The great apostle Paul, Christ’s “chosen vessel” to bear his name before the Gentiles, was honoured and enlightened by the Lord with wonderful visions and revelations. One of these he records thus: “I knew a man in Christ.... (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. On behalf of such a man will I glory.”1 The experience was so real that Paul could not determine whether he was actually present or in vision. He heard words unspeakable and “not lawful” for him to repeat in his ministry.
There are three important points in this revelation. The first is that to the mind of God, this future state is as real as if it were present. The second is that Paul himself had a glorious position in it. The third is that the words being spoken were not only far beyond mortal eloquence, but even that of a mind in Christ. From the Apostle’s simple testimony, we have his authority for believing that in the mind of God there is a perfect state for such faithful servants as Paul himself; this is styled the “third heaven” paradise restored.2 In dwelling upon this theme, our mind has searched as to whether God has revealed by anticipation any parallelisms to this future state in other parts of His word.
Looking at an early design of God for the salvation of man and other created beings, we notice that the plan of the ark built by Noah included three tiers. “With lower, second and third storeys shalt thou make it.”3 Here are three sections in the Divine building, each above the other. We may reasonably assume that the first one would be for animals, in the midst of which Noah and his sons would move daily for their well-being; the second perhaps would be intended for the higher forms of life, many of whom could soar in the heaven; and the third would be reserved for the highest form of life, that in the likeness of Aleim, the children of God—Noah and his family delivered from death and sheol (the grave), and counted as righteous before God.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: T. Royce
Keywords: third heaven, heaven, 3rd heaven, seventh heaven, paradise, caught up into paradise
Bible reference(s): 2 Cor. 12:2-4
Source: “The Third Heaven,” The Testimony, Vol. 10, No. 118, October 1940, pp. 308-10.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.