What does it mean that Paul went to the third heaven? | GotQuestions.org
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Is there more than one heaven? Paul mentioned a third heaven, what and where was he talking about? In this video, Pastor Nelson answers your question: What does it mean that Paul went to the third heaven?
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- In today's video I'll answer your question, what does it mean that Paul went to the third heaven?
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- Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
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- Paul describes a time when he was caught up to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12 verses 2 -4.
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- He mentions himself in the third person. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven, whether it was in the body or out of the body,
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- I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man, whether in the body or apart from the body,
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- I do not know, but God knows, was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
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- The word heavens can be used to refer to different realms. Heavens can refer to the sky and the earth's atmosphere, making it the first heaven.
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- We see this in Deuteronomy 11, Psalm 104, and Isaiah 55.
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- It can also refer to outer space, where the stars and planets are, the second heaven.
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- We see this in Psalm 8, and Isaiah 13. It can refer to God's dwelling place, which is beyond the other heavens, a place known as the third heaven.
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- We see this in Psalm 33, 13 -14, Isaiah 66, 1,
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- Matthew 6, 9, Hebrews 7, 26, and Revelation 11, 19.
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- When Paul says that he went to the third heaven, he means that he went to the place where God dwells.
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- Interestingly, Paul uses the phrase caught up to refer to how he was transported to heaven.
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- It's the same Greek word used in 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 17 to refer to the rapture of the church.
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- Following his list of boasts in 2 Corinthians 11, verses 22 -33, Paul further verifies his apostolic office by including his visions and revelations from the
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- Lord. 2 Corinthians 12, verse 1, The apostle is unsure whether he was physically in the body or apart from the body when he experienced heaven.
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- 2 Corinthians 12, verses 2 -3 While there, he heard and saw things that he couldn't describe and was forbidden to relate.
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- 4. Some believe this event occurred during Paul's first missionary journey, when he was stoned and left for dead in Lystria, but we can't be sure.
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- The privilege of seeing heaven no doubt gave Paul courage to face his later trials and suffering.
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- Christians today may not have seen the third heaven as Paul did. We can be just as confident of our future in heaven because we are in Christ.
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- The Bible does not tell us everything we might like to know about heaven, but we know that it will be a wonderful place where we will dwell with Christ.
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- Paul knew that being with Christ is far better than anything he could experience on earth.
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- Until the day we eternally enter God's presence, we can state with confidence, along with the apostle
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- Paul, for we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the
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- Lord. 2 Corinthians 5, verses 7 -8. Want to learn more?
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- 03:41
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