three kinds of heaven

what do we mean when we talk about heaven? surprisingly, heaven is not where we go to when we die. (in fact, we go to hell (the abode of the dead) when we die - but that is for the next post.) in my study of Scripture, it seems that there are three kinds of heaven.

the sky

the first kind of heaven is the sky.

"As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." - 2 Kings 2:11 (NIV)

outer space

the second kind of heaven is outer space.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

the throne of God above

the third kind of heaven is the throne of God above.

"I know a man in Christ [this is Paul referring to himself] who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows." - 2 Corinthians 12:2 (NIV)

excursus: enoch and elijah

what about enoch and elijah? didn't they not have to experience death because God took them up to (the third) heaven?

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." - Genesis 5:24 (NIV)

"As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." - 2 Kings 2:11 (NIV)

the truth is that both enoch and elijah eventually died and are resting in hell (the abode of the dead) right now, awaiting the first resurrection. they did not have to experience death in a particular situation not because God took them up to the third heaven, but because God translated them into the first heaven (and then set them back down on land somewhere else).

we know that enoch eventually died (even though he did not experience death in a particular situation) because Hebrews 11:13 tells us that he was still living by faith when he died.

"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." - Hebrews 11:5 (NIV)

"All these people [Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham] were still living by faith when they died." - Hebrews 11:13 (NIV)

we know that elijah eventually died (even though he did not experience death in a particular situation) because 'man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment' (Hebrews 9:27, NIV). 2 Kings 2:16 hints that elijah was not taken up to the third heaven in 2 Kings 2:11, but translated into the first heaven (and then set back down on land somewhere else).

"Look," they said, "we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley." - 2 Kings 2:16 (NIV)

furthermore, elijah went up to heaven before 'the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah' (2 Kings 3:1, NIV). but Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat received a letter from elijah after he succeeded his father as king of Judah (cf. 2 Chronicles 21:12-15), at least 7 years later (Jehoshaphat reigned in Jerusalem 25 years). if elijah was taken up to the third heaven (not merely translated into the first heaven and then set back down on land somewhere else), then he could not have sent a letter to Jehoram at least 7 years later.

in any case, Scripture is clear that 'no one has ever gone into [the third] heaven except the one who came from [the third] heaven - the Son of Man' (John 3:13, NIV). paul's experience in 2 Corinthians 12:2 is one of a kind and may not even necessarily be anything more than a vision.