Kingdom of God.

[Willa]

I agree that Christ's Kingdom will be on earth in His millennial reign.  Also, He will reign in the New Heavens and New Earth.   He is also reigning in heaven as we speak.  There is no limit to His reign.  But I also agree that all who have received Him and submitted to Him as King in their own lives are a part of His Kingdom now.  

Php 2:9 LITV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, Php 2:10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, Php 2:11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

[Behold]

On 4/9/2018 at 7:04 AM, Berean said:

Matthew 6:33 reads, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Just what is the kingdom of God?

Romans 14:17

Its a Kingdom of Light.......Its literal....... Its living......Its real.

God dwells in "light".  1st John 1:7,  that we can't approach in our mortal state, and connected to this..... =  Jesus is the Light of the World, and we are Children of the Light, and we are translated from darkness to Light, by being born again, INTO, this Kingdom, that IS Light.

This "Light" represents, Truth,  Holiness, Power, Authority, Dominion,  and God Himself.... and we have this Light IN US....this Kingdom of God's dominion, within us, which is why we are told..."as Jesus IS, so are WE in this World".

So, because we are connected to Jesus, who is The Light, this (born again) reality has made it possible for us to be eternally connected to God Himself who IS this same Light., or as Jesus said....."I and my Father are ONE".....One Light, One Truth, One Holiness, Equal, yet, separate.

Separate, exactly the same as when God said...>"let us make man in OUR, image".....>Meaning in the spiritual likeness of God and Christ who at that time had no physical body, and was the "Word" who would later become "manifested in the flesh".   And this is why, Thomas said..."my Lord and my GOD", yet Jesus.( John 20:17) .. went  to "My Father and yours'"....   = Separate but "One".

We are now to "walk in this light" as God is in it, and IS it, and IS IN us.

Light, regarding God, and Christ, is TRUTH and Holiness..

When God said...."let there be LIGHT", He was not just talking about the creation of the sun, but he was talking about the fact that you had a devil, who is the King of the opposite of "light" and "truth" and "holiness", and he is on this earth, cast down to it, (god of THIS world)  and this created spiritual darkness here, as that is Satan's light.....= spiritual darkness...... and so, God, interjected INTO this darkness, His WORDS, and so, creation, is Light becoming all living things.     See,  before the fall, Adam was created "into the Light", exactly as we are now born again into the same, because the 2nd Adam (Jesus) has restored this POSITION In God's Family,  to everyone who will receive Jesus, who is THE LIGHT, and thereby  WE become a part of the same Light.......which IS, the Kingdom of God, which is God's "Light"......And we are spiritually ONE with this, as that is our born again "sonship" status, in God's family.

God's Light is Truth, &  Light is the absence of Spiritual  Darkness,  meaning that there is only Holiness that defines this TYPE of Light, or defines the "Kingdom of God".

The Kingdom of God IS this Light, and we are to carry it, (bear it), and not hide it...... as Light is Truth, and we know the Truth as we are joined to the Holy One who IS The very Truth.... John 14:6.

So, all of this, is the KOG., that is IN us, as God's Light is our Light, ...Jesus's Light is our Light.

WE are all ONE........"one body"...."one faith"....."bone of Jesus's bones, flesh of Jesus's flesh".......etc.

 

 

<B><

Edited May 31, 2018 by Behold

[Retrobyter]

On 5/28/2018 at 10:12 PM, Willa said:

Luk 17:20  WEB Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; Luk 17:21  neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”

Shalom, Willa.

That's not right. PLEASE take the time to investigate the CONTEXT of a passage before assuming what is being said in a particular verse! I prefer the King James Authorized Version of the Bible because it keeps the "thee's" and "thou's" intact.

Luke 17:20-25 (KJV)

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible says,

Luke 17:20-25 (HCSB)

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; 21 no one will say, ‘Look here! ’ or ‘There! ’ For you see, the kingdom of God is among you.”

22 Then He told the disciples: “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there! ’ or ‘Look here! ’ Don’t follow or run after them. 24 For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."

First, the Greek word "entos" can mean "within," but it may just as easily mean "among." Context determines which would be better.

Second, one of the greatest reasons for adhering to the King James Authorized Version is that it KEEPS the "thee's," "thou's," "thy's," "thine's," and "ye's" in the Bible. They provide information about the English text that is lost in all other English versions. In the King's English of 1611, they provide information about case and number:

The singular forms of the second person are...

