INQUIRER: During the old testament period, Job, Daniel and Moses existed and died, but where are they now? If they were not judged yet, where are they now? When Jesus Christ was crucified, He spoke to a thief because the latter repented. Jesus Christ said, "From this hour, you will be with me in paradise." Does it mean, someone already reached heaven?

BRO. ELI F. SORIANO (EFS): No, brother. No man has reached heaven yet. Let us read John 3:13 -

BRO. DANIEL S. RAZON (DSR): "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."

EFS: No man has ascended to heaven but he that came from heaven. Who came from heaven? The Son of God who became the Son of man here on earth, and that is Christ. The proof that no man has yet gone to heaven except Him that came down from heaven who also ascended there, is in Ephesians 4:8 -

DSR: "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

EFS: It is clear that He who descended is also Him who ascended, according to the Bible. "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" So, no one ascended to heaven except our Lord Jesus Christ. The belief of others claiming that the saints are already in heaven is not true. It is not biblical. The ascension to heaven will be simultaneous. All those who are saved including the thief who received the promise of Christ, will ascend altogether. Those who believed in Christ shall enter heaven in the coming of Christ. In John 14:1-3 -

DSR: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

EFS: Our Lord Jesus Christ said that He shall leave, He said to His disciples before - "I will go to the Father, and prepare a place for you. After I have prepared a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself." He hasn't come back yet. When He comes back, He will raise the Christians, and bring them to His kingdom. That's the only time when we shall reach heaven. In I Thessalonians 4:16-17 -

DSR: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

EFS: The Bible states that in Christ's coming, He shall raise those who are dead in Christ. And if there are those who remain alive, those who are alive and the dead who were raised up, shall altogether be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, "...and so shall we ever be with the Lord." So, entering heaven will happen on Christ's coming here on earth. Now, your question is - Christ said that to the thief, that's now how it was said. Let us see how it was said. In Luke 23:43 -

DSR: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

EFS: "... I say unto thee, To day" Christ said to the thief, "... shalt thou be with me in paradise." So, that will happen in the future. It was not said, "Right now, we will be together in paradise." No. But "... I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Christ said that while they were on the cross, "... shalt thou be with me..." The phrase "shalt thou be with me," means that it will happen in the future. When will that happen? When He comes back. He will raise up that thief who believed; He will raise up the apostles; the early servants of God like Daniel, Job, Noah. Entering heaven will happen all at once. In Hebrews 11:40 -

DSR: "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

EFS: They shall not be made perfect without us. Meaning, all who will be saved will enter heaven all at once. Your question is - "Where are they now, like Daniel and Job?" They are dead now, they are not raised up yet, because resurrection will happen in the coming of Christ. All men who served God before are still dead, the bodies are still in the grave. On judgment day, this is what will happen - in Ezekiel 37:4-6 -

DSR: "Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD."

EFS: That is clear. According to the Bible, God shall give life to the dried bones of dead people. God will put cartilage, flesh, and cover them with skin, and they shall live. When will they live? In the Lord's coming on judgment day. That is when the dead people shall be raised up, and be brought to heaven and be saved and justified.