Many Christians have wondered: Are there really different levels of heaven?
The Bible actually speaks of multiple “heavens” — and understanding them helps us better grasp the majesty of God’s creation and His eternal dwelling place.
In this article, we’ll explore what Scripture says about the three levels of heaven:
- The First Heaven (our atmosphere)
- The Second Heaven (outer space)
- The Third Heaven (God’s dwelling place)
Let’s dive into the Word of God to see what He has revealed about these incredible realities.
The Plural “Heavens” in Scripture
Genesis 1:1 opens the Bible by declaring, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Notice it says heavens — plural. From the very beginning, Scripture points to the existence of more than one “heaven.”
Further evidence appears in Hebrews 4:14:
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (NKJV).
Jesus passing through the heavens suggests there are multiple layers or realms described as “heaven.”
Another translation states: “We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens — Jesus, the Son of God.” (God’s Word Translation)
Clearly, the Bible presents more than one heaven — but how are they different?
The Third Heaven Mentioned by Paul
In 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul writes:
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” (NKJV)
Paul is speaking about himself in the third person and describes being “caught up” to the third heaven — a distinct place of God’s presence.
If there is a third heaven, it logically follows that there must be a first and second heaven as well.
What Are the 3 Levels of Heaven?
The Bible consistently uses the word “heaven” to describe three distinct realms:
- The First Heaven – Our immediate atmosphere
- The Second Heaven – Outer space (the sun, moon, and stars)
- The Third Heaven – The unique dwelling place of God
Let’s look at each level more closely.
The First Heaven: The Atmosphere Above the Earth
The first heaven refers to the sky or the atmosphere that surrounds the earth — the air we breathe and where the clouds form.
We see this usage in Genesis 6:7 (NKJV):
“So, the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air [heaven], for I am sorry that I have made them.’”
The “birds of the air” or “birds of heaven” dwell in this first heaven — our atmosphere.
Similarly, in Matthew 6:26, Jesus said:
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”
The Greek word ouranos, translated “air” or “heaven,” can mean sky, atmosphere, or spiritual heaven depending on context.
James 5:18 further confirms this:
“And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
The first heaven is the visible sky where birds fly and rain falls.
The Second Heaven: Outer Space and the Celestial Realm
The second heaven refers to outer space — the sun, moon, planets, and stars.
Matthew 24:29 describes events in the last days:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Here, “heaven” describes the vast reaches of space where the stars dwell.
Deuteronomy 10:14 also speaks of multiple heavenly realms:
“Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.”
Psalm 148:4 echoes this:
“Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens!”
Thus, Scripture clearly presents a second heaven: the celestial realm filled with stars, planets, and cosmic wonders.
Psalm 19:1 beautifully captures the grandeur of this heaven:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
The Third Heaven: God’s Dwelling Place
The third heaven is where God’s throne and divine presence are uniquely manifested.
Although God is omnipresent, the Bible indicates there is a special place where He chooses to dwell.
Solomon acknowledged this when dedicating the temple:
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built” (1 Kings 8:27)!
God is not confined to any physical space, yet He has a specific “dwelling place” known as heaven.
Hebrews 8:1 tells us:
“We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”
When Stephen was martyred, he saw the third heaven opened:
“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).
Finally, Hebrews 9:24 confirms:
“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”
The third heaven is real — not symbolic — and it is where believers will one day dwell with the Lord.
Is the Third Heaven a Real, Physical Place?
Some people think of heaven as merely a “spiritual state,” but Scripture affirms it is a real, actual place.
The first two heavens — the atmosphere and outer space — are clearly real, physical locations.
By the same reasoning, the third heaven must also be an actual place, even if it transcends our current human perception.
Revelation 4–5 gives us a vivid glimpse into the heavenly throne room — full of worship, beauty, and the glory of God.
Why Understanding the 3 Heavens Matters for Christians
Understanding the three heavens gives us:
- Awe at God’s creation — from the sky above us to the stars beyond
- Hope for the future — knowing we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
- Purpose for today — living as ambassadors of our heavenly home (2 Corinthians 5:20)
We are strangers and pilgrims here (1 Peter 2:11), but one day we will be fully home — in the presence of our Savior.
