The Third Heaven and Earth
The Third Heaven and Earth
II Corinthians 12:2 has caused considerable confusion
in Christian circles. If we have respect for the integrity
of God’s Word, however, and if we believe that the Word
of God is the Will of God and that it means what it says
and says what it means, then we will have no difficulty
in establishing in our minds the “what and where” of the
third heaven. We certainly cannot go by secular literature
nor by what denominations have written about this subject,
but we must adhere to the Word of God.
II Corinthians 12:1-4:
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will
come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
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 knoweth;) such an
one caught up to the third heaven.
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or
out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man
to utter.
In order to have an accurate understanding of The
Word, let us consider first the words “caught up” of verse
two. Whenever we speak or think of the words “caught
up,” we think of them in terms of height. However, that
is not the meaning of the word used in the text; “caught
up” would be more clearly translated as “caught away.”
The same Greek word, harpazō, is used in a number of
other instances.
John 10:12:
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose
own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and
leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth
them, and scattereth the sheep.
“Catcheth” is the same Greek word that is also translated
“caught up,” “caught away,” “taketh away” or
“snatcheth away.”
I will give all the usages of this word harpazō in the
New Testament, so that each student may study the
passages and come to his own understanding of it. It is
translated as follows: “catcheth,” John 10:12; “catcheth
away,” Matthew 13:19; Acts 8:39; “catch up,” II Corinthians
12:2, 4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 12:5;
“pluck,” John 10:28, 29; “pull,” Jude 23; and “take by
force,” Matthew 11:12; John 6:15; Acts 23:10. These
could all be translated “catch” or “catch away.” In II Corinthians
12:2 and 4 harpazō is in the aorist tense denoting
a “once and one time only occurrence.” Paul was caught
up to the third heaven, paradise, once and only once.
He was given this revelation once and for all.
The Bible speaks of three heavens. These three heavens,
however, are not in layers, but rather in sequence—
three different periods of time. These are all set forth in
II Peter. The first heaven and earth of Genesis 1:1 is
spoken of in II Peter 3:6 as “the world that then was.”
II Peter 3:6:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed
with water, perished.
“Being overflowed with water, perished” does not
refer to the flood of Noah’s time. The word “perished”
The second heaven and earth is noted in the following
verse of II Peter 3.
II Peter 3:7:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against
the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
“The heavens and the earth which are now” is the
second heaven and earth, the substance which God put
in order after the first creation became “without form
and void.”
Verse 13 of II Peter 3 tells of the third heaven and earth.
II Peter 3:13:
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for
new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
“New heavens* and a new earth” is the third heaven
and earth. Following are God’s comments on the matter
dealing with heaven and earth.
We know that sometime, in some way, the first earth
became utterly ruined.
Genesis 1:1, 2:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth.
And the earth was [became] without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face [faces] of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters.
“The heaven and the earth” are the first ones, and they
fell into ruin. Then came “the heavens and the earth,
which are now.” But a day is coming when there will
be a new heaven and a new earth, this being the third
heaven and earth.
Revelation 21:1:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the
first** [former] heaven and the first [former] earth
were passed away; and there was no more sea.†
This is referred to as the third heaven and earth.
Paul was “caught away” by revelation to this, the third
heaven, the existence of which is still future. How beautiful
and how simple The Word becomes. It is no longer
private interpretation or guesswork. Paul was “caught
away” to the new heaven and the new earth, the third
one; God showed him by revelation exactly what this
was all about.
II Corinthians 12:1:
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will
come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
There are four different Greek words used for the word
“not” in the Bible. The one used in this verse means
“absolutely not.” “It is [absolutely] not expedient [necessary]
for me doubtless to glory. . . .” The word “glory”
means to “speak authoritatively” of those things of which
he has true knowledge.
“I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.”
The literal translation of this is: “I have had visions regarding
the revelation of the Lord.”
Revelation 1:1:
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto
him, to shew unto his servants things which must
shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it
by his angel unto his servant John.
This book of Revelation is called in its first verse “The
Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The word “revelation” is the
Greek word apokalupsis, transliterated “apocalypse” meaning
“appearing” or “revelation” of Jesus Christ. This will
be His second coming.
II Corinthians 12:2:
I knew a man in Christ above [more than] fourteen
years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or
whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth:)
such an one caught up to the third heaven.
“Knew” is a unique word, meaning “knew without
effort.” How could anyone know something without putting
forth any effort? The Word says by revelation which
is received by word of knowledge and word of wisdom.
“I knew a man in Christ. . . .” The word “in” is the
word “remaining within.” Paul believed in eternal life,
he did not get saved one minute and lost the next minute,
and he was walking in fellowship. “I knew [without
effort] a man in Christ [remaining in Christ]. . . .”
These few words “(whether in the body, I cannot tell,
or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)”
—are used in the same sense we describe a person who
becomes enthusiastic over something. We may say that
he is “beside himself ” with joy or “out of this world.”
Luke 4:5:
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain,
shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time.
“Shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time” was by revelation. The devil could not
take Jesus up into a high mountain and show him all the
kingdoms of the world physically. This could be done
only by revelation.
Ezekiel 40:24:
After that he brought me toward the south, and behold
a gate toward the south: and he measured the
posts thereof and the arches thereof according to
these measures.
“After that he brought me.” God “brought” Ezekiel
and showed this to him, the same as Paul was “caught
away” to the third heaven.
Ezekiel 40:2:
In the visions of God brought he me into the land
of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain. . . .
God “brought” him and set him on a very high mountain
by revelation.
II Corinthians 12:4:
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man
to utter.
“Caught up” of II Corinthians 12:2 is the same as
“caught up” of verse four. Both literally mean “caught
away.”
The word “into” is a precise preposition. It is not the
same preposition as the one given at the end of verse 2
of II Corinthians 12. Not only was Paul “caught away”
to the third heaven, but also “caught away” into paradise.
“To” is the Greek word eis, which means a motion toward
an object with the intent of reaching the object.
The Word leaves us breathless in its accuracy!
“How that he was caught away into paradise.” Paradise
is a heaven on earth. In the heaven and earth in Genesis
2, God was with man and could talk to man. There was
no sickness, no sin and no death; that was paradise.
Paradise is never any other place than upon earth. The
unorthodox teaching we have had is that paradise is an
intermediate state, a purgatory. This is total error. The
Word of God says it is a place on earth.
The Septuagint uses the word “paradosia” paradise,
for Eden in all the following passages: Genesis 2:8, 10,
15; 3:23, 24; 4:16; Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 28:13; 31:9, 16,
18; 36:35; Joel 2:3.
We find “paradise” in Genesis 2, but we never read
about “paradise” again until Revelation 21, when there
is a new heaven and a new earth.
Returning to verse 4 of II Corinthians 12 we read:
“How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words. . . .” Why is the word “unspeakable”
used? The reason was not that Paul could not have used
words in his own vocabulary to express what God had
shown him,*** but God knew that the time of revelation
in writing was not yet. The Apostle John, not Paul, was
to write this.
Revelation 1:1:
. . .and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his
servant John.
There are two different Greek words used for “word”
in the Bible. One is logos†† the other is rhēma. The usage
in II Corinthians 12:4 is rhēma, meaning “sentences.”
Paul was caught away into paradise and heard unspeakable,
not to be disclosed, sentences. God showed
him, by revelation, many things that were still future,
but which were not to be spoken nor written by Paul,
“. . .which it is not lawful [which it is not permitted] for
a man to utter,” to speak forth so someone else could hear.
God caught Paul away to the period of time of the third
earth. Why did He do this? The answer is given in the
context of II Corinthians 11 and 12. In these chapters,
Paul was talking about his “thorn in the flesh,” people
who were inspired by Satan to make his life miserable.
Paul had suffered Satanic persecution. Three times Paul
had prayed to the Father to remove Satan’s attack, and
then the Father gave him a “free trip.” By revelation, God
took Paul to the third heaven and the third earth, “wherein
dwelleth righteousness.” God showed him all these things
which were “unspeakable.”
Now we can understand why Paul spoke as he did in
II Corinthians 12.
II Corinthians 12:5, 6:
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not
glory, but in mine infirmities.
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a
fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest
any man should think of me above that which he
seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
“Of such an one will I glory. . .” because God, by
revelation (word of knowledge and word of wisdom)
showed Paul tremendous events.
II Corinthians 12:10:
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Here in the midst of this heaven and earth which are
now, where we suffer persecution, we labor not in vain,
but we look for His return and the new heaven and the
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Romans 8:18:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us.
The persecutions which we suffer now are short compared
to the joys of the new heaven and the new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness, and of which there shall
be no end.
In a discussion of paradise we must also consider the
words of Jesus to the malefactor as He was hanging on
the cross.
Luke 23:42, 43:
And he [the malefactor] said unto Jesus, Lord, remember
me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To
day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Remembering that paradise is a place on earth, we
know that paradise did not exist on the day the malefactor
died. The malefactor requested something in the future.
“Kingdom” is used synonymously with “paradise” and
the “third heaven and earth.” The Bible says that the
malefactor was a believing Israelite and believers of Israel
will occupy paradise. Jesus promised the malefactor something
on the day of the crucifixion which was all Jesus
could promise to him, because the malefactor was of
Israel. Jesus did not say to him, “Verily, verily I say
unto thee, Today thou shalt go to heaven.” No, if Jesus
had meant heaven, He would have said heaven. Jesus
said “paradise” because He meant “paradise,” which is
referring to a place on earth in the future.
