Jesus declared that the repentant malefactor would be with Him in Paradise, yet He was buried and remained dead for three days, as confirmed by scriptures such as I Corinthians 15:3-4 and John 19:41-42. Acts 2:31 further clarifies that His soul was not left in hell, meaning the grave, and His flesh did not see corruption, proving He was not in Paradise on the day of crucifixion. Since Jesus did not enter Paradise that day, neither did the malefactor, for Christ holds preeminence in all things and the malefactor could not precede Him. Paradise is located in the presence of God's throne, described as the third heaven in II Corinthians 12:1-5, and linked to the New Jerusalem in Revelation 22:1-2, where the tree of life stands by the river of water of life proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb. This Paradise, within the New Jerusalem, is not yet complete, as Jesus is still preparing a place for us, and it will not descend to earth until after the Millennium, as noted in Revelation 20:1-5. Thus, the repentant malefactor has not yet entered Paradise. The statement of Jesus, often misunderstood, should be read with proper punctuation as, "Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise," emphasizing the time of the promise rather than the time of entry into Paradise. The malefactor remains dead and buried, awaiting the resurrection and the future coming of the Paradise of God to earth.

Pope Francis, in a March 28 interview with La Repubblica editor Eugenio Scalfari, stated that hell does not exist, asserting that condemned souls simply disappear. He explained that those who repent obtain God's forgiveness and join the souls who contemplate Him, while those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven cease to exist. This perspective contrasts with historical Catholic teachings, as former Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 affirmed that Jesus desires all to be in heaven, yet hell exists and is eternal for those who reject His love. The Catholic catechism has long upheld the existence and eternity of hell, describing it as a place of eternal fire and separation from God for souls dying in mortal sin. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, a senior Catholic in England and Wales, offered a nuanced view, stating that Catholic teaching does not specify individuals in hell and suggesting that imagery of hellfire is more iconographic than doctrinal. Despite the Vatican's denial of the accuracy of Scalfari's report, claiming it does not faithfully transcribe the Pope's words, the discussion reveals ongoing tensions and debates within the Catholic Church regarding the nature and reality of hell.

The common belief in the Western world portrays hell as a place of eternal torture by fire, yet the original meaning of the word "hell" in old English referred merely to a covered hole in the ground, a dark and silent grave. The Greek word "gehenna," often translated as hell, signifies a place of destruction and death, not ongoing torment. Jesus, speaking to Jews familiar with Gehenna as the Valley of Hinnom, used it to illustrate complete destruction by fire, leaving nothing but ashes. The Bible, in Romans 6:23, declares the wages of sin to be death, not eternal life in torture, emphasizing that eternal life is God's gift, not an inherent possession. The punishment described is eternal death, the second death, from which there is no resurrection, not an endless process of punishing. Jesus referred to the lake of fire as the place of this final punishment, aligning with Revelation 20:14, which identifies it as the second death. This lake of fire, far hotter than any imagined inferno, is a place of destruction, not eternal life in agony. Jesus explicitly stated in Matthew 10:28 that both soul and body could be destroyed in Gehenna, reinforcing it as a site of utter annihilation. Scriptures such as Malachi 4:1-3 depict a day when the wicked will be burned up completely, reduced to ashes underfoot, with no root or branch remaining. Similarly, Jude 7 describes Sodom and Gomorrah suffering eternal fire, yet they are not still burning, indicating eternal destruction, not perpetual torment. Isaiah 66:24 speaks of unquenched fire and undying worms, yet this symbolizes complete consumption, as demonstrated by unquenched fires in history, like Jerusalem's burning, which eventually ceased. The doctrine of resurrection to judgment contradicts the notion of immediate eternal torture at death. Revelation 20:13-15 shows death and hell giving up their dead for judgment, after which those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, the second death, confirming the finality of destruction rather than ongoing suffering. God's nature as both love and justice opposes the idea of eternal torment, aligning instead with the biblical portrayal of the wicked being cut off, consumed, and reduced to nothingness, as seen in Psalms 37 and 104.