Until that day, we are called to live heavenly lives on earth, shining God’s light and pointing others to the glorious hope that awaits.
Conclusion
The Bible speaks clearly about three levels of heaven:
- The First Heaven: the sky and atmosphere surrounding the earth
- The Second Heaven: outer space, where the sun, moon, and stars reside
- The Third Heaven: the unique and glorious dwelling place of God
Heaven is not a myth or an abstract idea — it is a real place filled with the presence and majesty of God.
And the good news? Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are already citizens of that heavenly country.
Let us live each day with eternity in our hearts, eagerly awaiting the day when we will see our Savior face to face.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
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Note: This article has been updated and expanded for clarity and accuracy. Some comments below may refer to an earlier version of this post.
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Recommended Resource:
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A Place Called Heaven: 10 Surprising Truths About Your Eternal Home By Robert Jeffress As Christians, we know someday we’ll leave Earth behind and be united with God. Yet most of us know very little about what to expect! Opening Scripture to unpack 10 surprising truths about heaven, Dr. Jeffress explains who we will see there, how we can prepare for our journey, what we will do, and more. 256 pages, softcover from Baker. |
I have a professor that believes that there are three levels of Heaven. He believes that the quality of our work will be judged and we will be sent to one of three Heavens according to the judgement of God. He uses this scripture and others to clarify and solidify what he believes, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. He believes that we will know which level we are on.
I do not believe in three levels of Heaven based on the quality of our works. I do not believe we will know who made it to Heaven and who didn’t. However, I do believe in how you interpreted it.
Thank you so much for your explanation with the scriptural verification.
Hi Margarita,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s interesting to hear about your professor’s perspective on the three levels of Heaven, especially how he connects it to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
That passage does speak about how our works will be tested, but as you pointed out, it doesn’t necessarily mean different levels of Heaven based on the quality of our works.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my post and for your kind words about my interpretation.
Ultimately, what matters most is that we seek God’s truth through His Word and remain faithful to His teachings.
Blessings!
First Heaven is the Skies, Second Heaven is the Spiritual world here with us.
Third Heaven is the second coming of Christ, where all God’s Children will be with the Lord our God in the Heaven of all Heavens.
Hello Janine,
Thank you for dropping by and leaving your thoughts.
I wonder where you got the idea that the third Heaven is the second coming of Christ.
Heaven —the third Heaven is an actual place, while the second coming of Christ is an end-time event.
I appreciate it if you would come back and elaborate.
God bless you 😇.
On June 15, 2022, in response to a post from Sharon, Admin said, “although we now know that there are three levels of heaven, what we want to focus on is the abode of God, the third heaven where we will eventually spend eternity with our Lord and Master.” …
Then in another response on September 17, 2022 to Linda, Admin states that the third heaven, as we know it today, is where believers will go when they die while waiting for the resurrection. Admin goes on to say, “this new heaven and new earth is the eternal heaven, the final destination of the believers in Christ.
This seems to be a contradiction to me. I know what the word says about it, but I’m concerned about the possible confusion it could create with new believers.
Am I just reading it wrong?
Hi Bill,
Thanks for raising this issue.
I may not have elaborated on the difference between the heaven as we know it today and the new heaven and new earth. And this is because this already falls on another topic.
The third level of heaven described in the article is the “paradise” Paul referred to. Yes, this is the abode of God where believers go immediately when they die. It’s where believers wait for the rapture and resurrection.
The new heaven and the new earth is where believers enjoy eternity with the Lord after the millennial reign. There should not be any confusion or contradiction because when we read the book of Revelation, it makes it clear that there’s going to be a new heaven and a new earth.
In short, the third heaven is not the final heaven where believers will spend “forever” with God.
I would welcome your insight on the new heaven and new earth and the eternal state as described in Revelation 21-22.
God bless!
Will we really one day reside in heaven?
The new Jerusalem comes down to earth. An earth is our permanent home. We inherit the Earth.
So how do we connect the seeming contradictions??
Yes, we will, Jennett.
