can anyone tell me the meaning of 2 corithians 12:2?

Question

what is ''third heaven''? are there more passages that could help to explain this?

Answer 1

There are two different schools of thought here. Some believe that it is a place beyond the universe, or outside of the physical realm. I personally believe that it is a place in time.

Rev 21:1 speaks of a new heaven and a new earth.

If Gen 1:1-2 is read in the Hebrew it would read, “n the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth became without form, and void.”

This would indicate that the heaven and earth that exist now are the second ones, and in Rev 21 there is a third one coming.

Answer 2

There are three different ideas on the three heavens.

Probably the most common is 1) the atmosphere, 2) outerspace, and 3) where God resides.

The second is that heaven is divided into different levels. The bottom most for non-believers, the middle for "carnal" believers and the the top of the "spritual" believers. Mormons the main group to advance this idea, with their group being the "spiritual" ones.

The third idea is that heaven has changed in the past and will again in the future. The first heaven was before the fall of lucifer/satan and 1/3 of the angels. The second heaven exist today. The third is the "new heaven and new earth" seen in the book of Revelation. The vision of 2 Corinthians included a glimpse into that new or third heaven.

Answer 3

Actually there are three heavens;

1. The heavens we see with our physical eyes (atmosphere, space, etc.) This is the "First Heaven", the physical heaven.

2. The second Heaven is where we pass through on our way to our eternal destination after death. This is where Hell is located, and where Satan and his demons dwell. (I've seen the "second heaven" , NOT a pleasant place!).

The Redeemed pass through here after death, escorted by angels and protected by the Holy Spirit so that Satan and his demons cannot come near them. They then come to the Third Heaven, to meet God.

3. The Third Heaven is where God dwells, high above all things. Here is where His throne is located, and where what we call "Heaven" is.

The apostle Paul is describing where he had been taken into Heaven itself, and heard the words of God being spoken, words which He thought of as being too holy for sinful Man to hear.

This would also be the place where the apostle John was taken when he saw and wrote the book of Revelation. The following passage is the closest thing in Scripture that describes the issue;

Revelation 4:1-3

Revelation 4

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Remember, John said he was in the spirit on the Lord's day, when he saw this, and he was commanded to "come UP here". So his spirit was taken into Heaven to witness the things he saw and wrote about.

I hope this helps?

Foxfire

If anyone has any further questions on this subject, please feel free to write. :)

Answer 4

First heaven - Earth Atmosphere
(Deuteronomy 11:17) - "Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce...."
(Deuteronomy 28:12) - "The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands."

Second Heaven - Outer Space
(Psalm 19:4,6) - "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;..."
(Jeremiah 8:2) - They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens which they have loved and served...."

Third Heaven - Where God dwells
(1 Kings 8:27) - "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you."
(Psalm 2:4) - The One enthroned in heaven laughs; The LORD scoffs at them."

Answer 5

The third heaven . . . Paradise: ancient cosmologies depicted a multitiered universe. Jewish intertestamental literature contains much speculation about the number of heavens. Seven is the number usually mentioned, but the Testament of Levi (2:7-10; 3:1-4) speaks of three; God himself dwelt in the third of these. Without giving us any clear picture of the cosmos, Paul indicates a mental journey to a nonearthly space, set apart by God, in which secrets were revealed to him. Ineffable things: i.e., privileged knowledge, which it was not possible or permitted to divulge.

Answer 6

Paul was taken up to the third heaven. This is not explained well in the Bible, but the ancient world generally saw the heavens as multi-leveled. The original belief was that there were three main levels to heaven and that the Father inhabited the highest level. This can be seen in the extra-biblical text, The Testament of Levi. In other texts, like the Ascension of Isaiah, the number of levels of heaven is expanded to seven. Again, God is in the upper-most, or seventh, heaven. As one ascends up through the heavens, the glory and brightness of each heaven increases until you reach the glory of the presence of God. Those who ascend to Heaven must know the signs and key-words to pass each gate and its angel-guardian to pass to the next level.
Paul's comment is a reflection of this underlying belief.
Mormons are the only church I know of that retain this idea of a mult-leveled Heaven.

Answer 7

This is 2 Cor. 12:2 and I quote, "I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows" This verse speaks of St. Paul's visions and revelations. You may continue on verse 4 and the succeeding verses which clearly explains what St. Paul was talking about. "St. Paul was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told that no mortal is permitted to repeat" 2 Cor. 12:4. You may continue to read until verse 10 of the same chapter and you will surely understand what St. Paul is referring to regarding his visions and revelations in Christ Jesus.

Answer 8

12:11-13 The Corithians compelled Paul to boast because they listened to the fales apostles(11:14) and were taken in by them in Coirnth, he performed the signs of an apostle, miracels or supernatural evidences (see Acts 14:3).

Answer 9

The third heaven designates a place beyond the immediate heaven of the earth's atmosphere and beyond the further heaven of outer space into the presence of God Himself.

Answer 10

Greetings Friend,

Traditionally based on that passage, the Church taught three heavens: 1) the atmosphere, 2) outer space, and 3) heaven as in where God resides.

sending love,