About the Three Heavens
3.3 - Foundations of the Christian Faith
The scriptures tell us that God created both heaven and earth, but what this means is not immediately clear to the new believer. There is more to the term “heaven” than just “the blue sky above” or “the place we go when we die.” First, this phrase means that all things, whether visible or invisible, physical or spiritual, were brought into being out of nothing by the Word of the eternal God.
The scriptures make reference to a “third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2). If there’s a third heaven, then there is obviously a first and second heaven. It’s important to have a grasp on these three references to heaven since they impact how we view the world. Let’s tackle these out of order.
The First Heaven
The first heaven is a reference to the three-dimensional space of our world. In the very beginning, God created four things: time, space, matter, and energy. This is mentioned in Genesis 1:1, saying, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Did you catch that?
In the beginning = time
Created = energy
Heavens = space
Earth = matter
If you are a scientist, you will surely rejoice over this verse because these four things are the foundations of the material world in which we live: time, space, matter, and energy.
So, when you walk across your lawn, you are moving through the first heaven (space). The earth itself travels through the first heaven. Even the galaxies in the night sky are positioned in the first heaven (three-dimensional space).
The Third Heaven
The third heaven is where God dwells. This is the very throne room of heaven where the Angels and four living creatures, day and night, never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). Paul was called up to third heaven, and this is what he said of the event. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the 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. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:2-4).
John speaks of this same third heaven in the book of Revelation. “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:9-12).
Isaiah had a vision of this third heaven as well when he “saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!’” (Isaiah 6:1-3).
It was from the third heaven (God’s throne room, also called the mountain of God) that Lucifer was expelled. Isaiah declares, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! (Isaiah 14:12). Ezekiel completes the story, saying, “by the abundance of your trading, you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore, I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones” (Ezekiel 28:16).
The Second Heaven
The second heaven is the spiritual realm where spirits dwell. This realm is laid over our own world and runs parallel to it. You may rightfully say it is the unseen realm.
In the tenth chapter of the book of Daniel, the prophet describes an angelic visitation. “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” (Daniel 10:12-14). This is an excellent example for us to learn from. The angel Gabriel was dispatched as a messenger to Daniel. He was before God’s throne when he received this message. He then departed the third heaven and traversed the second heaven on his way to Daniel, who was praying in the first heaven. Along his journey, he encountered the hostile principality (a fallen angel) ruling over Babylon. This principality squared off against Gabriel and would not let him pass. Gabriel fought this dark ruler in the second heaven for twenty-one days but was still unsuccessful in his task. Happily, a more powerful angel (Michael) was dispatched to assist Gabriel in his task. Michael kept these dark forces busy with powerful blows as Gabriel slipped through enemy lines to deliver his message. In Verses 20 and 21, we discover that Gabriel then returned “to fight with the prince of Persia.” Gabriel shares with Daniel that “No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.” All of this angelic fighting was happening in the realm of the second heaven, which was hidden from the eyes of men.
We see similar stories when Gabriel arrived first to Zacharias and then to Mary, announcing the birth of the Christ child (see Luke Chapter 1). Gabriel received the message from the throne of God in the third heaven and then traveled through the second heaven to the places where Zacharias and Mary were. Gabriel then simply stepped from the spirit realm into our earthly realm to speak to his mark. Once the message was delivered, Gabriel slipped back into the invisible realm of spirits and made his way back to the third heaven.
We see this even more vividly in 2 Kings when the Syrian army camped around Elisha’s tent. The servant feared the army while Elisha did not. Elisha told his servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” He then prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” The Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (II Kings 6:16-17). Elisha saw into the second heaven where angelic reinforcements were already stationed. The servant could not initially see the invisible realm of the second heaven.
Let’s widen our scope. We see in scripture that Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). This reference to Satan being the “prince of the power of the air” must be understood in terms of second heaven theology. Satan doesn’t own the air in our atmosphere, nor is he visible in our realm. And though angels move about in this realm, it is not their home. But for fallen angels and disembodied spirits (unclean spirits), the second heaven is their abode. Paul also calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). In three separate chapters in the book of John, Jesus refers to Satan as “the prince of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).
In a similar line of thinking, Paul tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Again, these principalities and powers dwell in the second heaven (in high places), which is laid over ours.
Authority over Spirits in the Second Heaven
In Matthew, we read Jesus’ words concerning the second heaven. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20).
This scripture becomes more powerful If you read it in light of this understanding of the second heaven. It then reads more like this:
“What ever you in the first heaven bind will be bound in the second heaven.”
More specifically: “When you in the first heaven bind a demonic spirit in the second heaven, it will be bound.”
“If two of you in the first heaven agree on a matter, whatever you ask will be done for you by My Father in the third heaven.”
This understanding of the three heavens should significantly impact our prayer life. The promise of the Father stands true. Spiritual forces of darkness in the second heaven must obey us in Jesus’ name.
2 Corinthians 12
“ I know a man in Christ about fourteen years ago (whether he was in the body I cannot tell, or whether he was out of the body I cannot tell, God knows) who was taken up into the third heaven.”
Genesis 3:16–4:26
16 To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. 4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. 16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech. 19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
23 Then Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
For I have killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man for hurting me.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 51:3–5
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Romans 7:14–25
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Genesis 3:16–19
16 To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
Psalm 90:3–12
3 You turn man to destruction,
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
5 You carry them away like a flood;
They are like a sleep.
In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up;
In the evening it is cut down and withers.7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And by Your wrath we are terrified.
8 You have set our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.
10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Isaiah 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
John 3:36
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Romans 6:20–23
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Galatians 5:19–21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 2:1–3
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
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