HOW MANY HEAVENS ARE IN PLACE? IS THERE MORE THAN ONE HEAVEN?
- CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
- Aug 18
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 22
What does the Bible say about heaven and why do Christians believe in the concept of heaven? Who created heaven and for what purpose was it created? Is there more than one heaven, if so, how is that proven from Scriptures?
Almighty God is the Sovereign Lord and Creator of all things. Nothing came by evolution as posited by humans. God is the Perfect and Only Designer of the universe and all it contained at the beginning. Psalm 19:1-2 tell us, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
The Scripture is very clear about God’s creative powers and designs. Take into consideration the following Scriptures.
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
Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. Psalm 102:25
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation the earth and My right hand hath spanned the heavens; When I call unto them, they stand together. Isaiah 48:13
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands. Hebrews 1:10
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job 38:4
The Bible speaks about heaven in three contexts and shows the differences between each.
Let us examine each context.
Terrestrial Heaven - the sky or atmosphere- The First Heaven
Genesis 1:1,6-8 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven.
This is the heaven that aeroplanes pass through. The rain, snow, sleet and hail that falls to the earth comes from the atmospheric heaven. It is the heaven that we look up and see with our natural eyes and where the birds fly.
On their journey to the Promised Land, God told the Children of Israel: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven. (Deuteronomy 11:11)
Isaiah 55:10 - For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. (Psalm 104:12)
Celestial/Starry Heaven- The Second Heaven
Heaven not only refers to the atmosphere just above the earth but also refers to outer space, where the stars and planets are located. This is the second heaven.
Genesis 1:14-15 - And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Apostle Paul made an analogy citing the differences between terrestrial and celestial bodies. He said, There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (1Corinthians 15:40)
The writer of Psalm 83 said, When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained (Psalm 8:3)
The Prophet Isaiah also spoke about the celestial heaven. Isaiah 13:10 - For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Although humans have made significant technological advances in exploring the terrestrial heaven, they are unable to fully explore the celestial heaven.
HEAVEN OF HEAVENS -The Third Heaven
Almighty God is everywhere at the same time but the Third Heaven is His special abode.
Jesus taught us to pray recognising God in His Sacred Dwelling. Matthew 6:9- After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father Which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
The following Scriptures confirm His dwelling place.
The Lord looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of His habitation He looketh upon the inhabitants of the earth. (Psalm 33:13–14)
Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of my rest? (Isaiah 66:1)
And the Temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:19).
God rules from His Heaven. He said -Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24)
What did Jesus say about the Third Heaven?
Jesus encouraged us to focus on the blessings which shall come to us from the Third Heaven.
Matthew 6:19-20- Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
When the rich young man came enquiring about obtaining eternal life, Jesus said unto him,
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. (Matthew 19:21)
Jesus came from the Third Heaven and He returned there forty days after His resurrection.
He told us in John 6:51- I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Acts 1:10-11 is a record of His return to the Third Heaven -And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.
Stephen, the first martyr had a vision of Him in the Third Realm. Acts 7:56 - And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God
Jesus told us no human can enter the Third Heaven. John 3:13 - And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.
John 8:21 -Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
God keeps a record of our individual life. He sees our actions, hears our speeches and knows our thoughts. If we are not justified by the blood of Jesus, we cannot look forward to the coming of Jesus our Redeemer.
Philippians 3:20 -For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are saved through Christ’s sacrifice. We are draw to God through Christ and we ought to give honour to Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb. Truly the justified can say in sincerity - Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalm 73:25-26)
What did Apostle Paul say about the Third Heaven? Stephen, Paul and John all had a vision of the Third Heaven. Apostle Paul said, 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. (2 Corinthians 12:2)
Paul did not go into the Third Heaven he only had a vision.
Satan and his agents occupy the first and second heaven but they dare not attempt to enter the Third Heaven. When God puts an end to sin and destroy the forces of darkness, He shall remove the present first and second heavens. Jesus told us that both the atmospheric and celestial heavens shall pass. Matthew 24:35 -Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
Let us exalt Almighty God the Incomparable Designer. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and Thy glory above all the earth. (Psalm 108:5)
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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