Common Hebrew understanding of the heavens. The heavens in the Old Testament are fairly earth centered, much in the same way we look at the universe.
The first heaven is the earth atmosphere. In this atmosphere, birds fly and clouds form. This heaven is spoken of often in the Old Testament. "The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands" ( Deuteronomy 28:12).
The second heaven the Hebrews described consisted of the universe as we know it. This heaven consisted of sun, moon, and stars. "In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun . . . It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other . . . " ( Psalm 19:4,6).
The third heaven is the dwelling place of God. This was the experience Paul described. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" ( Matthew 5:16). God dwells in the highest heaven, "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you" ( 1 Kings 8:27)
The "heavens" & the "firmament" in Psalm 19:1 speaks about the universe & sky. The Psalmist declares that both the sky & universe with all that we can see in them are indeed a mighty spectacle & declaration of God's Handiwork & Glorious Power.
In connection with this Psalm, Abraham Lincoln once said, "I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God." And of course, he was speaking of the starry universe working together in perfect unison.
PAUL SAID . I knew a man , either in the body or out of the body such an one was caught up unto Third Heaven, it stands to reason if there is a third Heaven... there must be a first and a second..... i believe that the relationship between the tabernacle in the wilderness and the three heavens are directly related with each other
The first heaven is the earth atmosphere. In this atmosphere, birds fly and clouds form. This heaven is spoken of often in the Old Testament. "The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands" ( Deuteronomy 28:12).
The second heaven the Hebrews described consisted of the universe as we know it. This heaven consisted of sun, moon, and stars. "In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun . . . It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other . . . " ( Psalm 19:4,6).
The third heaven is the dwelling place of God. This was the experience Paul described. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" ( Matthew 5:16). God dwells in the highest heaven, "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you" ( 1 Kings 8:27)
In connection with this Psalm, Abraham Lincoln once said, "I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God." And of course, he was speaking of the starry universe working together in perfect unison.
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