And you’re right, we will be residing in the New Jerusalem, which is the final Heaven — Heaven on earth, if you wanna call it that. 😊
I understand that most people seem to believe that eternity will be in the third heaven. But if we take the time to study what the Word of God says, we will know that the final Heaven will be on earth.
By the way, I’m sorry for the late reply.
Looking up Greek words, I found that air is (Aepas) and Sky is (Oupavos).
Hi Veronica,
Thank you for your comment and the information you shared.
As I said, the words used will depend on the context.
There can be different meanings and translations but the translators must have used the words that match the authors’ original intent.
Blessings!
Genesis is translated from Hebrew. Greek words don’t matter at this point.
Thanks for chiming in, GG. God bless you!
Just started a book study on heaven.
This book talks about an “intermediate” heaven. In this heaven, we’ll wait for the time of Christ’s return to the earth, our bodily resurrection, the final judgment, and the creation of the new heavens and new earth. Then we will go to Heaven.
I have not heard of an intermediate/present heaven before.
What are your thoughts?
Hi Linda,
Based on the book’s description of an intermediate heaven, the author must be talking about the third heaven as we know it today. This is where believers will go when they die while waiting for the resurrection.
I would like to emphasize that the third heaven as described in this post is different from the eternal heaven where God and His people will dwell after the Millennial reign of Christ.
The heavens as we know them today will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10) and God will create a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1, 4).
This new heaven and new earth is the eternal heaven, the final destination of the believers in Christ.
I hope this helps.
William Shatner said that when he went up in space but not beyond the galaxy, he felt a dark void, a dead silence, almost death that left him struggling with what he thought was beauty, until he was up there.
Why do you think he felt this?
He probably went to the second heaven which scholars believe is where the powers of this dark world reside.
Ephesians 6:12 describes the spiritual battle that exists in the lives of believers.
I hope this helps, God bless!
Oops, I just found a little bit of the Trinity please help……..I have been taught that there are 3 in one in essence only, they can all do certain things.
God is the ultimate planner
Christ his son the executioner
The Holy Spirit became our teacher and our gift when we became a believer.
But there is only one God and one Jesus who God gave his son to die for us and we can not be saved if we do not believe in him. You can not just believe in God as his son did all the work for us.
Jesus Christ. Then we needed a teacher who we believe you have. Is this all not in the Bible as I have read?
But they all are alike in Essence only and they all have a purpose which God created.
Please, wrong or right?
Hey Sharon,
Thanks for your comment.
I would like to refer you to another post. Just click the link and it will lead you to the article on the Trinity.
Here they are:
https://biblical-christianity.com/how-important-is-the-trinity-doctrine
https://biblical-christianity.com/arguments-against-the-deity-of-christ
https://biblical-christianity.com/how-is-the-father-greater-than-jesus
I hope you will take the time to read them. You can always leave a comment or any question you may have regarding the topic.
Shalom!
I just found this site and I’m so blessed, thank you so much. When I learned I never could explain, now I can. Wow what an eye-opener and you explained so well.
I have a favor could you explain the Trinity 3 in one.
I understand but so many of my friends do not, I have the blood and learned from Robert Theme and John Mc Arthur.
Could you do a study on it like the three heavens? A Pastor I know said I was wrong there are not 3 heavens when he gets back from vacation I can prove to him in a biblical way.
Thank you again.
Hi Sharon,
I am really glad that God led you to this site and it makes me happy that you found clarity on the topic of heaven.
Although we now know that there are three levels of heaven, what we should want o focus on is the abode of God, the third heaven where we will eventually spend eternity with our Lord and Master.
God bless you, dear.
Hi Alice,
I have read many articles and journals concerning heavens but this is really an eyeopener and inspirational! I am really blessed.
And God shall continue to bless you too. Shalom!
Hi Chris,
So nice to hear from you again and I am glad you found this article on the 3 levels of heaven inspirational and enlightening. Please do come by from time to time as we regularly post new articles.
Should you have some topics in mind that you would like us to tackle or any questions about the Bible and the Christian faith, please do not hesitate to drop us a note.
God bless you more and more!