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What is the third heaven?

The third heaven is the dwelling place of God. This was the experience Paul described. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

What does it mean that Paul went to the third heaven?

When Paul says that he went to the third heaven, he means that he went to the place where God dwells. Interestingly, Paul uses the phrase caught up to refer to how he was transported to heaven; it’s the same Greek word used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to refer to the rapture of the church.

Do you know that there are three heavens?

Many Christians don’t understand that there are three heavens. They think of Heaven only as the place where God dwells, the place where redeemed souls go at death. However, the Bible clearly tells of three distinct heavens. Paul spoke of the highest of the three heavens, i.e. the Third Heaven, when He wrote to the Corinthian church:

What is the third heaven mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12?

par. 8. It is possible that Paul was alluding to all three of those aspects at 2 Corinthians 12:4 when describing his experience. “The third heaven” mentioned at 2 Corinthians 12:2 is likely the Messianic Kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ and the 144,000, the “new heavens.”​— 2 Pet. 3:13.

What is the second heaven?

The second heaven the Hebrews described consisted of the universe as we know it. This heaven consisted of sun, moon, and stars. “In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun . . . It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other . . . ” (Psalm 19:4,6). The third heaven is the dwelling place of God.

What is the first heaven in the Old Testament?

The heavens in the Old Testament are fairly earth centered, much in the same way we look at the universe. The first heaven is the earth atmosphere. In this atmosphere, birds fly and clouds form. This heaven is spoken of often in the Old Testament.

Is the third heaven merit?

The third heaven is not a place of merit, such as the idea of works or rewards. We will be judged and rewarded, but we will not exist in different heavens. Paul is not describing how some of us deserve only the first heaven while others will be in the third heaven. The Scripture does not give any idea of heaven or heavens in which people exist in ...

Where in the Bible does it say "third heaven"?

A "third heaven" is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 [1] It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.

What is the second heaven?

The second heaven is commonly referred to as "outer space.". Exodus 32:13. Exodus 32:13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give to your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. ...

What is the first heaven in the Bible?

The first heaven is the atmosphere around the earth. The Bible speaks of three different heavens. Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. says that God created "the heavens"—plural. The first heaven is the atmosphere around the earth.

What does the Bible say about the heavens?

says that God created "the heavens"—plural. The first heaven is the atmosphere around the earth. In describing the rain that brought on the Flood of Noah’s time, Genesis 7:11. Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, ...

Why does the Bible say "third heaven"?

The Bible occasionally repeats something three times for emphasis, to show intensity, or to imply added strength. ( Isa. 6:3; Ezek. 21:27; Rev. 4:8) It seems that in speaking of “the third heaven,” Paul was stressing a superlative, an exalted, form of rulership​—the Messianic Kingdom by Jesus Christ and his 144,000 corulers.

What did Paul see as the third heaven?

11:4; 27:28; Matt. 6:26) But “heaven” is also used in other senses. Sometimes it refers to human rulership. ( Dan. 4:20-22) Or it can refer to divine rulership, such as through the Kingdom of God.

Why is the third heaven mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:2?

3:13. It is “the third heaven” because the Kingdom is a superlative, an elevated, form of rulership.

What does Paul mean by "caught away to the third heaven"?

( 2 Cor. 11:5, 23) He then mentioned “visions and revelations of the Lord.”.

Who was caught away to the third heaven?

At 2 Corinthians 12:2, 3, Paul refers to a certain man who was “caught away to the third heaven.” Who was that? Writing to the Corinthian congregation, Paul stressed that God was using him as an apostle. ( 2 Cor. 11:5, 23) He then mentioned “visions and revelations of the Lord.” Paul did not in that context mention other brothers. Thus, he was logically referring to himself as being the man who had received visions and revelations.​— 2 Cor. 12:1, 5.

What is Paul's paradise?

The “paradise” into which Paul was “caught away” in vision likely refers to (1) the physical Paradise to come on earth, (2) the spiritual paradise that will exist then, which will be more extensive than the spiritual paradise that exists now, and (3) “the paradise of God” in heaven that will coexist in the new world.

What is the third heaven?

The Third Heaven. The Third Heaven is the Heaven of heavens where the throne of God is. It is the place of glory in which God and His heavenly hosts dwell. Isaiah gives us a brief description of his vision of God.

Why don't we know about the third heaven?

If the Bible did reveal more, we probably couldn’t understand it anyway because the Third Heaven is outside of our time and space dimension. It is infinite and we have finite minds.

What is the name of the heavens that God created?

First heaven — the one God created when He created the heaven and the earth. Second heaven — the firmament put “in the midst of the waters,” with water above and below it. Third Heaven — the dwelling place of God and all the heavenly host, which has existed from before creation, from eternity past.

How many heavens are there in the Bible?

Many Christians don’t understand that there are three heavens. They think of Heaven only as the place where God dwells, the place where redeemed souls go at death. However, the Bible clearly tells of three distinct heavens.

What is the second heaven in Revelation 4?

Those waters still separate the second heaven from the Third Heaven and in Revelation 4 those waters are described as a glassy sea. This second heaven is the celestial heaven in which are the planets, galaxies, and stars are.

How far above Earth is the first heaven?

The First Heaven. The first heaven can clearly be seen by everyone on earth. It is the atmospheric heaven in which birds and airplanes fly. It extends about 62 miles above the earth according to NASA’s determination of where outer space (the second heaven) begins.

Is there a second heaven in the Bible?

While space exploration has revealed a great deal about the second heaven, there still remain many mysteries about this heaven. The Bible suggests this is a dwelling place of demons ( Eph 6:12) and a place of great spiritual warfare ( Dan 10:12-14).

What does it mean when Paul says he went to the third heaven?

When Paul says that he went to the third heaven, he means that he went to the place where God dwells. Interestingly, Paul uses the phrase caught up to refer to how he was transported to heaven; it’s the same Greek word used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to refer to the rapture of the church.

Where is the second heaven?

It can also refer to outer space, where the stars and planets are—the “second heaven” ( Psalm 8:3; Isaiah 13:10 ). And it can refer to God’s dwelling place, which is beyond the other “heavens,” a place known as the “third heaven” ( Psalm 33:13–14; Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 6:9; Hebrews 7:26; Revelation 11:19 ). When Paul says that he went ...

What does the word "Heaven" mean?

The word heavens can be used to refer to different realms. Heavens can refer to the sky and the earth’s atmosphere, making it the “first heaven” ( Deuteronomy 11:11; Psalm 104:12; Isaiah 55:10 ). It can also refer to outer space, where the stars and planets are—the “second heaven” ( Psalm 8:3; Isaiah 13:10 ). ...

What does the Bible say about heaven?

The Bible does not tell us everything we might like to know about heaven, but we know that it will be a wonderful place where we will dwell with Christ ( John 14:3 ). Paul knew that being with Christ is far better than anything he could experience on earth ( Philippians 1:21–23 ).