Third Heaven

(2 Corinthians 12:1-7a) I have to boast. It is not beneficial, but I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man in union with Christ who, 14 years ago—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—was caught away to the third heaven. ³ Yes, I know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows— ⁴ who was caught away into paradise and heard words that cannot be spoken and that are not lawful for a man to say. ⁵ I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself except of my weaknesses. ⁶ For even if I want to boast, I will not be unreasonable, for I would say the truth. But I refrain from doing so, in order that no one should give me more credit than what he sees in me or hears from me, ⁷ just because of receiving such extraordinary revelations...

Verse 1 points out that Paul is talking about "supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord" as does verse 7.

The destination of the single vision is described twice:

(2 Corinthians 12:2) was caught away to the third heaven.

(2 Corinthians 12:4) was caught away into paradise

Since those two verses are referring to the same event, being caught away "to the third heaven" and being caught away "into paradise" are the same thing.

The bible refers to two heavens. One is the spirit realm where God lives, and the other is the physical realm beginning with the atmosphere of our earth where the birds fly and extends to include the stars.

In the scriptures the word paradise refers to "a beautiful park, or parklike garden" on earth, it does not refer to the spirit realm. [it-2 p. 575] (Possible exception: "paradise of God" Rev 2:7)

my thoughts

I think that the man Paul knew was shown a vision of the future, just like John was with his visions of Revelation. (Rev 1:10) A vision of that future paradise that Jesus spoke of at Luke 23:43.

When God created the physical heavens he placed around the earth a layer of water in the sky that encapsulated the earth, protecting it from harmful rays and providing the environment needed for paradisaic conditions. (Ge 1:6-8) — The first heaven.

Then at the flood the layer of waters above the waters fell, changing our atmosphere into what it still is today. — The second heaven.

After Armageddon the waters above the waters will no doubt be put back into place enabling the earth to once again become a paradise. — The third heaven.

Those in that future paradise will be living under that third heaven, where the man that Paul knew was "caught away to" in his vision of paradise.

So what do you think of this theory?

:^)
Dave
da.getmyip@gmail.com

last edited 01-10-2018