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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Subject: Shamayim - why heavens, not two heavens |
Bible Note: Dear Short, Regarding Paul's being caught up to the third heaven. It has always been my understanding that there is 3 heavens: (1) The clouds or atmospheric heavens [Gen. 1:8; Ps 77:17-18] (2) The starry space [Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; Dt 1:10; Is. 13:10] (3) God's dwelling place. [Gen. 1:1; Is. 14:12-14; Is. 66:1; Rev. 21:2, 10] I found these scripture references in an old Dake's reference bible. It seems like a very simple explanation, but it also seems logical. Satan was thrown out of the third heaven and we know that he and his minions now dwell in the area immediately above the earth. We read in Daniel 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia." This scripture refers to the principalities in which the demonic forces are organized, and infers that they are organized geographically in specific areas above the earth. My impression has always been that this is the first heaven. (Our own atmosphere) And in a manner of speaking the second heaven is the outer atmosphere. Finally and supremely above all is the third heaven. God's dwelling place that Satan so coveted. I welcome any other comments and scriptural references. Thanks. Eagle One |