In 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul said that he was “caught up to the third heaven.” The same location is referred to as “paradise” in the next stanza. God is in the third heaven, often known as paradise. “Today you will be with me in paradise,” Jesus said to the criminal hanging on the cross (Luke 23:43). Together, they shall be in God’s presence. Thus, the meaning of “third heaven,” which is mentioned just once in the Bible, is the same as that of the term “heaven.”
Various ways of heaven
So why does Paul refer to “third heaven” rather than just “heaven”? This is to ensure that his readers don’t get the wrong idea about him. The Bible uses the word “heaven” or “heavens” in a number of contexts.
The earth’s atmosphere is what the word “heavens” originally meant. ‘The birds of the heavens’ (Genesis 1:26) are among the instances of this. • According to Genesis 8:2, “the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained.” • According to Deuteronomy 11:17, “He will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain.” • Matthew 26:64 states, “You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven and sitting at the right hand of Power.”
The stars that are outside of Earth’s atmosphere are the second definition of “heavens.” As an illustration, consider the following: • Exodus 24:10 states, “There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.” • Genesis 22:17 states, “I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven.” Deuteronomy 17:3 states, “…served and worshipped other gods, or the sun, the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden.”
The dwelling place of God is the third meaning of the heavens. ‘And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive’ (1 Kings 8:30) is an example of how this word is used. • 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “Then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” • Psalms 103:19 states, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens.” • Matthew 5:16 states, “Give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Mixed use of heaven
These three connotations of “heaven” are frequently combined in the usage of the word. For instance, in the passage “And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven,” Jacob is described as running away from Esau. And suddenly there it was, above and below, the angels of God! (See Genesis 28:12). Then, Jesus addressed them, saying, “Really, truly, I tell you, my Father gives you the true bread from heaven; it was not Moses who gave it to you.” John 6:32.
In the presence of the Lord
Paul intended to write, “I was not in the clouds, I was not among the stars, I was in the presence of God,” when he wrote about the “third heaven.” If we have put our faith in the Lord Jesus as our Savior, then [each of us] will experience that intense and overwhelming joy.
