HOW MANY HEAVENS (2)

Introduction

The third request is that God’s will may ultimately be done on the earth in the same way as it is now accomplished in heaven.

D. A. Carson

We know so little about what happens to us when we die?

To help me understand better this topic, I researched all the information I could get my hand onto. I read though many resources and a few books by different authors. I did come to narrow down what information we have on the topic. To my surprise, I found out, its not a very desirable topic, because for the most part, people don't want to think of our mortality. It’s like we all live each day staying very busy and not really thinking about the fact is, at any moment, we can be faced with our last day on earth. This is a truth we all face!

My goal in doing this study, is to understand better what happens to us when we die? Where do we go? Does our body die, but our spirit soul continue? Is there a Heaven? Is there a Hell? Is there a Judgment we all must face? Will we meet our loved one again?

Another thing, I always wondered about Heaven and is it actually a place? To my surprise I found not only is there a Heaven, but there are 3 Heavens! This I will go into with more detail. I like what the late great preacher Vernon McGee said about Heaven

There is the first heaven where there are the birds of heaven. There is the second heaven where there are the stars of heaven. There is the third heaven which is the abode of God.

J. Vernon McGee

1ST Heaven / Clouds

2ND Heaven / Waring Angels

Ephesians 6:12 NASB 95

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

3RD Heaven / Paradise

2 Corinthians 12:1–4 NASB 95

Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

What Will Heaven Be Like? (Chapter 1: From Death to Glory)

WHO=When Christians die, I believe we’ll immediately see the smiling faces of several angels waiting to escort us to heaven. I believe we’ll experience a tremendous sense of peace and well being when we die. When we look into the faces of those angels, we’ll know the troubles of life on earth are behind us and a wonderful new existence has begun.

Genesis 2:1 NASB 95

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.