that the saved who have died are in Paradise, a place where they are reserved waiting for Judgement Day. What other explanation could there be? (I'm seriously asking.)


We all see Hell as a place filled with fire. A never ending burning raging fire. But as of right now, the "Lake of Fire" has not been cast into Hell yet. They are two different things.
Revelation chapter 20 tells us that the Lake of Fire will be cast into hell.
In Second Peter chapter 2 verse 4 we are told that the angels who sinned were cast down to hell and are bound in chains of darkness, reserved until judgement.


So if the Bible speaks of both Paradise and Hell being places of reserve (Reserved: Kept or set apart for a particular use or purpose.) would that not indicate that that is where our friends & loved ones are who have passed on? Either in Hell awaiting the Lake of Fire. Or, hopefully, in Paradise awaiting the Heaven that God promised us?

Christians Get Frustrated Too. Because We Love You.

I am so disheartened at the moment. I do not know if I'm just writing to get out my frustrations, or if I will actually post this blog. If I do post it and you read it, thank you for listening to me ramble on.
I have so many "friends" on Twitter & Facebook that I see CLEARLY are not going to Heaven and it breaks my heart! So many people do not study God's word. The Bible is not a storybook, its a handbook for life. It was not written by one author. Its a collection of writings by men who TRULY loved God. Its not published in perfect order, very good order, but not exact. The book of Revelation is obviously out of chronological order and that is why it is so hard for some people to understand. When you are reading the Bible you have to go back and forth from one book to another, reading verses, making comparisons. That is why God gave us Dr. Scofield, to help us with Bible study. (The REAL Dr. Scofield, not the evil one who re-wrote the real Bible) 
And, there are the people who are only trying to get "Twitter Famous" or "Facebook Famous" by throwing out tons of posts voicing their opinions telling you what to do and what not to do rather than telling you to look it up in the Bible and learn the truth. YES, my blogs are my opinions, but I always say do not take my word for it. I am not trying to tell anybody how to live, or change anybody's mind about their religion. It is my goal to get people to read the Bible for themselves, not tell them how to live. If you do not believe the way I do, if you see things differently, that is fine. We are of the same faith, FAITH in Jesus Christ our Lord. Just because we disagree does not mean we cannot be cordial to each other. But, like I said, when I write a blog its my opinion. That is what blogging is all about :)
The Bible says that we must believe in Jesus to be saved. YES, that is true. But there is so much more to it than that. You cannot just believe and continue to live a life of sin. You cannot just believe and never have a relationship with Him, and just because you go to church once a week does not mean you have a relationship with Him. You need to immerse yourself in His Word. You need to know His word like you know the nursery rhymes you learned as a child. Yes, it is a big book and a lot to learn. But it is so very important that you know right from wrong and do not take ANYBODY'S word for anything about the Bible, including mine. Study it, learn for yourself. 
NOWHERE in the Bible does it say there will be a 7 year Tribulation period. That is a man-made theory that has snowballed over centuries! And NOWHERE in the Bible does it say that there will be a chance for people who are left behind to be saved. YES, people will be left behind just like the Bible says, 2 people grinding at the mill, 1 goes the other stays, 2 people in bed, 1 goes the other stays. But it does not say they are going to go running to the TV to watch all the chaos going on in the world. As a matter of fact, the Bible plainly says when Jesus returns the WORKS of the earth will burn up, be destroyed. That means no cars, no tv, no electricity, that cellphone you are so attached to will not work to call your family and friends and see if they were taken up with the saved. No tower, no signal. And no matter what anyone says, the Left Behind book series came from Satan. It misleads people into believing they do not have to be saved now, that if they are left behind they can just endure some hard tribulation and their reward will be eternity in Heaven. What makes them think they're so special just because they were alive when Jesus returned? What about the people who have been dead for 1000s of years? Should they not get a second chance also? There are no second chances! People need to read the Bible, the whole Bible, not just Revelation. With pen and paper nearby to make notes, to learn. It is said in Revelation MORE than once than NO man will repent after Jesus returns. That man will only curse God for the torture that will be endured. So to say people have a second chance after Jesus returns and mountains fall and the islands break apart and the elements and works of the earth burn up... is against what the Bible teaches. There will be people left behind, on a desolate earth without the comforts of home.
The Bible says in so many verses that if you do not live for the Lord you will not go to Heaven.
Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-29, Hebrews 10:38-39, 2 Peter 2:20-21 are just a few examples that you can look at to see that you must live for the Lord to enter Heaven, or when that day comes God will say He never knew you. Matthew 7:23 > If you do not want to reach for a Bible you can go to www.BibleGateWay.com and look up scriptures.
I'm not very good at analogies and I do not like to speak about specific religions, but since the whole world knows the history of the catholic church (facts are facts and they are well documented), how they are the ones who changed the Sabbath to Sunday, NOT GOD (No, I'm not a Seventh Day Adventist, I am a true Bible believer & choose to follow God's rules & not the catholic church's), how they tortured and killed millions for not following their laws... I feel safe in using the pope as an example. I believe the pope is the pope. I know he is the pope. But I do not follow the catholic laws/religion. Now, if it were up to me believing in the pope to enter a wonderful special place, could I get in just by believing he is the pope, or would I have to follow his laws? You are probably saying, "if you have to believe in the pope to go to a special place then you should obey him". The same goes for the Lord! If you believe in Him you must obey Him.
Believing in Jesus IS the way to be saved. That is only the beginning. Whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life, if they live for Him. You cannot go by that 1 verse. There are 1000s of verses in the Bible. Do not use just 1 of 1000s to determine your salvation. Read, study, learn! PLEASE!! I care about your soul. I care about what happens to you in your day to day life. I care whether or not you have God in your life, because if you do not, if you are only a "Sunday Christian" you will not see the kingdom of Heaven.
You may ask, why God allows people to believe in it if there is no 7 year tribulation, and why do millions believe there is a second chance after Jesus returns...? That would be because there are false teachers that Jesus told us would be on earth to mislead people.  They come from satan. Which is why Jesus told us that a whole lot more people will go to hell rather than Heaven, which is very sad. I want you to be one who goes to Heaven! Matthew 7:13-14
God bless you if you made this far, lol. Thanks for reading, please come back soon. :)