Where is Paradise Located?

Many Dispensationalists believe the term "paradise" in the Bible refers to a compartment next to hell where Old Testament saints resided until the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Then they were released and went to heaven. According to Spiros Zodhiates, he says "Paradise undoubtedly refers to the place of the righteous ones in Hades. "Abraham's bosom" in Luke 16 and the "paradise" of Luke 23:43 are synonymous terms referring to the place of rest and comfort for the righteous dead. Before the resurrection of Christ, it would seem that Hades was the place where all the dead -- both righteous and unrighteous -- went."[1] Is this really true? Is that what God's Word teaches us about "paradise?" There are only three reference to the word "paradise" in the Bible. All of them mentioned in the New Testament. They are as follows Luke 23: 43; 2 Cor. 12: 4; Rev. 2: 7.  Let us consider each of these verses and consider what the correct interpretation is for whether "paradise" is a compartment next to hell, or if it is really another word for heaven?  

1. Luke 23: 43, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (NASB). Here we see a conversation that took place during the last moments of Jesus' earthly life spent on a cross between two thieves. A conversation that took place between Jesus and a thief. After the second thief repented of his sin (see 23:41) he turned to Christ and said, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" (23: 42). In which the Lord Jesus responded, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (23: 43). No where in this chapter is it ever implied that Jesus was speaking about a supposed compartment next to hell (Hades). I believe Jesus was referring to heaven here. 

2. 2 Corinthians 12: 4, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (KJV). Here we see Paul speaking about his supernatural experience he had 14 years in the past. The phrases "caught up to the third heaven...caught up into paradise" (12:2, 4). It is interesting to notice "Paul was not describing two separate visions; "the third heaven" and "paradise" are the same place (cf. Rev. 2:7, which says the tree of life is in paradise, with Rev. 22:14, which says it is in the city). The first heaven is earth's atmosphere (Gen. 8:2; Deut. 11:11; 1 Kings 8:35); the second is interplanetary and interstellar space (Gen. 15:5; Ps. 8:3; Isa. 13:10); and the third is the abode of God (1 Kings 8:30; 2 Chron. 30:27; Ps. 123:1)."[2] Here we see the location of "paradise" is in heaven, not in a compartment next to Hades (Hell).  

3. Revelations 2: 7, "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." (KJV). And the location of this "tree of life" is in the midst of "the city" (Rev. 22: 14). So what can we draw from this passage? Well, if "paradise" was located in another compartment next to Hades (Hell), why then does 2 Cor. 12: 4 speak about the Apostle Paul being "caught up into paradise." The passage does not say that he was "brought down into paradise," no, it clearly refers to Paul being "caught up to the third heaven" (12: 2). Then in Revelation 2: 7 we read about "the tree of life...in the midst of the paradise." And Rev. 22: 14 refers to the "tree of life" in the midst of "a city." Where do we ever read about the "tree of life" or of a "city" being located in the Dispensationalists view of a supposed "paradise" in a compartment next to Hades. No, the Bible clearly speaks about "paradise" as another term for "heaven." So when Jesus said to the thief on the Cross, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23: 43), He was referring to heaven. The evidence speaks for itself.

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[1] Spiros Zodhiates, Life after Death, (AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN., 2002), pg. 41.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, (Crossway Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 2010), pg. 1735.