It is written in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 1-4 that the Apostle Paul traveled to the third heaven. I would appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
river the experience was very frightening. I have four other events like this one with Jesus; each one opens up more of who I am in Christ and what I am to do for Him and the faith.
I found this online this morning, and think it IS a word to wet your lips with a cup of spiritual tea. It is a word that ALL should read and understand about Paul's vision in 2 Corinthians chapter 12.
It says much and should be spiritually considered and understood when sharing your spiritual visions or dreams with others BEFORE GOD'S TIMING.... I also ways say, if God has not revealed TO YOU the purpose of such experience or told you to take it to someone He has in mind, then you have SERIOUS NEED to KEEP SILENT UNTIL GOD HAS EXPLAINED THE DREAM OR VISION TO YOU, OR HAS GIVEN YOU THE REVELATION AS TO THE MEANING OF THE DREAM, VISION OR WHATEVER.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS OR WHO SHOULD HEAR ABOUT THIS VSION OR DREAM. YOU NEED TO KEEP SILENT UNTIL GOD'S PURPOSE AND TIME AND SEASON TO SHARE IT HAS COME FORTH! PLEASE READ THIS COMMENTARY... and my God open ALL your eyes and mind to see and understand more clearly about the spiritual things of God. Amen!
Verses1-4: I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: The "super apostles" among the Corinthian Christians no doubt claimed many spectacular spiritual experiences, such as visions and revelations of the Lord. Paul has been "reluctantly boasting" since the last chapter, so now he will boast of his own visions and revelations of the Lord.. Paul's reluctance is expressed in his opening words of this chapter: It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. Paul is tired of writing about himself! He would much rather write about Jesus! But the worldly thinking which made the Corinthian Christians think little of Paul was also making them think little of Jesus, even if they couldn't perceive it.
Visions and revelation � whether they are of angels, Jesus, heaven, or other things - are more common in the New Testament than we might think.
1. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a vision of an angel (Luke 1:8-23).
i2. Jesus' transfiguration is described as a vision for the disciples (Matthew 17:9).
3. The women who came to visit Jesus' tomb had a vision of angels (Luke 24:22-24).
4. Stephen saw a vision of Jesus at his death (Acts 7:55-56).
5. Ananias experienced a vision telling him to go to Saul (Acts 9:10).
6. Peter had a vision of the clean and unclean animals (Acts 10:17-19 and 11:5).
7. Peter had a vision of an angel at his release from prison (Acts 12:9).
8. John had many visions on Patmos (Revelation 1:1).
9. Paul had a revelation of Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:6-11 and 26:12-20).
10. Paul had vision of a man from Macedonia, asking him to come to that region to help (Acts 16:9-10).
11. Paul had an encouraging vision while in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11).
12. Paul had a vision of an angel on the ship that was about to be wrecked (Acts 27:23-25).
So, we should not be surprised if God should speak to us through some type of visions and revelations of the Lord. But we do understand that such experiences are subjective, and prone to misunderstanding and misapplication. In addition, whatever real benefit there are to visions and revelations of the Lord, they are almost always limited to the one receiving the visions and revelations. We should be rather cautious when someone reports a vision or revelation they have regarding us.
"How often people have wanted to tell me about their visions! I am always suspicious. I want to know what they had for supper the night before! If people have visions of this sort they are silent about them." (Morgan)
I know a man in Christ: Paul describes this experience in the third person instead of the first person ("I myself had this experience"). This had made some wonder if he is really speaking about himself here, or if is speaking of someone else. But because he transitions into the first person in verse seven, we may be assured that he really is writing about himself.
Then why does he use the third person at all? Because Paul, in describing this remarkable spiritual experience, is describing just the kind of thing that the "super apostles" among the Corinthian Christians would glory in. When he described his humble experiences in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30, he did not hesitate to write in the first person. No one would think he was glorifying himself as the "super apostles" did. But here, he walks more carefully. He is doing every thing he can to relate this experience without bringing glory to himself.
Fourteen years ago: This dating by Paul does little to help us know when this happened, because scholars are not in agreement regarding when 2 Corinthians was written.
Suggestions have been made the experience he describes happened during Paul's ten years in Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21-2:1), at his stoning in Lystria (Acts 14:19), or during his time in Antioch (Acts 13:1-3).
The important thing to notice is that Paul kept quiet about this for fourteen years, and now he mentions it reluctantly.
Whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows: Paul doesn't really know if he was in the body or out of the body during this vision. It seems that in his mind, either one was possible.
Many might ask, what really happened to Paul? Was he carried up in the body to heaven, or did his spirit separate itself from his body and go there? The whole point of the passage is that if Paul didn't know, we can't know. In fact, Paul emphasizes the point by repeating the idea twice (in verse two and in verse three). Therefore, speculation at this point is useless. "As he could not decide himself, it would be ridiculous in us to attempt it." (Clarke)
Such a one was caught up to the third heaven: The third heaven doesn't suggest different "levels" of heaven (although this is what some ancient Jewish Rabbis believed). Instead, Paul is using terminology common in that day, which referred to the "blue sky" as the first heaven, the "starry sky" as the second heaven, and the third heaven as the place where God lived and reigned.
