Are there Levels of heaven?

[HolyGuardianAngels]

Some preachers refer to "second heaven", "third heaven", and I think seven heavens. Any thoughts? Any explanations?

Scripture does mention 12 different kind of ROCK . . . which are layered and are HEAVEN . . . . . . Jasper, Sardis, (see Scripture) . . . Interesting huh . . .






Happy Easter

 

[MikeMcK]

The First Heaven: Earth Atmosphere

Deut. 11:17 -- Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce....
Deut. 28:12 -- The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.
Judges 5:4 -- "O LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.
Acts 14:17 -- "Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;...

The Second Heaven: Outer Space

Psalm 19:4,6 -- In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun... It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;...
Jeremiah 8:2 -- They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens which they have loved and served....
Isaiah 13:10 -- The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light.

The Third Heaven: God's Dwelling Place

1 Kings 8:30 (phrase repeated numerous times in following verses) -- then hear from heaven, your dwelling place...
Psalm 2:4 -- The One enthroned in heaven laughs; The LORD scoffs at them.
Matthew 5:16 -- In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The highest heaven, the third heaven is indicated by the reference to the Throne of God being the highest heaven:

1 Kings 8:27 -- "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.
Deut. 10:14 -- To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

You beat me to it.

 

[MikeMcK]

Some preachers refer to "second heaven", "third heaven", and I think seven heavens. Any thoughts? Any explanations?

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.

 

[ApollotheLizard]

Levels of Heaven? NEver heard of that one. I've read about nine levels of Hell in Dante's Inferno.

 

[pyro214]

na, Muslims have 7 levels though

 

[Paulwa]

I personally believe there are two levels in God's realm...Paradise is the lower level and God's throne the second level. I think Jesus visits the Paradise realm regularly. Just my opinion.
Paul

 

[ApollotheLizard]

Hmm, I like that!

 

[salida]

The second heaven is outer space (where the stars and planets are that is finite). The third heaven is where God reigns and its infinite.

 

[kulenok]

If I was ever there, I promise I would tell you. Maybe there are maybe not, i have not heard of any refernce in the Bble to seven heavens, although it is a common belife. Wait and see is all I can tell you.

 

[heron]

Pistos has the correct understanding, I believe, when the Bible speaks of the level of heavens

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.