Three Heavens; Not Just One

Rev. Margaret Minnicks is an ordained Bible teacher. She writes many articles that are Bible lessons.

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."

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

For each question, choose the best answer. The answer key is below.

1. Where does God dwell?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
2. Where do the birds and airplanes fly?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
3. Where do Satan and his demons fight against us?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
4. Where are the planets and outer space?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
5. Which heaven will roll down and replace the earth?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
6. Where does Satan hold up our prayers like he did for Daniel's prayer?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
7. Where is the atmosphere?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
8. Which heaven extends about twenty miles above the earth?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Three Heaven
9. Which is the celestial heaven where the sun, moon and stars are?
   • First Heaven
   • Second Heaven
   • Third Heaven
10. Which is the atmospheric heaven that contains the air we breathe?
    • First Heaven
    • Second Heaven
    • Third Heaven

Answer Key

1. Third Heaven
2. First Heaven
3. Second Heaven
4. Second Heaven
5. Third Heaven
6. Second Heaven
7. First Heaven
8. First Heaven
9. Second Heaven
10. First Heaven

Comments

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on December 28, 2019:

Sharon Xu, It means that where we live now will no longer exist. It will be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth.

Sharon Xu on December 27, 2019:

Thank you for sharing your interruptions. Can you explain what does it mean in Rv 21:1 as it mentions “ the first heaven and the first earth had passed away”?

Chandragupta Thopte on December 13, 2019:

Thanks for the information.

SMART O . NWOKORO on August 03, 2019:

THANKS VERY MUCH.THE VAROUS HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNIŅTHE PLEURALITY OF MENTION OF HEAVENS FROM GENESIS1:1 AS WELL AS THE SIMPLE DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE HEAVENS MAKE THE DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT CLEARER.SO IS THE USE OF REVELATION.ABRAHAM 21.

Maneisha Barrett on July 28, 2019:

Thank you for this lesson I actually learnt about it today in church. I was totally amazed. Keep doing the work of God, we appreciate you effort!

Florence on April 09, 2019:

Thank You, for sharing your gift God has bestowed upon you looking forward to study with you again God Bless You

Shirley Hurst on January 19, 2019:

I'm not sure where satan fights

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 15, 2019:

I have written a lot of articles about the Bible. We are not allowed to post links here but go to my profile. You will find plenty of articles listed there.

Fred David k on December 31, 2018:

This is awesome! Thank you for the information may the Holy Spirit of Truth continue to use you well in the name of Jesus of Nazareth!!!

Lillian Mboya on December 22, 2018:

Was inspired about taking a quize on rhe three heavens.

Felicia on December 14, 2018:

Hi Ms. Minnicks,

I just wanted to say wonderful article/post, Hallelujah. I am in VA too, I reside in Woodbridge :)

God bless you :)

Sione on December 08, 2018:

I been looking for this information about the heavens and I found them. Thank you very much, can't wait to see the third heaven with my own eyes. I love Jesus and you guys too, thank you

Emmanuel on November 19, 2018:

If there is a second heaven, and its called demonic heaven, should we then say that the second heaven is hell fire.

Emmanuel on November 13, 2018:

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.

Donna on November 06, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on November 05, 2018:

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.

Joyce on November 04, 2018:

Where does one body go after death? is there a resting place until the day of judgement ?

Joyce on November 04, 2018:

Awesome !,this was really great and easy to understand. I enjoyed every moment of it and ready for more of this spiritual food.

Dee on October 29, 2018:

This Article is Life Changing.

Praise GOD!!!

Sherri C. on October 21, 2018:

Thank you so much for your article and the Bible verses that related to the 3 Heavens. God Bless you all!

Precious on October 17, 2018:

Very Enlightening!

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on October 10, 2018:

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.

Josh Fehr on October 10, 2018:

This helped, but I am curious, when will the third heaven replace earth?

Bless God

Sonia Chris on September 23, 2018:

Tnx a lot for this article

Lyla on September 21, 2018:

Thank you, this has helped me a lot.

God bless

Ben on September 21, 2018:

Concise, truthful and elucidatory

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on September 13, 2018:

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.

Kari on September 13, 2018:

What chapter is three Heavens on King James Bible

Marlene Sullivan on September 13, 2018:

Wow. Thank you so much for this information. It all makes sense

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on September 07, 2018:

Annie, I am glad you found my article about the three heavens very helpful.

Annie Horak on September 07, 2018:

Very helpful! Thank you!

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on August 30, 2018:

Thanks so much, Estelle, for reading and commenting on my article about the three heavens according to the Bible.

Estelle Boswell on August 30, 2018:

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!

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on August 29, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on August 26, 2018:

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!

Peter Nweke from Nigeria on August 26, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on June 15, 2018:

Koketso, Yes, God is love and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him, according to First John 4:16.

Koketso on June 15, 2018:

God is love

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on May 29, 2018:

Min. Milton McGee, thanks for your kind words. I receive them.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on May 28, 2018:

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."

Lover of God on May 28, 2018:

Thank you for these verses your post was helpful and informative for gaining understanding on the three heavens! God bless you in Jesus name

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on May 28, 2018:

Gaofetoge, I am glad you found what you were looking for.

Gaofetoge on May 28, 2018:

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

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on May 22, 2018:

Thedecadentone, thanks so much for reading my article about the three heavens and for leaving such a detailed comment.

Thedecadentone on May 22, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on May 20, 2018:

B. Young, thanks for reading my article about the three heavens.

B. Young on May 20, 2018:

Thank you for this information.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on April 24, 2018:

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.

Monica on April 24, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on February 25, 2018:

Thank you, hanyindejunio03, for your kind comment.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 09, 2018:

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.

charlie from From Kingdom of God living on Planet earth in between the oceans on January 08, 2018:

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

Eduardo Amando Jusino from Horsham, PA. on January 08, 2018:

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Eduardo Amando Jusino from Horsham, PA. on January 08, 2018:

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).

charlie from From Kingdom of God living on Planet earth in between the oceans on January 08, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 08, 2018:

Thanks for reading any of my articles, olivia B Smith. I post a lot.

olivia B smith on January 08, 2018:

very interesting i look forward to your posts thank you

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 08, 2018:

Thanks for reading my article, olivia B smith. Also, thanks for your feedback.

olivia B smith on January 07, 2018:

i will be up all WEEK reading sciptures thank you for the info

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 07, 2018:

Thanks, Sylsha, for reading my article and commenting positively.

sylsha on January 07, 2018:

Good explanation to developing faith thank you very much.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 07, 2018:

Thanks, Ruth Beard Young for your kind remarks. They are very encouraging!

Ruth Beard Young on January 07, 2018:

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,

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 06, 2018:

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.

Eduardo Amando Jusino from Horsham, PA. on January 06, 2018:

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!

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on January 05, 2018:

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.

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 05, 2018:

Thanks, Tim, for your kind and positive input, as always!

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on January 05, 2018:

Thanks, Barbara Badder, for reading and commenting positively.

Barbara Badder from USA on January 05, 2018:

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.

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on January 05, 2018:

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.

charlie from From Kingdom of God living on Planet earth in between the oceans on January 05, 2018:

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.

Martha Rogers on January 05, 2018:

This is awesome. I am learning so much. Never really paid attention to the plural form of heaven. I will share this.