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Are there Levels of heaven?

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HolyGuardianAngels

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cenimo said:
Some preachers refer to "second heaven", "third heaven", and I think seven heavens. Any thoughts? Any explanations?
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Scripture does mention 12 different kind of ROCK . . . which are layered and are HEAVEN . . . . . . Jasper, Sardis, (see Scripture) . . . Interesting huh . . .






Happy Easter
 
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MikeMcK

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You beat me to it.
 
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MikeMcK

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cenimo said:
Some preachers refer to "second heaven", "third heaven", and I think seven heavens. Any thoughts? Any explanations?
Click to expand...

Mormons believe in three Heavens:

Telestial Kingdom - where unbelievers go: "These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus...who receive not his fullness in the eternal world", but shall be "redeemed from the devil [at] the last resurrection" (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 82-86).

Terrestrial Kingdom - is for religious people who aren't Mormons and for Mormons who have not met the requirements of the Church, i.e., "Honorable men of the earth who are blinded by the craftiness of men and who therefore do not accept and live the gospel law" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 784). While this level is not as desirable as the Celestial Kingdom, the presence of the Son is evident there: "These are they who receive of his glory but not of his fulness... the presence of the Son, but not the fullness of the Father...who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus...they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of God" (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 76-79).

Celestial Kingdom - is for Mormons who have kept ALL of the laws and ordinances of their church: "These are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized...in the water...keeping the commandments that they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit ..." (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 51-57).; "they are gods, even the sons of God...these shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever...whose names are written in heaven" (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 58-68).
Although the Book of Mormon mentions a literal, everlasting hell (e.g. 2 Nephi 28), later 'revelations' to church leaders teach the concept of a "preparatory stage between death and a final judgement", similar to the Catholic concept of purgatory.

Christianity also speaks of three heavens, but as Pistos Ergon pointed out, only one of these is referring to the eternal place of the righteous in the afterlife.

The other two are referring to the Earth's atomosphere and outer space.
 
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heron

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Pistos has the correct understanding, I believe, when the Bible speaks of the level of heavens
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I agree. Most of the Old Testament uses of the word spoke about the skies, or the place God dwelled.

There is a Judeo-Christian reference to levels of heaven, though, in some of the writings of Enoch. He spoke of a level where the fallen angels were kept.

It was in the context, though, of Enoch seeing various locations in the galaxy.

Even in this writing, it is not a heirarchical level for Christians.

I've heard some near-death experience stories, of one level of heaven but different comfort zones. It wasn't set up like some deserved more than others, but that some chose to cross the river, while some were comfortable living in a less challenging area. There was no sense of arrogance or competition in these observations... more of a choice toward exploration and wanting to find out more about God.

If I was ever there, I promise I would tell you.
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