Where was paradise located in the Old Testament economy?
In the Old Testament economy, paradise was located down in the center of the earth, not up in God's presence. Since Christ's atoning blood had not yet been shed and animal blood only covered sin, the Old Testament believer could not ascend to God, so he went down into paradise. The sign of Jonah confirms this downward location.
Les explains that in the Old Testament economy, the atoning blood of Christ had not yet been shed, and animal blood could not atone for anyone's sin—it only covered it. Therefore the Old Testament believer could not go up into the presence of God; instead, he went down into paradise. Les points to Matthew 12:38-40, where Jesus cites the sign of Jonah: as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so the Son of man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Les concludes that everything concerning paradise in the Old Testament economy, until after Christ's resurrection, was down in the center of the earth.
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.