Question from a WordTruth.Com friend:

>>>  What is the "third heaven" mentioned by Paul?

WordTruth.Com Response:

In 2 Corinthians 12:2, the Apostle Paul writes:

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.  And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—  how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4, NKJV)

During this time, people referred to the sky above the earth as the "first heaven," the stars in the night sky (the universe) as the "second heaven," and to the place where God and His angels dwell as the "third heaven."

In this passage of 2 Corinthians, Paul is countering the arguments and false claims made by his persecutors.  As Paul went through the land proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, many detractors came behind him trying to invalidate his message and his character.  This is the final push of his message to testify to the truthfulness of his message and character in Christ -- "Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable" (2 Cor. 12:1, NAS).

Looking at the chronology of Paul's life, this may have been at the time he was apparently stoned to death in Lystra (Acts 14:19-20). Perhaps Paul was shown this vision to keep him going in the face of brutal opposition by the Judaizers.  Fourteen years prior to writing 2 Corinthians, Paul was stoned -- apparently to death -- in Lystra. It could well be during this moment, God gave Paul a revelation of Heaven. Unlike the false apostles who tried to discredit him, Paul said that he was not permitted to even speak of the glory he saw (2 Cor. 12:4).

Hope this helps to understand this passage.
 

May God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!
  Randy Lariscy :-)
  Director - WordTruth Ministries
 

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