Have you ever heard of the third Heaven? What am I talking about? Does the Bible mention it? Can I take a few minutes and examine this important Bible teaching? The third Heaven is mentioned once in the scriptures, but spoken of many times. There is something called a first Heaven and a second Heaven in the Bible.
2 Corinthians 12:1-7 (KJV) It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
The Apostle Paul was briefly taken to the third Heaven during his life and he never forgot it. His story of this event is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12. It must of have been a wonderful experience beyond description. Paul heard unspeakable words and was so glorified he was given a thorn in the flesh to bring him back down to the reality of earthly things. Still Paul ran around putting himself in harm’s way and taking unnecessary risks with his life. Paul got to the point he wanted to go back to the third Heaven more than he wanted to stay on this earth.
There are two heavens named in Genesis 1-2. According to the Bible the first Heaven is the air we breathe, the clouds we see and the atmosphere around us. The second Heaven is the sun, the moon and the stars you can see in the sky. The third Heaven is the Abode of God. It is far beyond the stars in the sky and man is NOT capable of reaching it without the help of the LIVING LORD God.
Genesis 1:6-20 (KJV) And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
God created a firmament upon the earth where the birds fly. God calls this firmament a heaven. See the Bible refers to the open firmament of heaven. This is the first Heaven.
Psalms 75:6-7 (KJV) For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
God’s abode is in the east. God’s abode is not in the west. God’s abode is not in the south. God’s abode is NORTH. God is the source of promotion. The throne of God can found in the North and in the third Heaven.
Seven times the Bible mentions the term Heaven of Heavens. I believe the Heaven of Heavens is the third Heaven.
Deuteronomy 10:14 (KJV) Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
1 Kings 8:27 (KJV) But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
2 Chronicles 2:6 (KJV) But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV) Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
Psalms 68:33 (KJV) To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
Psalms 148:4 (KJV) Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Psalms 148:1-6 (KJV) Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
There is the heaven and there is the Heaven of Heavens. Not even the Heaven of Heavens can contain God.
What is in the third Heaven? The throne of God. Many angels can be found there. There is a temple of God there. Many mansions. Jesus Christ. It is a place where time does not exist. And I suspect much more. I hope this study has benefited you in some way. I hope this message finds its way to someone who needed it.
Father God,
Help someone who needs this lesson on the third Heaven to find it. Help them to understand it and gain some benefit from it. Father God, LORD, Help us to understand your word and your Bible. Help us to be revived and cleaned up in our lives. Father God thank you for the promise of Heaven. Bind the devil and keep him out of our lives, our churches and our homes. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Bible Believer Net! 
THE BIBLE IS THE SOURCE FOR TRUTH!
If you are searching for the truth about God and His plan for mankind, where should you look? What is the only trustworthy source to find God’s truth? Would it be creed books, Bible commentaries and a variety of other written works of men?
THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH!
Jeremiah 30:1-2 This word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord, saying, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.
The Lord did not tell Jeremiah to check with Billy Graham, Joesph Smith Jr., Gandhi or Saint Augustine and write down their words.
Exodus 24:3-4 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord…….
Moses did not write down everything that John Wesley, Brigham Young, and Buddha had said.
Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!”
Jesus said live by every word that comes from God. He did say say live by every word that comes from Pope Benedict XVI, Martin Luther, and Jerry Falwell.
Luke 10:25-26 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying. “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life ?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
Jesus did not answer the lawyer by asking him “how does what is written by Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa and Benny Hin read to you?”
Acts 17:2-3 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
The apostle Paul did not reason from the writings of Max Lucado, Pope John Paul II and John Calvin.
John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
The writings of John McAthur, Jack Van Impe, Bill Hybels and Charles Swindoll were not written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.
2 Peter 3:15-16 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures…
Peter said Paul’s letters were by wisdom from God. Paul’s letters were Scriptures.
Where does Peter say creed books, catechisms, Bible commentaries, books about the Bible, and other writings of men are Scriptures?
THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE FOR GOD’S TRUTH!
(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)
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