What did Jesus mean when He said to the thief on the cross" Today you will be with Me in Paradise?
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them( did not receive their glorified body yet) that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
It appears that when a saint dies they go to be with Jesus but they will not receive their glorified body until the resurrection.
Moses and Elijah were with Jesus at His transfiguration.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
But if the saints that have died are with Jesus then how can any saints be asleep that rise first.
Unless it is the Old Testament saints that believed in the coming Messiah.
Or the dead in Christ rise first means they receive their glorified body then those alive are caught up after and receive their glorified body.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
But to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord as testified the thief went to be with Jesus.
So either the dead rise first is the Old Testament saints or they receive their glorified body first.