Three Heavens According to the Bible
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Most people miss it, but there is an "s" on the word "heaven" to indicate that more than one exists.
So, how many heavens are there? How does the Bible account for them?
The First Heaven
Everyone can see the first heaven. However, people might not consider it as a heaven. The first heaven is known as the atmospheric heaven that includes the air that we breathe and our surrounding on the earth.
The first heaven is actually the atmosphere that contains the things we can see such as the clouds and birds and airplanes. Whenever you fly in an airplane, you are in the first heaven. The first heaven extends about twenty miles above the earth.
Jeremiah 4:25 describes the first heaven. The major prophet says in the Old Testament, "I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled."
The banished disciple John says in the last book of the Bible in Revelation 19:17, "I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come."
The Second Heaven
The second heaven is far away, but we can see some of it. It is where the stars and planets are. The second heaven is what we call outer space where some astronauts have gone.
The second heaven is known as the celestial heaven or the stellar heaven. This heaven includes the sun, moon, and stars.
Genesis 22:17 proves there is a second heaven. God says, "In blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore."
Much attention should be given to the second heaven because that is where Satan and his demons do their best work. It is the place where spiritual warfare takes place.
A good way to believe this is true is to remember that God told Daniel He answered his prayer in the third heaven the first day he prayed, but it was delayed by conflict in the second heaven for 21 days, according to Daniel 10:12-14. Some people go on a 21-day fast because of this information.
Satan held up Daniel's prayer in the second heaven. That's where he holds up our prayers. In other words, Satan comes between us on earth and God who is in the third heaven.
The Third Heaven
The third heaven is the dwelling place of God. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:2, "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 knows;) such as one caught up to the third heaven."
The Three Heavens
| |
|---|---|
First Heaven
| Atmosphere where birds and airplanes fly among the clouds
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Second Heaven
| Satan and his demons fight spiritual battles; also, it is outer space where stars and planets are
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Third Heaven
| Dwelling place of God and the heavenly host
|
Which Heaven?
People live on earth, but they are not really citizens of earth. How could that be?
Paul says in Philippians 3:20, "We are citizens of heaven." But which one? We are actually not living in our place of citizenship. Even though we have to live and have our feet planted on earth, our ultimate citizenship is in the third heaven with God. In the end, the third heaven will roll down and replace the earth.
Identity the Heaven
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Comments
I have a problem heaven is a dwelling place of God right? Ok if then that's the case, he says in 2chorinthians 6vs16 , you are the temple where i will dwell in spirit. Fine, in John 4vs 24 the bible says God is a spirit. And lazarus after death was seen on Abraham's bossom. Are all this scriptures not indicating that heavens are on people/children of God.. because even 1chorinth15vs29 says the death are baptized on the living.
Death. The body + breath of life = living soul. See book of Genesis when GOD made Adam and Eve. (No such thing as a dead soul) Eccl. 9--"the living know that they shall die but the dead know not anything". The BIBLE teaches us that the dead know nothing. They also have no anger, they don't know what is going on around them; Jesus states that death is like a sleep. While we are asleep, we have no idea what is going on AND how long we are asleep. We experience death, sleep and then the next thing we know, those who have accepted JESUS as their Saviour, is seeing JESUS coming in the clouds. The dead in CHRIST are raised up in the 1st resurrection. The wicked alive at his coming? The wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of HIS coming. The wicked dead remain in the graves... they know not that CHRIST has come and will be resurrected after the 1000 years. No one left on the earth EXCEPT... satan... he will be bound on this earth... by a chain of circumstances for 1000 years. After the 1000 years, every one who has ever lived will come back, the righteous and the wicked will be resurrected... this is the 2nd resurrection. The Holy City comes down out of heaven with the righteous inside... the wicked, along with satan and his angels try to overcome the city and are destroyed FOREVER by the fires of hell. Yeah.. no hell now. None. All sin... all the effects of sin... all the wicked... will be destroyed and GOD re creates a new heaven and new earth therein dwelleth righteouness. And sin shall NOT rise up a second time.
