christyhale.org
Heavens: Part 1
3rd, 2nd, 1st Heaven
6/15/2026
2 Corinthians 12:1-4 (ESV) 12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
I asked The Lord for a while what this passage meant. If there's a "third heaven," then there must be a second and first heaven. Is there a fourth heaven? The Lord eventually Answered by leading me to several Scriptures. I'm sharing those, with explanations and additional supporting Scriptures.
THIRD HEAVEN:
Luke 23:40-43 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Paradise is where Jesus was going after The Cross. Paul also uses "paradise" to refer to the third heaven.
Ephesians 1:19-22 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church...
Christ is Seated at the Right Hand of The Father.
Philippians 2:9 (NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name ...
Ephesians 4:9-10 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Luke 10:18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
I extrapolate that the third heaven is where God's Throne is.
I extrapolate that the third heaven is the Highest Heaven.
SECOND HEAVEN:
Ephesians 6:11-12 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
This tells us that there are rebellious, evil, demonic spiritual powers / authorities / rulers in the heavenly places. Since they are not in the third heaven with God (and there is not any heaven higher than that), I extrapolate that this is referring to the second heaven.
Daniel 10:10-21 10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” 15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.
This tells us that there are spiritual princes of nations. Notice that Michael is the angelic prince of Israel and he is also one of the chief angelic princes. And that the demonic princes of Persia and demonic prince of Greece were warring to delay Michael and this other angel from reaching Daniel. There is another similar reference to the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:11-19, and Isaiah 14:3-21 which clearly refer to a demonic principality, possibly Lucifer (Lucifer translates as shining one, light-bringer, morning star) .
2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (context: this was during the onset of a war on the ground, and Elisha and his servant saw enemy armies surrounding them on the ground, in this realm.)
This tells us that as war was gathering on the ground, war preparation was also occurring in the second heaven. That the second heaven was only visible to the prophet at first, then The Lord also Opened his servant's spiritual eyes to see this normally invisible realm.
Genesis 28:12-17 12 And he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac ... ... 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
This describes the movement and interaction between the heavenly realms.
All of these show that the demonic spirits / fallen angels are in the 2nd heaven. That God's angels also operate in the 2nd heaven. And that activity in the 3rd heaven affects both the 2nd & 1st heaven. And that activity in the 2nd heaven affects the 1st heaven.
FIRST HEAVEN:
Genesis 1:6-8 6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse (or canopy or firmament) in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Genesis 1:14-18 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons (or appointed times) and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Especially based on the Scriptures related to the second heaven; I extrapolate that the 1st heaven is the realm we live in. The realm we see.
Based on 2 Kings 6:17 above, the 2nd heaven seems almost like an "overlay" dimension / realm; that is usually invisible to humans. But that exists, just the same. Almost overlaying this realm that we can see, that we physically exist in.
I want to take a moment to comment on the firmament. There is actually a scientifically recognized celestial sphere: an astronomical model that imagines the sky as a gigantic, imaginary sphere surrounding the Earth, on which all celestial bodies appear to be projected. Historically and culturally, it also denotes the firmament, described in ancient cosmologies and Biblical texts as a vast solid dome or barrier separating the heavens from the Earth. The constellations, which are referenced in Scripture, are seen as placed on the celestial dome, and given celestial coordinates. Just to be clear: astronomy is the study of celestial objects using the scientific method, physics, and mathematics to understand the universe's physical laws. Astrology is a divination practice. (sciencedirect.com)
Hopefully this gives Clarity on the topic of the third heaven. I want to add this disclaimer: many occultic / pagan / gnostic religions have various beliefs about the number of heavens. Some say there are seven heavens that match the seven classical planets, etc. These multiple heavens usually are where they believe their gods live. But we know that these gods peddle deception.
Part 2 will explore what this information means for us saints.
In Jesus's Name,
Christy Hale
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