..I do believe it is a figure of speech because there is no sorrow in heaven and Rachel weepted when Herod killed all the Jewish boys 2 years and younger, figuratively because they are her descendants (she is one of the Patriarchal Mothers of the Jews ).
I love how Scripture NEVER refers to us humans, that died in Him, as dead, gone, no longer exist, but always refers to those that have moved to heaven still in the first person.... we just cast off this old tent and exchanged it for a glorified body.... Still alive in Christ!!!!
Sorry, can't help myself.
Are you saying Rachel is in heaven? It sounds nice, but it really is unscriptural to say we have gone to heaven when we die.
I'll keep it brief because it is not the right channel, and terribly unpopular (I'm sure greater than 99.99% of Christians follow this line), but it really is incorrect.
When did Rachel go to heaven? When she died?
Firstly, it is not possible for sin was not yet paid for. But Jesus himself says:
(John 3:13) "And no one has ascended up to Heaven except He who came down from Heaven".
(btw - this includes Enoch and Elijah - I do have scriptural references)
So then, was it after the cross? After all, sin was now paid for.
In Acts, Peter says:
Act 2:29 Men, brothers, ..as to the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Act 2:34 For David has not ascended into the heavens..
(you'd think that of all those people in the past that have died, surely David ranks the most worthy - certainly more than Rachel).
Thief on the cross? Simple, move the comma..
"Verily I say unto you, today you will be with me in Paradise"
or should it be..
"Verily I say unto you today, you will be with me in Paradise". (ie. when it finally comes)
(punctuation wasn't invented for another 900yrs or so, so the translators put in their own interpretation).
The NT says believers that have died, are "asleep". A strange description of someone enjoying 'Paradise'.
No, we sleep, and await a yet future resurrection.
* cowering, awaiting the backlash.. *