- AUTHOR
Joyce, the physical body goes to dust after death. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." However, the spirit goes to a resting place until the day of judgment for those who are saved.
Where does one body go after death? is there a resting place until the day of judgement ?
Awesome !,this was really great and easy to understand. I enjoyed every moment of it and ready for more of this spiritual food.
This Article is Life Changing.
Praise GOD!!!
Thank you so much for your article and the Bible verses that related to the 3 Heavens. God Bless you all!
Very Enlightening!
- AUTHOR
Josh, that is a very good question. The answer is in Revelation 21. Read the entire chapter that tells about the new heaven and the new earth. In short, this earth will pass away and will be replaced with the third heaven that will roll down. Read the chapter to see if it will help you understand it.
This helped, but I am curious, when will the third heaven replace earth?
Bless God
Tnx a lot for this article
Thank you, this has helped me a lot.
God bless
Concise, truthful and elucidatory
- AUTHOR
Kari, the references for each one of the three heavens are listed in the article. It is not just one scripture, but there is a scripture for the first heaven, the second heaven, and the third heaven.
When reading the Bible, one must not rely on only one scripture but on the Bible as a whole.
What chapter is three Heavens on King James Bible
Wow. Thank you so much for this information. It all makes sense
- AUTHOR
Annie, I am glad you found my article about the three heavens very helpful.
Very helpful! Thank you!
- AUTHOR
Thanks so much, Estelle, for reading and commenting on my article about the three heavens according to the Bible.
Elder Margaret, forgive the title I put before your first name. I mean no harm. I see you as an elder of the church. You have confirmed what has been taught to me so long ago. It's just natural and supernatural--
the three heavens are real; and scripture does back it up! I thank you so much. I love you! Be encouraged!
- AUTHOR
Jerry Sanders, once a person gets saves, he will not lose his salvation. God is not an Indian giver. That means He does not give salvation and takes it away. We do not put our children out of the family when they do something wrong.
We don't lose our salvation, but we can lose our relationship with God until we reconcile with Him again.
- AUTHOR
Peter Nweke, thank you for your kind remarks. I am glad you understood my article about the three heavens. Feel free to read some of my other articles that are easy to understand as well. Blessings to you, Peter!
Thanks so much REV.i really appreciate your explanation based on this issue of heavens. I have been searching on how to get clear understanding about that,but here you have made it understandable to me.May God continue to give you more grace
to do more.
- AUTHOR
Koketso, Yes, God is love and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him, according to First John 4:16.
God is love
- AUTHOR
Min. Milton McGee, thanks for your kind words. I receive them.
- AUTHOR
Lover of God, I am glad you read and were able to understand my article about the three heavens. God bless you and continue to be a "lover of God."
Thank you for these verses your post was helpful and informative for gaining understanding on the three heavens! God bless you in Jesus name
- AUTHOR
Gaofetoge, I am glad you found what you were looking for.
A visiting Prophet revived my knowledge about the heavens and this prompted me to goggle more about this topic and LO I got it all. Thanks to our Prophet through JESUS CHRIST
- AUTHOR
Thedecadentone, thanks so much for reading my article about the three heavens and for leaving such a detailed comment.
Good article. I love the Daniel reference about Gabriel needing Michaels assistance due to the devil being a jerk. Angels and demons do actual battle and sometimes the messages of man and God takes a bit to get back and forth depending on how badly Satan's forces fight it.
