Heavenly Father, we open ourselves up to Your Holy Spirit. Give us wisdom to properly understand Your Word. Guide us to the Truth. Strip away from us any tradition, doctrine, or dogma that is not of You. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Deuteronomy 10:14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it. This verse refers to multiple heavens. How many are there? I see three in scripture.
The First Heaven - This refers to the natural heavens. Our atmosphere and the surrounding physical universe, like when we look at the "heavens" with a telescope. God refers to this heaven while talking to Abram (Abraham) in the book of Genesis.. Genesis 15: 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
The Second Heaven - This refers to a spiritual realm. But NOT the home of God. This is the domain of wicked spiritual powers. The bible tells us that the devil and his angels were kicked out of God's domain so this cannot be the same realm. Paul spoke of it when teaching about spiritual warfare in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The Third Heaven - This is the Highest Heaven. The Holy Habitation of God, where Jesus is now at His right hand. The home of the Seraphim, Cherubim, and the rest of the host of Heaven until God creates a New Heaven and New Earth after the "Great White Throne Judgment" (Rev 20, 21). Stephen peered into this Heaven as the council of the "Synagogue of the Freedmen" attacked him.
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. (vs 55) But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, But what is this heaven like? Our language and comprehension can not possibly scratch the surface of it.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." In fact, it appears that it is forbidden for us to know very much about the Third Heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:3 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in 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. (vs 3) And I now such a man - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -(vs 4) how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
So we really can't say a great deal about the current Third Heaven. I can say this. Jesus said in John 14 "In my Fathers house are many mansions" and "I go to prepare a place for you." In six days He made all of creation. Can you imagine what He has accomplished in almost two thousand years? Can you imagine how exciting it will be to learn all the secrets of the universe. To have all the mysteries explained. To live in a mansion that our minds can not comprehend. To live without sickness, poverty, strife, or sadness? I can hardly wait. The verse we last looked at does cause confusion for some people. Are Heaven and Paradise one and the same? I believe that they are in this case, but not necessarily the same place in other verses of scripture and I will show you why. Let's look at a parable to better understand what we will be talking about.
Luke 19 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (vs 20) But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, (vs 21) desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (vs 22) So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (vs 23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (vs 24) Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (vs 25) "But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and you are tormented. (vs 26) "And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us." (vs 27) "Then he said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, (vs 28) "for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment." (vs 29) "Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." (vs 30) And he said, "No, father Abraham: but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." (vs 31) But he said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead." Paradise - The place that Abraham and Lazarus were in is Paradise. It is sometimes referred to as "The bosom of Abraham". It is NOT Heaven. When Jesus died on the cross, He went to Paradise. Look what He told the thief crucified next to Him that repented and called Him Lord. Then look at what Paul said about it. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. (vs 8) Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." (vs 9) (Now this, "He ascended" - what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? (vs 10) He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) In the first verse Jesus tells us that He was going to Paradise when He died. In the second verse Paul tells us that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth when He died and ascended to Heaven after the resurrection. So if He descended into Paradise and ascended to Heaven they must be different places. Paul was using "paradise" as and adjective for Heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:4. Another place where people are often mistaken is to think that we will go to Paradise and not Heaven when we die. Paradise was a place for what we would call "Old Testament Saints". The people of God in the Old Testament that were justified by faith (see Hebrews for examples). It lived up to it's name. It was a paradise for these people who were awaiting the coming of Jesus. Look at Ehpesians 8. "He led captivity captive". If you look back at the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, you will see that they could not leave. They could not return to the land of the living except by an act of God. And there was an gulf that kept them from crossing over to Hades (not that they would want to!). They are not captive there any longer. They were taken to Heaven when Jesus ascended and believers have been going there ever since when they depart from this world. Now look at some more proof bearing in mind that Jesus IS now in Heaven.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit."
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. (vs 23) For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Hades - Quite simply this is Hell. Look back to the story and you will see the rich man being constantly tormented in flames. This did not change with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This will be the place where the spirits of sinners go until The Great White Throne Judgment. The Title Hades is sometimes used for the whole underworld (Paradise, The Gulf, and Hades). This is mearly a matter of terminology and is not necessarily inaccurate.
Tartarus - This is a place where the angels who did not keep their proper habitation (Gen 6:4) are bound and awaiting judgment (2 Peter 2:4 - 10, Jude 6 - 7).
The Abyss - Also known as "The Pit" . This is where the multitude of demons known as "Legion" begged Jesus not to send them (Luke 8:31). This is the pit that an army of monstrous creatures led by the evil angel Apollyon are released from during the Tribulation (Rev 9:1 - 12). And this is where Satan is bound for 1000 years while Jesus rules during the Millennial Reign. The Lake of Fire - This will be the final and ultimate place of torment for Satan, his minions, and all who have rejected God's grace that is found through Jesus Christ. The Antichrist and the False Prophet are the first to be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19:20). One thousand years later at the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan, Death and Hades are cast in as well (Rev 20:10 - 15). There you have it. The choice is simple. Accept the covenant that Jesus offers and make the Third Heaven your home, with an even better Heaven on the way (Rev 21, 22). Or reject God's offer and make Hell your home with the even worse Lake of Fire your eternal destiny.
That concludes this weeks look into God's Word. Would you join me in prayer? Heavenly Father, give us wisdom to live our lives according to Your perfect will. We praise You for showing us the true meaning of Your precious and Holy Word. We ask it in the Name of Jesus and to You be all the glory. Amen. Please contact me, Michael Norton, with comments, questions, prayer requests, or suggestions at [email protected]
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Please pray this prayer, and as you confess it with your mouth and believe it with your heart (Romans 10:9-10), He will wash away your sin with the blood He shed for you on the cross. Lord Jesus, I know that You died in my place on the cross. I know that You were raised from the dead. I know that there is no other way to heaven except through You, for You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I ask You into my heart to be my Savior and my Lord from this day forward. Wash me clean of all my sins and turn me completely toward You. If I died today, I know I would go to heaven and be with You. I pray this prayer in Your Holy Name. Amen.