The concept of the three heavens is rooted in biblical language and the way Scripture describes different layers or dimensions of “heaven.” The Bible doesn’t explicitly number the heavens in one detailed explanation, but through various passages, we can identify three distinct “heavens,” which refer to different realms or aspects of creation. These are often referred to as:
- The First Heaven: The Sky or Atmosphere
- The Second Heaven: Outer Space or the Celestial Heavens
- The Third Heaven: The Dwelling Place of God
1. The First Heaven: The Sky or Atmosphere
The first heaven refers to the atmosphere, the sky, and the air that surrounds the earth. This is the realm where birds fly, clouds form, and weather occurs. It’s the visible “heaven” that we experience daily.
- Genesis 1:6-8: “And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’ So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault ‘sky.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.”
- In the creation account, God creates the sky (the first heaven) where clouds gather and birds fly.
- Jeremiah 4:25: “I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away.”
- This passage references the first heaven as the realm of the sky where birds fly.
2. The Second Heaven: Outer Space or the Celestial Heavens
The second heaven refers to outer space or the cosmic realm—the universe beyond the earth. This includes the sun, moon, stars, planets, and all the celestial bodies. It’s what we often refer to as “the heavens” when we look up at the night sky.
- Genesis 1:14-17: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”
- Here, the Bible describes the creation of the celestial bodies, which inhabit the second heaven.
- Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
- The “heavens” in this verse refer to the vast expanse of outer space, which reveals God’s power and majesty through the stars and the universe.
3. The Third Heaven: The Dwelling Place of God
The third heaven refers to the dwelling place of God, a spiritual realm beyond the physical universe where God’s presence is fully manifested. This is the heaven where God’s throne is located, and it is the destination of believers after death. It is also called paradise in certain passages.
- 2 Corinthians 12:2-4: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.”
- In this passage, the apostle Paul speaks about being “caught up” to the third heaven, which he identifies as paradise. This is the realm of God’s direct presence.
- Revelation 4:1-2: “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.”
- John, in his vision, is taken up to the third heaven, where he sees the throne of God, symbolizing God’s rule and authority over all creation.
- Psalm 123:1: “I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven.”
- This verse points to the third heaven as the place where God’s throne is located, a realm of worship and glory.
Summary of the Three Heavens
- First Heaven: The atmosphere, where birds fly and clouds gather. This is the sky that we see during the day.
- Second Heaven: Outer space, where the stars, moon, and planets exist. This is the cosmos, the realm of celestial bodies.
- Third Heaven: The spiritual realm where God dwells. This is paradise, the dwelling place of God and the ultimate destination for believers.
Theological Implications of the Three Heavens
The concept of the three heavens highlights that the Bible uses the word “heaven” in different contexts, depending on the perspective:
- Physical vs. Spiritual: The first and second heavens refer to the physical, observable universe (sky and outer space), while the third heaven is a spiritual reality that exists beyond the material world.
- God’s Transcendence: The third heaven reflects God’s transcendence over the created world. It reminds believers that while God is present everywhere, His eternal throne is in a realm beyond the physical cosmos.
- Eternal Hope: The third heaven is particularly significant for believers, as it represents the ultimate hope of eternal life in God’s presence, a place of perfect peace, joy, and worship.
Conclusion:
The three heavens in the Bible reflect different layers of creation and reality. The first heaven refers to the atmosphere, the second heaven to outer space, and the third heaven to the spiritual realm where God resides. For Christians, the third heaven is a place of eternal hope, the home of God, where believers will one day dwell with Him forever.