Are the dead really dead?

[ruotsher]

This would mean that the thief got to heaven before Jesus.

John 20:17   
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.

That is silly.............because this is talking of a difference between spirits and resturected *bodies*......

What's the difference? Why is it that the thief's "spirit" went to heaven, but Jesus' did not?

In other words, if Jesus was resurrected and promises He will resurrect the dead on the last day, what exactly is it that He is resurrecting?

If Jesus was in His glorified body when He resurrected where was Jesus' "spirit"?

Jesus said the thief would join Him in paradise.......what do you say the theif got there before Jesus did?  whatever........Jesus had the first resurrected *body* ..........the thief's spirit is waiting for his resurrected body

[RND]

Jesus said the thief would join Him in paradise.......

Well, according to your belief system, you believe Jesus descended into the pits of hell to preach to all the long lost souls of 4,000 years of history prior to His ascension. If that's the case, did the thief go with Jesus? Did the thief go to Heaven before Jesus?

what do you say the theif got there before Jesus did?

I don't. But following your logic the thief, based on what Jesus said, would naturally have to have gone to Heaven before Jesus.

whatever........Jesus had the first resurrected *body*

Indeed.

..........the thief's spirit is waiting for his resurrected body

Based on?

[Jessie]

interesting questions and answers. I enjoyed reading. Can i ask something? what about Elijah, Enoch, Paul and John?