Also, being bit of a theologian on Johns Revelation, the third heaven, New Jerusalem, the city of god, is a 1400 mile tall, 1400 mile wide, and 1400 mile long physical construct that Jesus is perhaps still working on that will come down atop Israel to destroy the armies of gog and magog and will be gods capitol, which he will power with his presence that will negate our need for the finite sun, but it won't be the whole planet. The planet earth itself gets remade and space reworked. We will be citizens of heaven, the new jerusalem on earth after Jesus' millennial reign ends. God and glorified man are not only some fluffy spirit things on a holy cloud, but a physical thing made of matter and energy simply residing in an alternate dimension, though not for too much longer. Yahweh himself showed his back briefly to Moses after writing down the commandments with his own finger, for instance.
- AUTHOR
B. Young, thanks for reading my article about the three heavens.
Thank you for this information.
- AUTHOR
Monica, thank you for reading and commenting on my article about the three heavens. Continue to check out my site because I am a Bible teacher who posts a lot of biblical information that people are looking for.
I loved this article, thank you so much for this! I found this site while trying to find answers about the 3 heavens. I’m still learning a lot in my walk with the Lord.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, hanyindejunio03, for your kind comment.
- AUTHOR
charlie, it seems like you have a problem with everything I write. Here is a suggestion for you. Write your own articles and stop using mine to start arguments.
EAJ- I said scripture not the apostate catholic bible or any other translation, that is not what the scriptures say it is what the apostate catholic church and other apostate men say, false doctines of ungodly men. They are not relevant to the word of God in scripture
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA) 1602 (Spanish)
Génesis 1:1 EN el principio crió Dios los cielos y la tierra.
Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
Bereshis 1:1 In the beginning Elohim created hashomayim (the heavens, Himel) and haaretz (the earth).
Since you are claiming I am in error please show me one scripture that clearly shows more than one heaven, scripture not bible verse. I have show you the scriptures that make it clear there is one heaven. You are teaching it it up to you to show scripture proof. If you would teach scripture truth ( the doctrines of Christ) instead of doctrines of men I would not be able to call you on your false doctrines of men.
- AUTHOR
Thanks for reading any of my articles, olivia B Smith. I post a lot.
very interesting i look forward to your posts thank you
- AUTHOR
Thanks for reading my article, olivia B smith. Also, thanks for your feedback.
i will be up all WEEK reading sciptures thank you for the info
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Sylsha, for reading my article and commenting positively.
Good explanation to developing faith thank you very much.
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Ruth Beard Young for your kind remarks. They are very encouraging!
I believe you are the first person , other than my Dad to speak about three Heavens. God called Dad home in 1980. Keep preaching and teaching, you are doing a great work for God and many need to hear you,
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Eduardo for your response. Charlie challenges everything I write about the Bible. I don't know what his motive is for doing so, but this has been going on for quite a while.
Charlie, you need to stop...
Clearly the Scriptures says;
(KJB) Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Easy and very simple to understand this Hub.
Great Job Rev Margaret!
As a student of His teachings, and someone who live by the Word, thank you, Reverend. Keep the encouraging, educational, spiritual, and useful articles coming. I learn every time I see you have published a new article.
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Tim, for your kind and positive input, as always!
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Barbara Badder, for reading and commenting positively.
I've noticed those verses before, but never had them explained. I knew where the first and third heavens were, but never understood the second heaven as you explain it. The reports of alien ships etc could be demons then.
Thank you for this enlightening article. The reason I really like this article is that it reminds me that we are linear beings; our God is omnipresent. He's in all dimensions of observed and unseen realities.
When we accept Jesus, we are instantly citizens of Heaven. Even with our physical bodies present on this earth, our souls lives with Him.
I appreciate your kind and educational words.
if you read the scriptures instead of corrupted a bible you will see there is no mention in scripture of heavens, it is always singular and there is no mention of multiple heavens. There are several bibles that mention multiple heavens but the scriptures do not EVER, bibles are not scripture but are translations by man of the scriptures and many are full of errors. This is just another one of the false doctrines of man found in the false church system of man. It is a lie and Not true according to scripture.
This is awesome. I am learning so much. Never really paid attention to the plural form of heaven. I will share this.
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