Third Heaven

I thought all along, when I was still a child, that there were seven heaven up above us. The Scripture mentioned that there are only three (3), the highest is called as the third heaven.

2 Cor 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

2 Cor 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

The third heaven where Saint Paul was caught up is also the paradise talked about by Jesus to the other man nailed on the cross beside Him.

Lk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

This is the place where God the father dwell. Jesus told this to His Apostles.

Jn 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Jn 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

The second heaven is in between the third heaven and the heaven that can be seen by our naked eye.

Mk 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

If the power that are in the second heaven are shaken, much more to those in power underneath.

Lk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for apprehension of those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

The second heaven and the heaven underneath shall be removed as it is both shaken.

Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Retaining only the heaven not shaken where God and the Son dwell. The third heaven called Paradise.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

Let not your heart and mind be troubled.

Jn 3:13 And no man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.

Even the Apostles who died in spreading the gospel of Christ are not yet in heaven.

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

The living and the dead will have to wait for the coming of Jesus, when the mansions that he prepared are all ready for us to dwell. Remember, they (the Apostles, including Mary) without us should not be made perfect.

Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Assurance

All of us know that Satan is the father of all lies and some people was already deceived and become already his sons & allies.

Jn 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In our everyday lives, at work or in the office for example, you will encounter some of them. In fact they appear to be close always to your boss or managers or to the owner like Satan himself.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said to Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down upon it.

The very reason why they are present in every meetings or discussions is because they are there to prove something that they are right and accused every one to their advantage.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.

The wicked triumph at the beginning but this is our consolation and assurance from Christ himself.

Jn 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, and is even now come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

Jn 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye will have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.

Truly, If God is with us, who can be against us.

Very Close

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

For where two or three are gathered inside the Church together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:15-20 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says: I myself am going.

Zechariah 8:20-21 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘ Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “ Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also.”

This is also what the LORD Almighty says: I will hear from heaven.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

But you, when you pray, do pray in secret that our Father may see and reward us.

Matthew 6:5-7 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

With God in our midst, going with us, hearing us and seeing us, He's indeed very very close to us.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.