"In the sacred writings three heavens only are mentioned. The first is the atmosphere . . . The second, the starry heaven . . . And, thirdly, the place of the blessed, or the throne of the Divine glory." (Clarke)
So, this such a one � whom we understand to be Paul himself � was caught up to the heaven where God was. Paul had a vision or an experience of the throne of God, just as Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1) and John (Revelation 4:1-2) did.
He was caught up into Paradise: Paul identifies this third heaven as Paradise. The word Paradise is taken from the Persian word for an enclosed, luxurious garden often only found among royalty in the ancient world.
Some early Christians wrongly thought Paradise was the place where souls of believers went after death to await resurrection. Some of them (like the ancient theologian Origen) even believed Paradise was located somewhere on the earth's surface.
And heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter: In describing this heavenly vision, Paul doesn't relate anything he saw; only a shadowy description of what he heard.
When we think of this, we realize how different Paul is than most of those who describe their so-called "visions" of heaven today. First, Paul waiting fourteen years to say anything about the incident and he only said anything about it reluctantly. He does everything he can in relating the story to take the focus off of himself (such as writing in the third person). And he doesn't bother at all with breathless descriptions of what he actually experienced. Instead, he says nothing of what he saw, and says of what he heard only they were things not lawful for a man to utter. There is nothing self-glorying, self-aggrandizing, or foolish in his description of his experience.
So what did Paul hear? We don't know! They were inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. God didn't want us to know, so He didn't give Paul permission to speak.
However, some commentators can't resist speculating: "It is probable that the apostle refers to some communication concerning the Divine nature and the Divine economy, of which he was only to make a general use in his preaching and writing. No doubt that what he learned at this time formed the basis of all his doctrines." (Clarke)
Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities: Paul is essentially saying that this "nameless" man who had the vision really had something to boast about. But "Paul himself" really could only boast in his infirmities, which was exactly what he did in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30.
Thought I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool: Again, Paul is sharply � and humorously � contrasting himself with the "super apostles" among the Corinthian Christians. They would not hesitate to boast about the kind of vision Paul had. In fact, they would write books, make tapes and videos, and go on speaking tours about such a vision! And if they did, each of them would be a fool. Paul will not be a fool, so he will not boast in this vision.
At the same time, we almost sense that it was important for Paul to communicate to the Corinthian Christians that he really did have such experiences. Often, it is easy to think that the only ones who have profound experiences with God
are those who boast about them constantly. Paul never did, but he certainly had profound experiences with God. The proof of those profound experiences was found in his transformed life and powerful, truthful, ministry.
So, Paul felt it important to mention this experience, but not to dwell on it in any way. He wasn't trying to "sell" himself to the Corinthian Christians. In fact, he holds back from his description (But I forbear), because he didn't want to persuade the Corinthian Christians that he was just another "super apostle" (lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me). If the Corinthian Christians thought Paul was weak and different than the "super apostles," that was fine with him. He wanted the Corinthian Christians to see the glory of God expressed in weakness, not to see him as "great" as the "super apostles."
Why was Paul given this vision? First, he was given it for you and me, so we would benefit from what the Lord showed Paul. Secondly, he was given it because what God told him through this vision sustained him through all the trials of ministry, and enabled Paul to give everything God wanted him to give to all generations. This vision helped Paul finish his course.
sorry ET I didnt read the whole article but i did read the portion up to keeping silent about the vision.
I've learned that when people start getting into the things of the spirit, they need to share because that is how they learn what is happening, from others that are familiar. Plus, it lets them know they're not alone.
I usually journal and dont say a word until God lets me know or gives me the open door for it. Most of the time, He doesnt want me to share because its for my own growth.
UNLESS someone is asking, then yes.
Alot of people are afraid to say anything because of the backlash. It's not accepted by most, usually because it hasnt happened to them. (YET)
I agree with River although I get ET's point as well. There probably is a time and a place to share our dreams and visions and in some cases they are only for up to see and know. I believe it was also Paul who said that there were things he had seen and heard that he was told not to tell anyone about as was the case in The Revelation with John.
I find that hearing about people's visions and dreams is usually very encouraging to me. I don't think it is right to try to "one-up" each other with them and we should always be very humble about them knowing they are likely from the Lord.
When I lived in TN I saw angels in my home and in my church as well as in my yard. When I lived in San Francisco a friend of mine and I were saved from being attacked by a demon possessed man by being translated from the fourth floor of a building to the sidewalk just as a bus we could take home pulled up to the stop. I have also had many visions and dreams that I did not understand at the time but later made sense when I saw a related manifestation take place in the physical realm. I have also had a vision of myself that will take place sometime in the future and I am in the process of preparing for that time.
My favorite vision to tell about was one in which I was on a stage singing and the audience was just a bunch of very black figures. They were able to reach me and touch me from a distance too far for human arms to reach me and there was a tremendous sense of love there. A few months later I was invited to sing at the Potter's House Ministry in the projects of my town. I was standing on a front porch looking out at this crowd of nearly all black children and women and I heard a voice say to me, "See?" After that day I became friends with nearly everyone there and my wife and I were to become among the most beloved people to minister in the projects.
