Luke 23:43 - Jesus said to the thief on the cross:
"Truly I say to you,
Today you shall be with Me in Paradise" .
Paradise is paradeisos - "a park, garden or pleasure ground... a place of future happiness, paradise". (Strong's). The emphasis is not upon the sky or some place in outer space, but upon enjoyment and peace. Think of the word picture here: a place of quiet enjoyment, meant for the pleasure of its inhabitants. The early Persians even thought of it as a shady, well-watered preserve. However a culture views this, we see that the Greek word - taken from the Hebrew - makes its connection with enjoyment.
Psalm 16:11 proably gives the best description of Paradise: "in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore."
