The confession of guilt by one of the men crucified beside Jesus, is testimony enough to convict him of being a bad man. "We received the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss" (Luke 23:41), were the words of the malefactor, thus confessing that death was the proper penalty for the many crimes he was guilty of. Now, here are two persons who were born upon the earth, lived out a certain number of years, and then laid down their lives, their bodies becoming cold and inanimate in death, while their spirits, freed from their earthly tenements, passed into another stage of existence, leaving their remains to be cared for in the ordinary rites of sepulture. While suffering the agonies of crucifixion, a conversation was carried on between them, which will serve our purpose in opening up an investigation. "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42, 43.) The request of the thief was so far favorably looked upon, that he had the promise that he should accompany Jesus to a place which He designated as paradise. He could not have consistently granted him the privilege of entering into His kingdom, when He had replied to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water (baptized) and of the Spirit (received the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.) The thief, not having attended to these ordinances, could lay no claim to that privilege; but, says Jesus, "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." We are aware that the majority of the Bible-believing world are of the opinion that the thief was permitted to enter heaven, and enjoy the presence of God; but is this idea a correct one? Let us candidly examine it, and see; for upon it hangs a great principle of truth. After the body of Jesus had lain three days in the tomb, the spirit again entered into it. The angels rolled the stone away from the mouth of the sepulchre, and the resurrected Redeemer of the world walked forth, clothed with an immortal body of flesh and bones. Mary, who seems to have had some special interest in the Savior, came early to the tomb, and weeping, discovered that the body of her Master was not there. A voice spake to her, saying, "Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 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." (John 20:16, 17.)