THREE HEAVENS (1)

The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.                                                                                           Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

HEAVENS

Let’s talk frankly: have you ever pondered on the word "heavens?” I have.  Note. In the very first book (Genesis 1:1; 2:1) of the Bible, it states thusly, "God created the heavens and the earth". If you’re anything like me when you meditate on the word of God, there were times when, as I read scripture, I will run across "heavens" and then at another time, "heaven" and wondered of the difference. To further add to my confused mind, I recall as a child the many times I was cautioned, "if you want to go to heaven and be with God, behave!" Well, I decided to put an end to the confusion…for all of us, I pray. I did what I do best…research. Here’s what I found:

• In the Bible, there are 551 references to the word: "heaven", and there are 127 references to the word "heavens". There are three "heavens" found in the Bible.
• The Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, and it is in a plural form, meaning "heights," "elevations." The Bible teaches in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, he did not make another heaven after this time. The phrase “heavens and earth” are used to indicate the whole universe (Genesis 1:1; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish tradition from the Bible, there were three heavens. Each are attributed to God as the creator. Psalm 102:25  "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands."

The Bible speaks of three heavens not 7 and these are not dimensions.

                (1) Our Immediate Atmosphere

                (2) Outer Space (The Sun, Moon, And Stars)

                (3) The Home of God

Today, for our first study we will look at the First heaven - The firmament, Earth’s Atmosphere -which is the immediate sky, where the "fowls of the heaven" (Genesis 2:19; 7:3,23; Psalms 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lamentations 4:19), it is our atmosphere that surrounds the earth.

• Gen 1:14  Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night.” The first heaven consists of the clouds and the atmosphere, the heavens above us, until we come to the stars.

• Psalms 78: 23-23  “Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven.”

The expression doors of heaven or windows of heaven involved the firmament, our atmosphere. Descriptions used of this heaven is from where God would provide food or rain. Genesis 7:11-12: “the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Genesis 8:2: “The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained” Malachi 3:10 Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”
 

And this concludes segment one of our study of the First heaven.                                   ….to be cont’d

In Christ,

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
info@biblestoriestheatre.org