It surprised me to read that there are three levels in the heavens (2 Corinthians 12:1). Of course, the First Heaven is the atmospheric heavens and clouds all around our Earth (Genesis 2:19; 7:3,23; Psalms 8:8, Lamentations 4:19). The first heaven consists of the stratosphere above us, until we come up to the stars (Genesis 1:14; Psalm 78:23; Isaiah 40:22).
The SECOND Heaven is out in space, our universe or cosmos. It consists from where our atmosphere ends and continues up into the starry heavens. It is the heaven in which the sun, moon, and stars are fixed in orbit (Genesis 1:17).
The stars are seemingly endless and the distance between all of them is staggering. There are billions of galaxies, and God knows every star by name (Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26). No wonder this level of heaven declares the glory of God, because this firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1, 4, 6; Romans 1:20).
In ancient times people were in awe of the starry expanse. Due to our powerful telescopes and satellites of today we know how immense this Second Heaven really is (Jeremiah 8:2). Star gazing is a favorite pastime for many people, a hobby worth cultivating.
The THIRD heaven is beyond space and the stars, where no man has seen by telescope. The Old Testament Saints went to the third heaven in Paradise until Jesus came and redeemed them.
This third heaven is the dwelling-place of God, to which Paul was taken, and whose wonders he was permitted to behold (2 Corinthians 12:2,4). Stephen also saw the third heaven as people were stoning him (Acts 7:56).
Jesus ascended back to the third heaven after his resurrection, once His mission and visitation on earth ended (Hebrews 4:14). His throne is actually “higher” than the first and second heaven, in the third heaven (Hebrews 7:26, 8:1).
When Jesus was baptized, He saw the heavens parting and the Holy Spirit descending upon Him like a dove (Mark 1:10). Jesus viewed it as “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). The third Heaven is the abode of the righteous who are in possession of “everlasting life.”
God’s Saints are delivered from all sufferings there forever, a deliverance from all evils (2 Corinthians 5:1,2). Christ calls it His “Father's house” (John 14:2), and also “paradise” (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Revelation 2:7).
The term heaven is used in many ways: Isaiah 14:13,14; “doors of heaven” (Psalms 78:23); heaven “shut” (1 Kings 8:35); and “opened” (Ezekiel 1:1). The “kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 25:1; James 2:5). The “eternal kingdom” (2 Peter 1:11).
Heaven is the “eternal inheritance” of all Believers where there is fulfilling joy and forever blessings, a “better country” (1 Peter 1:4; Hebrews 9:15, 11:14,16). It is the location of “The heavenly Jerusalem” before it comes to earth as the New Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12).
New Jerusalem, the holy city of God, is the place of our legacy that Jesus went ahead to “prepare” for us that we may be with Him, wherever He is (John 14:2; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7). We look forward to spending eternity in Jesus’ presence, and serving Him as our Lord and King of the Kingdom of God.
Prayer:
Father God, Your ways are so much higher than our ways. You are our amazing God, and infinite Savior, Lord and King. You made Jesus, Your only begotten Son, just a little lower than the angels for a season. This made a way for those of us who trust in Him for our Salvation to enter Your holy family by adoption. In fact, You always make a way for us, when there is no apparent way. We can never thank You enough for such a privilege as this.
We want to walk by Your Spirit in obedience to Your commandments and to prove our love and loyalty to You as our Daddy God. You established that all things are possible for us, through Christ in us, no matter how hard or insurmountable they seem to our human perception (Matthew 19:26). We rejoice in You, find solace in Your salvation, trust in Your holiness and generosity, and seek comfort in Your compassion. You are our Almighty God.
Thought for the Day:
We are graced by God to understand the power, peace and presence of God in the Third Heaven; it is the ultimate dwelling place of the Bride of Christ, and our part of it is guaranteed to us by the presence of the Trinity of God within us.
- 2 Kings 6:16-17
