John caught up to third heaven?

[LittleLambofJesus]

2 Corin 12 tells of a man caught up to the "third heaven". Reve 4 shows John being called to ascend into the heaven.
Would the heaven that John was caught up to represent the "third heaven"? Thks for any input on this. God bless

http://www.olivetree.com/cgi-bin/EnglishBible.htm

2 Corinthians 12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows -- such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Young) Revelation 4:1 After these things I saw, and lo, a door opened in the heaven, and the first voice that I heard [is] as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, `Come up hither, and I will shew thee what it behoveth to come to pass after these things;'
2 and immediately I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne was set in the heaven, and upon the throne is [one] sitting,

 

[the.Sheepdog]

Our atmosphere is known as the first heaven. It is the realm of birds, jets and clouds. The second heaven is that area outside our atmosphere. Outer space. The third heaven is a long away from there. It is the heaven we will go to when we die.

 

[Standing Up]

Good question.

I wonder why John was permitted to speak of it, while Paul was not?

 

[Mr Dave]

Had quick look through some books and the third Heaven being God's realm (above the sky and the realm of the stars).


The Apocalypse of Paul (pseudipigryphal work about this experience) says;

"I was snatched up to the third heaven...
And I said to the angel, "I wish to see the souls of the just and of sinners, and to see in what manner they go out of the body. The angel answered and said to me, "Look upon the Earth...."

That gives it the suggestion that it is "up there" if you can look down upon the Earth from it, but also the "place where all souls go, having left their bodies to appear before God." (part of introductory note in my translation)

Possibly the third of seven heavens (Seven Heavens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), this one named shehaqim, the abode of God/lower level of paradise.


They could very well be the same Heaven, wiki gives Psalm 78:23 which, like Rev, talks about opening the doors to heaven. Although wiki (again ) gives the seventh heaven, araboth, as the abode of the worship of the seraphim and the throne of the Lord.

 

[Knee V]

I've wondered about this passage a lot. Nearly everyone that I hear comment on it says that Paul was caught up to the third heaven, but it doesn't say that. It says that Paul knew someone who was caught up to the third heaven. I wonder why they say it's Paul, and I wonder who it actually was.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I've wondered about this passage a lot. Nearly everyone that I hear comment on it says that Paul was caught up to the third heaven, but it doesn't say that. It says that Paul knew someone who was caught up to the third heaven. I wonder why they say it's Paul, and I wonder who it actually was.

I have pondered on it awhile myself.
Wonder why Paul just didn't clarify it

 

[Eucharisted]

I've wondered about this passage a lot. Nearly everyone that I hear comment on it says that Paul was caught up to the third heaven, but it doesn't say that. It says that Paul knew someone who was caught up to the third heaven. I wonder why they say it's Paul, and I wonder who it actually was.

It might be a case of poor memory on the reader's part or it might be a case of humility on Paul's part or it might be a case of poor theology on the theologian's part. In any case, the third Heaven is an ancient imagery of Paradise, the same as fish is an ancient image for Jesus, and it doesn't mean Heaven is only triple layered, just as it doesn't mean that Jesus was a real fish. For we know that Jesus Christ was True Man and True God.

 

[Frogster]

Verse 7 confirms Paul spoke of himself, keep in mind, he felt silly bragging, they should have defended Paul, he did not really want to bother, so he used the third person.


2 Cor 12:11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. Paul wanted them to boast in him, not the false apostles.


2 Corinthians 5:12
We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

As far as what heaven, there were several levels taught about in Judaism.