There is something I wanted to share for a while now that really has no benefit now but is important that we are aware of. If you have been studying the Bible at all, by now you will notice that there is a lot of talk about heaven. But did you know there is more than one heaven? The heavens, yea that’s right, there are three heavens like the Apostle Paul visited the third heaven, there is two other places called heaven and we are going to talk about this today.

I am going to show you through scriptures that there is more than one heaven and what each place called heaven is used for. This article really isn’t a spiritual growth word, but it is some sound Biblical knowledge that you can share with others. Grab your Bible and let’s get into God’s word together.

First, let’s look at how the Lord created the “heavens”, not just heaven.

For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

1 Chronicles 16:26

Thou, even thou, art Lord alone: thou hast made heaven,

the heaven of heavens, with all their host…

Nehemiah 9:6

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them

by the breath of His mouth.
Psalm 33: 6

So, you see by the three scriptures above that there is more than one heaven that God created. You may be asking, why would He create more than one heaven, so I will show you why each heaven was created.

The first heaven is what we see with the natural eye, the clouds (Job 35:5), and where the fowls fly meaning birds (Job 35:11; Jer 4: 25). This first heaven is where the rain comes from. Remember Soloman prayed to the Lord about when the heaven was shut up from rain?

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they

have sinned against thee;
1 Kings 8:35

How about when Elijah prayed that the heaven would stop all rain for three and a half years?

Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed

earnestly that it might not rain: and it rain not on the earth by

the space of three years and six months
James 5: 17

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the

earth brought forth her fruit.
James 5:18

So, you can see through scripture that the first heaven is what we can see, where the clouds and the birds are.  This is called the first heaven. But there is a second heaven, and now we will look into this place that God created.

Before we go on and talk about the second heaven, you need to know that God Almighty created these heavens for His glory. He is the creator of all things and everything was created with a purpose. This is how awesome the Lord is, He just loves to create beauty.

There is no darkness in Him,  everything He creates is amazing and all for His glory. (Psalm 8:3, 4; Psalm 19:1)

The Second Heaven and Where It’s At

The second heaven is where we see the stars and the moon. We call it space, but God calls it heaven (Genesis 26:4).

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply

thy seed as the stars of the heaven….
Genesis 22:17

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,

the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained.
Psalm 8:3

Jesus said concerning the last days that the stars would fall out of heaven (Matthew 24: 29). So, we see that the second heaven is where the stars, sun, and moon sit. I could have given you many other scriptures that prove this, but take the time and study for yourself what the Bible says about the heavens. This understanding is powerful and helps you when studying the Bible, understanding that God created more than one heaven.

The Amazing Third Heaven

The third heaven is where the Father and Jesus dwell with all the saints (2 Chronicles 6:33), it’s called the highest heaven. This is also where Paul the Apostle was caught up to where he saw things that he couldn’t even talk about.

Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height

of the stars, how high they are!

And thou sayest, How dost God know? Can he judge

through the dark cloud?

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not;

And he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
Job 22: 12 – 14

We see from Job chapter 22 that God is in heaven above the clouds. So, how do we know that this is called the third heaven? Well, Paul calls it that.  Remember,  Paul explains that he was caught up to the third heaven in a glorious experience with God.

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.
(2 Corinthians 12: 2 – 4)

During this amazing experience that Paul had in the third heaven, which Paul called paradise, he saw and heard things which could not even be talked about. What a visitation that must have been. We see there are three heavens that the Bible talks about. This may make it a little easier on you when you are studying the Bible, knowing which heaven God is talking about.

Something else you need to know is that the heavens and the earth are separated, the earth CANNOT be called one of the heavens (Deut 10:4; Deut 32:1; 1 Kings 8:27; Isa 55:9)

The exciting news is that Jesus is preparing a place for you and me in the third heaven called the new Jerusalem. (John 14:2; Heb 11:16; Heb 12:22)

I hope this teaching has been a blessing to you and helps you when doing your own Bible study in the future. If any of my writings have been a blessing to you, please share it with me by contacting me.