Does the Bible Mention Levels of Heaven?

　　

Does the Bible Say There are Levels of Heaven?

Let us start at the beginning, Genesis 1:1. Verse one says, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. We know that there are different “heavens” because the sky as we see it can be referred to as “a heaven.” Some people may refer to space as “a heaven.” Where God resides is heaven (a reference to God dwelling in heaven appears in 1 Kings 8:30). Deuteronomy 10:14 declares, “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heaven is the Lord’s thy God.” We know that heaven cannot contain God and that the angels are there (and those who have received their reward in heaven).

　　The Apostle Paul refers to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2. He says he was caught up in the third heaven; he could not tell if it was in or out of the body, but he did see paradise. He also mentions that God gave him a thorn in the flesh so that he would not become arrogant due to his visions. God did give him the grace to endure.

　　

What Is the Third Heaven?

We know that heaven is a place of paradise, and it is the highest level up and the reference of the third heaven. Humans can not reach it by spaceship. You have to have an invitation. Before Jesus died on the cross, a thief on the cross asked if Jesus would remember him when he came into his kingdom. “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Dictionary.com describes paradise as heaven or the final stop of the righteous. It is a place of extreme beauty, delight, or happiness. That is where we want to be.

　　Make no mistake about it: heaven is a glorious place. Wherever God is, there is beauty, majesty, and glory. Revelation 21 paints a lovely picture. Apostle John says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

　　John says he saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. He heard a great voice coming out of heaven say, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” In Revelation 22, John describes heaven as having “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” The tree of life is there, bearing twelve types of fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

　　Scripture does give a hint that heaven might be multi-layered. Look to Hebrews 4:14, which reads, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” You can interpret this however you like. Most people think Jesus is traveling through the sky, space, and then into heaven.