Subject: thou
Object: thee
Possessive Adjective: thy
Possessive Stand-Alone: thine

The plural forms of the second person are...

Subject: ye
Object: you
Possessive Adjective: your
Possessive Stand-Alone: yours

Of the second-person pronouns used still today, only the last three plural forms are still in use and refer to both the singular and the plural, and the "you" can be used as both the subject and an object of the sentence.

So, when you see the word "you" in the KJV, you must remember that it is PLURAL in number! If the text is only talking to an individual, the word "thee" would have been used instead.

Third, notice in the context to whom Yeshua` is talking! He is being asked BY THE UNBELIEVING PHARISEES! Would Yeshua` really be saying that the PHARISEES would have God's Kingdom "within" them?! Of course not!

He's NOT saying that each one of them already has the Kingdom within him (or her); He's saying that these Pharisees AS A GROUP already have the Kingdom of God AMONG them! How? The Kingdom of God comes with the King that God provides! While the King (Yeshua` Himself) was present among them, they had the Kingdom among them! If you have the presence of the King, you have the potential for the Kingdom; no King, no Kingdom! It's just that simple.

So, please don't use that verse to suggest that the Kingdom is a "spiritual," non-physical kingdom. Frankly, the Kingdom will be a LITERAL, CONCRETE, SUBSTANTIAL Kingdom that will exist during and beyond the future Millennium. Just as Yeshua` the Messiah is real and literal and substantive, so the Kingdom will be real and literal and substantive.

[Retrobyter]

8 hours ago, Willa said:

I agree that Christ's Kingdom will be on earth in His millennial reign.  Also, He will reign in the New Heavens and New Earth.   He is also reigning in heaven as we speak.  There is no limit to His reign.  But I also agree that all who have received Him and submitted to Him as King in their own lives are a part of His Kingdom now.  

Php 2:9 LITV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, Php 2:10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, Php 2:11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Shalom again, Willa.

Sorry, but that, too, is NOT RIGHT! He is NOT "also reigning in heaven as we speak!" That's a poor interpretation of the phrase "sitting at the right hand of the Father." It does NOT mean that He is currently reigning!

There are only a handful of verses that use that phrase: Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69; Romans 8:34; and Colossians 3:1. And, NONE of these verses suggest the Messiah reigning right now, and much less in a fictional place called "Heaven!"

You're right that He shall reign over the earth during the Millennium, and you are right that He shall reign in the eternal state in the New Earth with its New Skies, but His Kingdom is still in the future because it will be a LITERAL KINGDOM to fulfill literally the promises of such a Kingdom in prophecy!

While we can consider ourselves right now to be subjects for His future Kingdom, that Kingdom is NOT HERE, YET!

[listener24]

30 minutes ago, Retrobyter said:

Shalom, Willa.

That's not right. PLEASE take the time to investigate the CONTEXT of a passage before assuming what is being said in a particular verse! I prefer the King James Authorized Version of the Bible because it keeps the "thee's" and "thou's" intact.

Luke 17:20-25 (KJV)

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible says,

Luke 17:20-25 (HCSB)

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; 21 no one will say, ‘Look here! ’ or ‘There! ’ For you see, the kingdom of God is among you.”

22 Then He told the disciples: “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there! ’ or ‘Look here! ’ Don’t follow or run after them. 24 For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."

First, the Greek word "entos" can mean "within," but it may just as easily mean "among." Context determines which would be better.

Second, one of the greatest reasons for adhering to the King James Authorized Version is that it KEEPS the "thee's," "thou's," "thy's," "thine's," and "ye's" in the Bible. They provide information about the English text that is lost in all other English versions. In the King's English of 1611, they provide information about case and number:

The singular forms of the second person are...

Subject: thou
Object: thee
Possessive Adjective: thy
Possessive Stand-Alone: thine

The plural forms of the second person are...

Subject: ye
Object: you
Possessive Adjective: your
Possessive Stand-Alone: yours

Of the second-person pronouns used still today, only the last three plural forms are still in use and refer to both the singular and the plural, and the "you" can be used as both the subject and an object of the sentence.

So, when you see the word "you" in the KJV, you must remember that it is PLURAL in number! If the text is only talking to an individual, the word "thee" would have been used instead.

