"A third heaven"?

Question

At my church's bible study, there were some questions surrounding a particular passage of scripture. II Corinthians 12: 2-4 talks about the apostle Paul knowing a man who was caught up in a vision and led in the Spirit to the third heaven. My pastor was cautious as to not lead anyone astray and didn't address it with a direct answer. I need direction and explanation with these verses. Please if anyone can give me some insight. If possible, provide some good truthful sources as backup. Thank You.

Answer 1

In ancient times, "heaven" was broken down into three parts. The first heaven was the sky, where the birds flew. The second heaven was where the stars in the sky dwelt. The third heaven was where God lived.

Answer 2

You NEED direction and explanation? It's clear that you're somewhat new to the study of the Bible. And there are quite a few mysteries in the scriptures. No one is going to spoon feed you the mysteries. I'll tell you what I did when I was in my twenties. I bought a Strong's Concordance and a Young's one as well. I looked up everything! Who wrote the book, when, in what language, what is the EXACT translation. Any information I could glean to understand that verse and then put the chapter in context and the book, etc., etc. and after four or five years I took classes at a Bible School where I know they were thrilled when I left because I argued so much and carried my two concordances to each class and the other students used them too! If you NEED (like I did) to know.....that's really the only way you will. Like I say, there's alot of mysteries.

Answer 3

I will try to answer you in the Buddhism perspective which may help. You can decide your own conclusion.
Buddhism teaches that there are some 26 levels of heavenly realms. The first level is the Heaven of the Four Great Kings which is subordinate to the next level, that of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three where Sakra is the Chief of God. Traditional Buddhism understands this level as the heaven of the Christian, Islamic, Judaism and other similarly associated religion. Within the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, there are 33 heavens (that is why it is so-called). Then then is the third level heaven called the Suyama Heaven. This is a short description of the Buddhism cosomology.
So, Paul could be making reference to one of these heaven. Something to chew on.
Take care.

Answer 4

Most always it is heavens, there will be a new heavens and a new earth. 2Pet.3:13; Isa.65:17; 66: 1,22; Rev.21:1-5;
#1. All was perfect to Eden Gen.1:1,2;
#2. Many heavenly angels and Satan did sin John 8:44; Jude 6; 2 Pet.2:4;
#3. The new Heavens and New earth come after 1Cor.15:22-28,51-53; 20:1-6,12,13; 21:1-5; 2Pet.3: 3-9; Rev.2:7 [ paradise ]; Luke 23:43 [ Paradise ]; It has got to be in the kingdom of God when all is made perfect in heavens and on earth as was before Eden.
This is how I view this myself in my STUDY.

Answer 5

THE THREE HEAVENS
There's 3 heavens.

First Heaven = This is also called the firmament or expanse of heaven. It is the heaven where the birds fly and where the clouds give rain. (Gen.1:26; 2:20; 8:2 & 1Kings 18:45)

Second Heaven = This refers to outerspace where the sun, moon and stars can be found. (Gen.22:17 & Exodus 32:13 & Joshua 10:13)

Third Heaven = Paul recorded a miraculous experience in which he was transported (in a vision like the Apostle John's as recorded in Revelation 4 & 5) to the heaven of God's abode. The Apostle Paul tells us that the heaven of God's abode is the "third heaven." In the Old Testament this is often designated by the phrase "the heaven of heavens." (Joshua 2:11 & Psalms 11:4 & 2Corinthians 12:2 equated with v.4 = paradise)

Was Elijah taken up in heaven? (Talks about the three heavens)
http://community.webshots.com/photo/370320470/2673650090049373547iLHezT
http://community.webshots.com/photo/151292603/2916647260051497771nqTijL

THERE ARE TWO KINGDOMS: ONE ON EARTH AND THE OTHER ONE COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN.

The 1st Kingdom of Heaven =
DAN.7:27 = "AND THE KINGDOM AND DOMINION, AND THE GREATNESS OF THE KINGDOM UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH, WHOSE KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM, AND ALL DOMINION SHALL SERVE AND OBEY HIM."
REV.5:10 = "AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD KINGS AND PRIESTS: AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH."

The 2nd kingdom of Heaven =
AFTER 1,000 YEARS = A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH-HOLY CITY COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN = REV.21:1-4; ISAIAH 65:17-25; 66:1,22 AND ETC.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO---
ISAIAH 66:21; ZECH.14:9-11 = "BUILD HOUSES, PLANT VINEYARDS, EAT VINEYARDS"
ISAIAH 66:23; ZECH.14:16-19 = "WORSHIP FROM ONE NEW MOON TO ANOTHER AS ONE SABBATH TO ANOTHER"
JESUS WILL BE GIVING CITIES TO THE SAINTS INWHICH THEY WILL BE TEACHING OTHERS THE TRUE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE = MATT.25:14-23; EZEKIEL 36:10,33; LUKE 13:26; ISAIAH 61:4
WE WON'T MARRY OR BE GIVEN UNTO MARRIAGE = MATT.22:30
BOYS AND GIRLS WILL BE PLAYING IN THE STREETS = ZECHARIAH 8:4-5,8
MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH = PSALM 37:9-11; MATT.5:5; REV.5:10

http://community.webshots.com/photo/370320470/1477915166049373547aeLZxZ

Answer 6

Think of it like this..........
A) The First Heaven is the Atmospheric Heaven, The Sky above us, that which is part of Earths Atmosphere. It is said that Satan is the Prince of the Powers of the Air.

B) The Second Heaven is the Celestial Heaven, where the Angles Reside. It is what we call Space, the Stars, and Planets.

C) The Third Heaven is the Eternal Heaven, the place of God's Throne, His Manifest Presents.

Answer 7

God does not change. But people do. Therefore God has had
to teach us in different ways, at different times, in different
cultures. Basically, all the teachings are the same. But man
rejects his own beliefs when they are spoken by someone of
a different faith.
The West denies many of it's own teachings because they are
taught in the East. Astral projection, "Confident to be out
of the body and present with the Lord". The "Third Eye". "When
the eye is single the body is full of light." The different dimensions,
"the Third Heaven".
It's false pride that divides the body of Christ. The old, "My dog's
better than your dog." It took me long time not to blame Christ
or Christianity for mans mistakes.

Answer 8

Yes, Paul elsewhere in Corinthians compares glories in heaven to the relative brightness of the sun, moon and stars. Some people are uncomfortable to know that there is more than just going to heaven. There is also receiving the highest degree of glory.

Answer 9

In some thinking there are various levels of heaven. You have heard the saying " I was in seventh heaven". The higher the level the better it is supposed to be. Search 'Theosophy'
The same with Hell, only they call them the 'rings of hell' if you had a really bad day you could say "I was in the 9th ring of hell' the rings are from the Book 'Dante's Inferno'

Answer 10

I believe they were speaking of being led to the state of enlightenment, where ultimate truth is understood. Enlightenment is another term for "heaven" which is simply a higher level of being. Something that we transcend to in spiritual form upon the death of the physical. Some people can achieve this state in life. Jesus was one of them.