"Caught Up To The Third Heaven"

[Reformer]

"Caught Up To The Third
Heaven"

       

"I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise...He heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter" [Paul - 2 Cor. 12:1-7].
 
    What an experience, to be transported to God's celestial domain, to be able to take an advance flight to God's "headquarters!" Surely, the event must have been a foretaste of divinity. The apostle did not know whether he was enraptured in his body or in his spirit. He knew only that he was "caught up into paradise" and heard things "man may not utter."
 
    In Jesus' day, the Jewish community spoke of and believed in three heavens. 1] Earth's atmosphere—air and wind, and where clouds assemble and move about; 2] Where the sun, moon, stars, and other heavenly bodies reside; and 3] Heaven or paradise, the celestial abode itself. Paul said he was "caught up to the third heaven."
 
    He said that while in heaven he "heard unspeakable things." He characterized what he heard as "surpassing greatness of the revelations"—revelations so marvelous the Lord gave him a "thorn in the flesh" to counteract his being overly elated and to keep him down to earth.
 
    But allow me to wonder and wander a bit. Did the apostle also "see things that cannot be told, which man may not utter"? Does what was revealed to him consist of knowledge only, not sight? I'm inclined to believe Paul's experience included unspeakable visual sightings, heavenly features so out-of-this-world he could not find human terms to describe them. Nor would the Lord allow him.
 
    Whether my wonderings and wanderings are right or wrong, the fact is God has prepared a glorious eternity for His children. If John, in Revelation, had been able to describe heaven as it actually is, we probably would not be able to comprehend it. It is not easy, perhaps even impossible, to comprehend celestial beauty beyond our terrestrial knowledge. But one thing we do know, by faith we are able to see. By faith we know God has prepared a glamorous and delightful future domicile for those who love Him. Praise His Holy Name!

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him" [Isa. 64:4 & I Cor. 2:9].

[Reformer]

More on this subject on another occasion.

Reformer

[Jaime]

Buff, it might be worthwhile to discuss why most theologians believe Paul is talking about himself being caught up to the third heaven out of a sense of humility. I'm not convinced. It seems like an odd way to relay that sort of testimony to such an important event.

[Jaime]

It would be like me trying to evangelize my neighborhood for Christ, but saying, "I know a man who many years ago had an encounter with Jesus and it changed him forever.................."
A personalized testimony would seem to be way more impactful.

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

Inserting obligatory comment mentioning Enoch in connection with the third heaven... now.

[Quantumbit]

In Jesus' day, the Jewish community spoke of and believed in three heavens. 1] Earth's atmosphere—air and wind, and where clouds assemble and move about; 2] Where the sun, moon, stars, and other heavenly bodies reside; and 3] Heaven or paradise, the celestial abode itself. Paul said he was "caught up to the third heaven."

The above list is incorrect.

Earth's atmosphere and outer space are the Second Heaven.

You are missing the Third Heaven.

[ATWI80D]

Yeah as a personal testimony about being saved by Christ and forgiven of sins shows that it is how the person who was saved and will be with Jesus in all eternity, in what salvation has done to them.
Knowing that Christ is real and that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is beyond impactful and making a difference.

[4WD]

The above list is incorrect.

Earth's atmosphere and outer space are the Second Heaven.

You are missing the Third Heaven.

So far as the ancient world was concerned, there was no "out space".  What can be seen with the naked eye is all there was.

Also I believe that Paradise and Heaven are two distinct realms.  Perhaps later on this.

[Quantumbit]

I created a new thread to share some of my research on this topic here..

https://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/index.php?topic=113687.msg1055219506;topicseen#new

[Reformer]

So far as the ancient world was concerned, there was no "out space".  What can be seen with the naked eye is all there was.

Also I believe that Paradise and Heaven are two distinct realms.  Perhaps later on this.

Paradise is part of the Heavenly realm. Jesus told the criminal on the cross, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Not Heaven itself. Jesus ascended to Heaven after He resurrected from the Hadean world. So the two, Paradise and Heaven, are closely related, but not necessarily the same.

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

Also I believe that Paradise and Heaven are two distinct realms.  Perhaps later on this.

Paradise comes from a Farsi (Persian) word.  We can define it as an orchard or forest planted adjacent to the king's palace. 

Song of Solomon contains a good description of Solomon's paradise - a place with flowers, fruits, and game for hunting.

The paradise adjacent to the king's palace at Jerusalem also had tunnels that were used during times of siege for the king to escape.

God also had a paradise He planted - the Garden of Eden.  In Revelation, the garden (and notably the Tree of Life) are shown to be in the heavens.