The Lord God was in Paradise that day. The Spirit was in and out of Abraham's bosom and preached less than a split second. The Bodies released from Abraham's bosom were already walking around, before the thief died. Matthew 27. You are only using the question the thief learned in "Sabbath School". God told the thief where the thief was going that day. It was God's will for the thief. Not any theology taught from reading the OT. The thief was the exception to the theology taught.ERROR, not even the Lord Jesus went to Paradise that day. he went and preached unto the spirits that was in prison, 1 Peter 3:19 "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;" ... why? 1 Peter 4:6 "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
so even the Lord Jesus himself was in Paradise that day, but the revelation is right in the scripture before, listen, Luke 23:42 "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."
there it is... "REMEMBER", for God has a book of REMEMBERANCE. scripture, Malachi 3:16 "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." Malachi 3:17 "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (BINGO) Malachi 3:18 "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
see, he as well as Captian captain Cornelius, a gentile is "REMEMBERED", listen, Acts 10:4 "And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."
see that term "memorial", it's the Greek word, G3422 μνημόσυνον mnemosunon (mnee-mo-sï '-non) n.
a reminder (memorandum), i.e. record.
[from G3421]
KJV: memorial
and in Malachi 3:16, "remembrance" is the Hebrew word, H2146 זִכרוֹן zikrown (zik-rone') n-m.
a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing).
[from H2142]
KJV: memorial, record.
Root(s): H2142
BINGO, there you have it, the thief on the cross, "THAT" DAY is REMEMBERED, as you and I will be when the Lord return.... don't worry you want be left behind, for it is "WRITTEN"....aint god good.
PICJAG, 101g.
Lazarus being raised again from the dead was the exception of what humans teach as theology. No one accepts that those who heard the voice of Jesus could bodily come forth even before the body of Jesus came forth, and they would ascend with Christ at the Time God wills, not when humans think God should do things. Not every thing God does is written for all to digest. Daniel had to seal up some prophecy he was given. John in Revelation could not write and give to the church all that he was witness to. The disciples were to tell no one about Jesus until the Holy Spirit would guide them to recount the experiences they had with Christ. It was not that God was keeping secrets, but that revelation is done according to God's will, and not human made up theology that makes sense to human understanding.