Very Good you broached the topic Mr Gordon always an excellent opportunity to teach through the scriptures
Technically the new heaven and earth is to come but Rahab and the souls of all the saints since the work of the cross are no longer in sheol. They are now in paradise with the Lord, Rahab is one of a few listed to have overcome by faith and triumphed in the Bible.
The Apostle Paul while on earth was torn between wanting to be with Jesus or continue his work and remain in his body carrying out his ministry.
Philippians 1
To Live is Christ…
22 But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. 23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 24 But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.…The Apostle Peter comments seeing Moses who was the bearer of the law and long passed away as well as the Prophet Elijah speaking with Jesus at his transfiguration, they too are with the Lord Jesus
Matthew 17
The Transfiguration…
1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”…Mr Gordon it is very important to listen to scripture to fully understand the message from God, as the author is God not any god or a god but God himself.
Rahab the gentile prostitute who became an ancestress to the Lord Jesus triumphed through her faith to be with the Lord as is the Apostle Paul and others such as Moses and Elijah who are with Christ, even one as lowly as the penitent thief on the cross. His faith in Jesus saw him rewarded with paradise.
Luke 23:39-43 (NASB)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was [a]hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving [c]what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come [d]in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”Footnotes:
a Luke 23:39 Or blaspheming
b Luke 23:39 I.e. Messiah
c Luke 23:41 Lit things worthy of what we have done
d Luke 23:42 Or into
So where are the saints?, in Paradise,
Where is Paradise? where Jesus is.
But we do have the promise of a new heaven and a new earth to come where God will dwell with his people in a new reality free from evil free from sickness, free from misery and sin.
Revelation 21
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.The Transfiguration by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo (c.1480 - c.1548)
