Bible Questions and Answers

Who is the messenger of Satan? What is the "Third Heaven"?

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 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. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The third heaven is not a destination in space, it is a destination in time - in the future.Heaven and earth in scripture are used to denote the rulers and the ruled. For example:

• Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
• Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;
• 2 Peter 3:5-7 For this they wilfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
  • 1st heaven = those in authority before the flood.
  • 2nd heaven = those in authority now.
  • 3rd heaven = those in authority in the kingdom of God.

The new heaven and earth promised is not a replacement for the physical heaven and earth, it is a change in the government and cultures of the people in the kingdom of God which will be established on this earth when Christ returns. Jesus and his saints will constitute the new heaven in the kingdom of God.

The messenger of Satan was Paul’s infirmity which he describes as a ‘thorn in the flesh’.

Whatever the ailment was it was a ‘satan’ – an adversary - to Paul because it made his life harder.

I hope this helps.

God bless.
Glenn