Jesus never went to heaven nor paradise (as some erroneously
call it) when He died. He went into the grave.****
The third day God raised Jesus, not from paradise nor
heaven, but from the grave. The malefactor’s request was
“Lord, remember me when thou comest [future tense]
into thy kingdom” and the coming into His own kingdom
is not heaven and not paradise, but His kingdom which
is yet future.*****
According to John 14:3 Jesus said He would take His
followers to Himself at some future time. The King James
Version has a comma after the word “thee” in Luke
23:43, but this comma must be deleted. Leaving the
comma where the King James Version has it causes the
Bible to be inaccurate. Paradise is not now; therefore,
Jesus said to the malefactor, “Verily I say unto thee today,
thou shalt be [future tense] with me in paradise.”
I Thessalonians 4:16, 17:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with
the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord
in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We can see from these Scriptures that this future time
for taking the Church to dwell with Christ is at the gathering
together unto Him. The gathering together takes
place before the penitent malefactor will have been remembered
by the Lord and will have been given a place
in paradise because he was of the house of Israel. This
is the accuracy of God’s Word.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke
16:19-31, the rich man, who had died, made the request
for Lazarus to be sent to his Father’s house. Lazarus was
to warn the rich man’s brethren concerning his situation.
Luke 16:29-31:
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the
prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went
unto them from the dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one
rose from the dead.
This is a plain statement that Lazarus was dead and in
the grave. Before he could warn others, he must rise from
the dead, not return from paradise or heaven.
The third heaven and earth is spoken of in Revelation.
Revelation 2:7:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst
of the paradise [Eden] of God.
Isaiah 65:17:
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come
into mind.
God said in Isaiah that He is going to create “new heavens
and a new earth” and this former one, the one we
are living in now, “shall not be remembered.” There will
be no memory of it; for in the new heaven and new earth
dwells only righteousness. In the present heavens and
earth, the only righteousness is the spirit from God in
our lives and the manifestation of that spirit.
Isaiah 51:16:
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have
covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may
plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the
earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
In context, this is the revelation to Isaiah regarding the
new heavens and the new earth.
Isaiah 66:22:
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I
will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord,
so shall your seed and your name remain.
Isaiah 51:3:
For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all
her waste places; and he will make her wilderness
like Eden [paradise], and her desert like the garden
of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein,
thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
God is going to make the “garden of the Lord” (the
paradise of the Lord) like the paradise recorded in chapters
one and two of Genesis. Isaiah’s prophecy refers to
the new heavens and the new earth period.
Ezekiel 28:13:
Thou [Lucifer] hast been in Eden [paradise] the garden
of God; every precious stone was thy covering,
the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the
onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and
the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy
tabrets and of thy pipes are prepared in thee in the
day that thou wast created.
“Thou,” Lucifer, was in the “garden of God.” He was
in Eden, the paradosia, paradise of God. It was in Eden
that Lucifer did his mischief recorded in Genesis 3.
Ezekiel 31:8, 9:
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him:
the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut
trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in
the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches:
so that all the trees of Eden [paradise] that were in
the garden of God, envied him.
Here is the same usage. The “garden of God,” “Eden”
and “paradise” are all the same usage.
The preceding has set forth a detailed, word-by-word
study of II Corinthians 12:1-11. The following is a literal
translation of it according to usage and meaning and gives
the exact thought content.
II Corinthians 12:1-11:
It is absolutely not expedient for me to speak of those
things of which I have true revealed knowledge.
I have had visions regarding the revelation of the
Lord, without effort on my part, because of my
remaining position in Christ. More than fourteen
years ago I was “beside myself ” with joy because I
was caught away, in time, to the third heaven. I was
caught away as far as paradise where I heard, by
revelation, words which are not permitted for me to
speak.
Of this time of the third heaven I have real
knowledge, yet of my own self I could not have
such real knowledge; but, only of those things blocking
me from being able to do what I want to do and
which should be done. Even if I desired to speak
forth this revealed knowledge, it would be unwise;
so I abstain from doing so that no one may esteem
me beyond what he really sees or hears me to be.
And lest I seem to lift myself above others, due to
the abundance of this revelation, there was given to
me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan who
“hit” me with all his strength.
Because of Satan’s attacks upon me, I besought the
Lord three times that He might remove these attacks.
And the Lord said to me “My divine favor is to be
of use to you because my inherent power is consummated
in you in action when and where you are
hindered.”
Most gladly, therefore, will I keep this revealed
knowledge to myself, also the effects of Satan’s attacks,
knowing that the inherent power of Christ is
consummated in me.
Therefore, I assert myself in behalf of Christ when
Satan attacks me violently by way of physical attacks
and mental anguish; for when Satan attacks I assert
my power.
I have not expressed myself to you regarding my real
knowledge of Christ which is in me, for you made
it impossible for me to be free to do so.†††
I should have been expressing myself to you and you
should have represented me worthy to others, for in
nothing have I fallen behind of the most eminent
apostles.
These are all the references in the Bible regarding the
subject of the three heavens and earths. We now understand
that the first heaven and the first earth is the one
of Genesis 1:1, the second is the one which now exists
and the third heaven and earth is the one that is still
future—“the new heavens and the new earth wherein
dwelleth righteousness.”