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NASB | 2 Corinthians 12:2 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 12:2 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, [only] God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven. [Luke 23:43] |
Bible Question: The Scriptures make reference to the "third heaven" in 2 Cor. 12:2, which is the ineffable and glorious dwelling place of God in all His glory. It is called the "heaven of heavens" (Nehemiah 9:6 NASB) and the "highest heaven" (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6).If God's abode is the 'third' heaven, then what are the first and second heavens? Scripture gives us the answer: The first heaven is the earth's atmosphere (Job 35:5). The second heaven is the stellar universe (Genesis 1:17; Deut. 17:3).. Any other thoughts? |
Bible Answer: This Interpretation brings up RED FLAGS for me!!!! There is only one religious group that believes in 3 heavens - The Mormons. They believe that heaven is for everyone, but consists of 3 different and distinct levels: terestial for non believers, terrestial for religious non-Mormons and backslidden Mormons, and celestial for good LDS church members only, where they may even become Gods. In an explanation for that verse in my life application bible it states that Paul was continuing his foolish boasting as he called it, by telling about visions and revelations he had from the Lord. "I know a person" means that he was speaking about himself. He explained that he didn't know if he was taken in his body or his spirit, but he was in paradise ("the third heaven"). This incident can not be matched with any recorded event in Paul's life. The concept of the 3 heavens may of been deduced from the "heavens, even the highest heaven" mentioned in 1Kings 8:27, which may of been referring to God's great omnipresence, (See Ps 139:7-16 or Is 66:1). |