This can be a difficult question to answer depending on how you understand certain Scriptures.
For those who deem that Heaven & Paradise are the same location, they will cite 2 Corinthians 12:4 & Revelation 2:7, where in each of these references, Paul & John indicated that Heaven, the abode of God, is intended.
For those who believe that Paradise is a separate place, they will appeal to the location of departed souls pre-Cross, as in Luke chapter 16. Here we see the rich man being tormented in hell, & beyond the separating gulf, there was Lazarus, the beggar, who enjoyed relative comfort. And in Luke 23:43, Jesus tells the thief on the Cross that he would also go to Paradise with Him. We assume that this wasn't Heaven, as Jesus said that He had not ascended to the Father ( John 20:17). We understand that while Jesus' Body was in the sepulchre for the three days, Jesus, as also the thief, went down into Paradise. But at Jesus' bodily resurrection, those bodies in the graves also arose ( Matthew 27:53) with Him & we might assume that their souls once held in Paradise were now released to enter Heaven.
Some compartmentalize Hades with a section of suffering & another section of comfort. At Christ's death & resurrection, the souls who were in comfort (being noted for their faith & love for God), were released from there & taken into Heaven, the abode of God. However, the wicked still remain in Hades awaiting their final judgement & casting into the Lake of Fire (in the future).
So in answer to your question, both Heaven & Paradise can now be correctly considered as one & the same. But there was a distinction made pre-Cross, as those held in that Paradise (a place of comfort) awaited the great event of Christ's Sacrifice that provided the payment for their sins based on their faith & removed their condemnation. Romans 8:1.
For those who deem that Heaven & Paradise are the same location, they will cite 2 Corinthians 12:4 & Revelation 2:7, where in each of these references, Paul & John indicated that Heaven, the abode of God, is intended.
For those who believe that Paradise is a separate place, they will appeal to the location of departed souls pre-Cross, as in Luke chapter 16. Here we see the rich man being tormented in hell, & beyond the separating gulf, there was Lazarus, the beggar, who enjoyed relative comfort. And in Luke 23:43, Jesus tells the thief on the Cross that he would also go to Paradise with Him. We assume that this wasn't Heaven, as Jesus said that He had not ascended to the Father ( John 20:17). We understand that while Jesus' Body was in the sepulchre for the three days, Jesus, as also the thief, went down into Paradise. But at Jesus' bodily resurrection, those bodies in the graves also arose ( Matthew 27:53) with Him & we might assume that their souls once held in Paradise were now released to enter Heaven.
Some compartmentalize Hades with a section of suffering & another section of comfort. At Christ's death & resurrection, the souls who were in comfort (being noted for their faith & love for God), were released from there & taken into Heaven, the abode of God. However, the wicked still remain in Hades awaiting their final judgement & casting into the Lake of Fire (in the future).
So in answer to your question, both Heaven & Paradise can now be correctly considered as one & the same. But there was a distinction made pre-Cross, as those held in that Paradise (a place of comfort) awaited the great event of Christ's Sacrifice that provided the payment for their sins based on their faith & removed their condemnation. Romans 8:1.
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