So what is the third heaven thing that Paul was talking about?

Question

Astral projection? Sounds like he was jealous... I wonder if Paul often listened to people who had such visions.

1(Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2I 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.

3And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--

4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

Answer 1

Paul was known to be afflicted with fits from time to time. Most likely he was an epileptic and had hallucinations during his seizures. Epileptics were thought to be blessed by the gods in the ancient world.

Answer 2

It proves that Paul saw a type of heaven before even Peter did. lol

Answer 3

1st heaven is the Earths atmosphere.

2nd heaven is the space beyond.

3rd Heaven is beyond all and it is where God's Throne room is located.

  

In Acts Stephen saw into the 3rd Heaven as he was being stoned.

Answer 4

Writers of the Old Testament refer in it to different Heavens. Paul was a Pharisee before His conversion, and well versed in the Torah. He, as the other disciples used it to prove who Jesus was since there was not a New Testament writeen at that time, they were living it.

Anyhow, the view is in light of the writer. The first heaven is referring to the area that man sees birds flying, tree tops reaching, etc. The second heaven is the area that one sees the sun, moon, & start. The third heaven referrs to God's abode, His realm.

Answer 5

Gnostics believed there were different levels of heaven and I believe Paul was a gnostic disciple. That would explain this statement and many others he made.

Answer 6

From Wikipedia:

"In the Pseudopigraphal Book of the Secrets of Enoch, the Third Heaven is described as a location "between corruptibility and incorruptibility" (2 Enoch 8:5) containing the Tree of Life, "whereon the Lord rests, when he goes up into paradise." (verse 3) Two springs in the Third Heaven, one of milk and the other of honey, along with two others of wine and oil, flow down into the Garden of Eden, which is also located there. (verse 6)"

It was a Jewish concept.  And yet again, I must say, that Paul was as far from Gnostic as it gets.  The very idea is laughable.  I would love to see a discource that purports to show how ANYTHING Paul EVER said could be considered Gnostic.

Answer 7

I know the first heaven is the sky above that we see when we look up. Maybe the second heaven is space outside of earth's atmosphere and the third is where God is.   Truth is I don't know.

You know what I find interesting?  Daniel was praying and Gabriel flew from the center of the universe to tell him that his prayer was answered before he even finished.  I wonder how fast that was?

Answer 8

I believe that the third heaven is where God is, my friend..........We can see the first heaven everyday and every night............the second heaven, is what we call outer space.............the third heaven is past that --- no human has gone there...............

God Bless...................

Answer 9

again, who is Paul?