9/15/19 Life in Spiritual Dimensions The Three Heavens

Not all heavens are created equal! How many earths and heavens are there? We know ‘heaven’ is a spiritual dimension, so if there are heavens (plural) there are plural dimensions.

2Pet. 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2Pet. 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Different ‘dimensions’ of heaven: one understanding: 2Cor. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body (in the spiritual) I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. • If there is a third heaven, then there is at least a 1st and 2nd heaven.

Heaven is easier to understand when we think in terms of dimensions. Here are some scriptural characteristics of each:

1st Heaven: the natural understanding of celestial (atmospheric) stars, galaxies, etc. • 1Cor. 15:40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. • Psa. 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2nd Heaven: The place of spirit habitation, angels and demons, the lower heaven of earth where Satan and fallen angels operate from. We know the devil operates in a spiritual dimension but it is NOT the highest heaven. (dream catchers, horoscope, wee gee board, spirit guides, new age, palm reading. These are all counterfeit ‘gifts’ of the Spirit. The Old and New Covenant teachings say NO to participating. Why? There is demonic power that flows from the 2nd heaven.) • Eph. 2:2 …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… • 2Cor. 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. • Rev. 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (into the 2nd heaven) • Is. 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven (the 3rd heaven), O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!

3rd Heaven: The Presence of God, the place of everlasting life with Jesus, the heaven we go to when we die and where we remain forever, the place which is the New Jerusalem. Paradise. • Gen. 28:12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. • 2Cor. 12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 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. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. • Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” • Eph. 1:20 …which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. • 1Th. 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. • Eph. 4:10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. • Eph. 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… • Rev. 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.