How Many Heavens
2 Corinthians 12:2 “I know a man in
Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out
of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this,
caught away, as far as the
third heaven;”
In the King James English version of 1611, there are about
691 references to the term heaven used in all its variety. Such as,
heavenly, heavens, or heaven. These references are described using various
verbs, nouns, and pronouns to prefix a different designation accordingly.
For example: the first reference in the Old Testament in the American
Standard version and most other widely accepted versions, including the
New International Version and the New King James is found in Genesis 1: 1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Notice here from the beginning the term is plural. Heaven
in the passage is dual. Heaven in the OT is mostly dual. The ending Hebrew
is 'ayim' and is the dual ending. The ending 'im' as in Elohim is plural
which normally is 3 or more.
The last reference is in Revelation 21:10 “And he carried
me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy
city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” again this one is in
the singular.
The Apostle Paul is the only Bible writer
to specify a number when mentioning heaven as an eternal destiny, in our
reference above. Specifically he speaks of the third heaven. The definite
article is used in the Greek giving it a more specific designation thus,
“the third heaven”.
Most of the redeemed world refers to
heaven as a general place. The final resting place of all saved by Gods
grace through out human history. Yet by my count there are at least four
distinct Hopes or Heavens where each saved soul in their respective
dispensation will spend their eternal hope. This makes our verse in 2
Corinthians 12:2 very unique being the only numbered Heaven in the entire
Bible.
The first
heaven is most widely defined as the atmospheric heaven. Matthew 6:26
“Behold the fowls of the air
: [Greek word ouranos
found 74 times in Matthew, translated in the AV heaven 68 times, air 3
times and sky 3 times] for they
sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
The second
heaven encompasses the stellar domain. Many people are fascinated by star
gazing, desiring a clear night to look at the stars and their patterns.
The stars are prominent in the second dispensation of the Kingdom on
earth. Most O.T. verses designate a northward direction for God’s throne.
Ps 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount
Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides
of the north:
Various future signs for Israel are
marked by stars and their reference. Mark 13:25 “And the stars of heaven
shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.”
This second heaven is thought to be the
habitation of the angels. Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
Rev 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars
which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The
seven stars are the angels
of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are
the seven churches.”
Stars were always associated with Angels
in the O.T. Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
of Angels,
The third
heaven is of course where Paul was raptured to. The Greek word that Paul
uses to describe his transport in 2 Corinthians 12:2 is
harpazo.
It is the same Greek word used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 for “caught up”. It
means 1) to seize, carry off by
force 2) to seize on, 3) to snatch out or away.
The
location of this third heaven is also referred to by Paul the apostle in
several latter epistles. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ:” The expression “heavenly” is
epouranios
in the Greek. It means upon the
heavens or super heavens. Paul is again the only N.T. writer to use this
term super heavens [epouranios]
as a hope for the body of Christ.
This
third heaven is the eternal destiny for the body of Christ today. It is
our hope. It is above and beyond all heavens. The third heaven is where
all rule in the future will come from including Angels, 1Co 6:3 Know ye
not that we shall judge Angels? how much more things that pertain to this
life?
Some say, “What will we be doing in heaven besides
worshipping God?” We [the body of Christ] will be judging Angels. Sounds
like a full time job to me considering all the Angelic activity during the
end times of Israel. The ministry of Angels and their ruling role is
prominent during the Kingdom dispensation.
The
fourth
heaven is heaven on earth and is not the eternal resting place for the
body of Christ for today. Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven.” A heavenly kingdom on earth.
The celestial city, the New Jerusalem,
will descend from heaven to be set up on earth fulfilling this hope of
heaven on earth. Rev. 21:2 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband.”
This earthy kingdom, which is to be
established on earth [i.e. Jerusalem], is the eternal hope of saved Jews
since the time of Abraham through Acts 28. It is distinct and only for
ruling Jews.
Here
are four different and distinct heavens the scripture mentions. Each has
it’s own unique population gathered from their own age. They need to be
distinguished and viewed as different in their capacity for each people or
dispensation. |
