HEAVENS ARE THREE

#pastorbiodunsoretire

An average Jew believes there are three heavens: 1st heaven, 2nd heaven and 3rd heaven. 

The first heaven is the earth's atmosphere (the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth). It is also called firmament (Gen. 1:7,8). 

[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. 

The second heaven is the outer space or the rest of the Milky Way solar system comprising the sun, the planets, their moons and the spaces in-between them as can be seen from the earth. 

In addition, the second heaven also includes all the other solar systems (each complete with its sun, seen as star from the earth, and a body of planets) apart from the Milky Way solar system of which our planet Earth is a member.

That is the heaven first mentioned in the Bible (Gen.1:1). 

[1] In the beginning God created the HEAVEN and the earth.

As can be seen from the scriptural references, the two heavens mentioned so far  are created and are therefore not eternal. 

But the third heaven is not created. It is eternally the habitation of God and His holy angels. 

This is the spiritual heaven and the dream of every child of God. 

Apostle Paul said that he was caught up to that third heaven which he also later called Paradise and there heard unspeakable words (2 Cor. 12:2-4). 

[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.

That is the heaven every child of God should set his or her mind on. From this uncreated and eternal heaven, the new (or heavenly) Jerusalem will emerge as the headquarters of the new heaven (sky) and new earth (Rev. 21:1-2).

[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [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.

Every human being on earth should desire to be with God in that eternal and beautiful heaven. And the way is so easy:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Shalom!