The common notion of heaven includes streets of gold and heavenly mansions prepared by Jesus, where individuals can pursue leisure activities like golfing, painting, or playing musical instruments. Some envision heaven as a place to interact with biblical figures or to earn wings to become guardian angels. Others imagine engaging in heavenly battles against evil forces. The Catholic concept of heaven involves the beatific vision, eternally enjoying God's presence, or envisioning cherubic figures on clouds. These ideas reflect a human desire to transfer earthly pleasures and lifestyles into a heavenly setting, which is fundamentally a pagan concept spiritualized into a Christian context. The Bible, however, indicates that these notions are incorrect. It states that no human eye or ear has seen or heard what God has prepared for those who love Him, except for those who have received God's Spirit. Even then, the understanding is limited, as seen through a mirror darkly. The text emphasizes that the afterlife is not as commonly imagined but involves a greater purpose beyond these human conceptions.

The Doctrine of the Immortal Soul, embraced by many nominally Christian churches, posits that humans are born with an immortal soul, influencing various teachings. This belief, however, stands in stark contrast to the clear evidence of God's Plan for humanity, presenting a flawed interpretation of His Word. It distorts the truth and misleads believers, offering no solid foundation for conducting life as He does. God's Word reveals that humans are mortal, returning to dust at death, much like animals. The human spirit, which grants understanding and intellect, departs at death and returns to God for safekeeping, showing no indication of inherent life or sentience apart from a living being. Scriptures describe the dead as sleeping, with their life and abilities ceasing, awaiting resurrection. Immortality is a gift from God, bestowed at specific times according to His order. The righteous will rise to eternal life in a resurrection, while evildoers face a separate resurrection of condemnation. A future period of judgment awaits the dead, free from satan's influence, where God will grant salvation and eternal life to those who live His way. However, some will reject immortality, choosing their own path despite knowing God's truth. Such individuals will face a distinct resurrection, leading to a fate apart from eternal life. The example of David illustrates this cycle of life and death. Despite being a man after God's own heart, David remains in the grave, his body decayed, like all humanity. Yet, God has planned a glorious future for David and all who choose to live according to His way, promising a resurrection to a joyful existence in His Kingdom.

Many have taught a doctrine of fear, claiming that the unsaved face eternal torture in a terrifying place called hell, where sinners are tormented in ever-burning fire. Yet, does a loving God plan for millions to suffer such indescribable agony forever? The Bible reveals the true fate of the wicked. God declares in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death, not eternal torment, meaning the unrepentant sinner will die. Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 and Psalm 146:4 show that the dead know nothing, their thoughts perish, and all mental and physical processes cease at death. Both the righteous and the wicked return to dust at death, as stated in Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 and 3:19-20, with no one going to heaven or hell, nor feeling joy or pain after dying. Jesus Christ confirms in John 5:28-29 that a future time of resurrection and judgment awaits all, when both the righteous and wicked will receive their reward or punishment. In Mark 9:43, He describes the punishment of the unrighteous as being cast into hell, a fire that will not be quenched, using the term Gehenna, referring to the Valley of Hinnom where refuse was burned, as a type of this final punishment. Jeremiah 17:27 clarifies that an unquenchable fire does not burn forever, as seen in Jerusalem's past fires which eventually ceased, indicating that this fire will consume everything flammable and then extinguish. Revelation 21:8 portrays this hellfire as a lake of burning fire and brimstone, where the incorrigible, after resurrection to judgment, will die a second death by being burned up. Malachi 4:1 states that the wicked will be completely annihilated, ceasing to exist in body, mind, and spirit. Finally, Malachi 4:3 reveals that after the wicked are burned up, only ashes will remain, and the righteous will walk upon them, with only the righteous living eternally from that time forward, as affirmed in John 10:28.