Third, notice in the context to whom Yeshua` is talking! He is being asked BY THE UNBELIEVING PHARISEES! Would Yeshua` really be saying that the PHARISEES would have God's Kingdom "within" them?! Of course not!

He's NOT saying that each one of them already has the Kingdom within him (or her); He's saying that these Pharisees AS A GROUP already have the Kingdom of God AMONG them! How? The Kingdom of God comes with the King that God provides! While the King (Yeshua` Himself) was present among them, they had the Kingdom among them! If you have the presence of the King, you have the potential for the Kingdom; no King, no Kingdom! It's just that simple.

So, please don't use that verse to suggest that the Kingdom is a "spiritual," non-physical kingdom. Frankly, the Kingdom will be a LITERAL, CONCRETE, SUBSTANTIAL Kingdom that will exist during and beyond the future Millennium. Just as Yeshua` the Messiah is real and literal and substantive, so the Kingdom will be real and literal and substantive.

Just wanted to confirm that this is a great analysis of a too common mistake.

To confirm what @Retrobyter said, we can just read the other 134324 (countless) times in which Jesus talk about the Kingdom, and is never something just "within" us, but is His reign, an actual place in which there will be no more sadness or evil, and He will be the King.

Simple and confirmed by reading all the other verses in the Gospel.

Of course, to become "citizen" of this Kingdom and been taken in one day, we must prepare our hearts to love and obey God. But this doesn't mean at all the the Kingdom is in our hearts, it just mean that having love for God in our hearts is a PRE-REQUISITE to one day enter the Kingdom.

[Willa]

[ And, NONE of these verses suggest the Messiah reigning right now, and much less in a fictional place called "Heaven!"]

Retrobyter, how can you pray Our Father which art in Heaven and believe that He is in a fictional place?  That is where Christ believed He is.  

Act 1:11  who also said, Men, Galileans, why do you stand looking up to the heaven? This Jesus, the One being taken from you into the heaven, will come in the way you saw Him going into the heaven.

 Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

While I admire all scholarly investigation of God's word,  it is sad when some people acquire a "its my way or the highway attitude."  Some consider themselves the final authority pertaining to understanding the Scriptures.  It is this attitude that also reveals a lack of love of the brethren and certainly fosters personal attacks.  I am thankful that you  have not been guilty of this Retrobyter, but encourage you to continue to focus more on the need of godly attitudes than on being "right".

2Ti 2:24 LITV But a bondslave of the Lord ought not to quarrel, but to be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,  2Ti 2:25  in meekness teaching those who have opposed, if perhaps God may give them repentance for a full knowledge of the truth,

 

 

[Retrobyter]

On 5/31/2018 at 10:12 AM, Willa said:

[ And, NONE of these verses suggest the Messiah reigning right now, and much less in a fictional place called "Heaven!"]

Retrobyter, how can you pray Our Father which art in Heaven and believe that He is in a fictional place?  That is where Christ believed He is.  

Act 1:11  who also said, Men, Galileans, why do you stand looking up to the heaven? This Jesus, the One being taken from you into the heaven, will come in the way you saw Him going into the heaven.

 Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

While I admire all scholarly investigation of God's word,  it is sad when some people acquire a "its my way or the highway attitude."  Some consider themselves the final authority pertaining to understanding the Scriptures.  It is this attitude that also reveals a lack of love of the brethren and certainly fosters personal attacks.  I am thankful that you  have not been guilty of this Retrobyter, but encourage you to continue to focus more on the need of godly attitudes than on being "right".

2Ti 2:24 LITV But a bondslave of the Lord ought not to quarrel, but to be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,  2Ti 2:25  in meekness teaching those who have opposed, if perhaps God may give them repentance for a full knowledge of the truth,

Shabbat shalom, Willa.

Because "Heaven" does NOT equal "heaven." The word "heaven" simply means "the sky." (And, "heavens" means "the skies.") Any more than this is READING INTO (eisegesis) the Scriptures what isn't there. The Greek word for "heaven" is "ouranos." It's found four times in Matthew 16:1-4. I shall highlight them with the boldface attribute:

Matthew 16:1-4 (KJV)

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O yehypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

One can't tell from the English so much, but these are all the SAME WORD! Now, I know that a language can have different meanings for the same word, but in the same context without referring to the difference? Yeshua` ("Jesus") wasn't denying them "a sign from the sky"; He was denying them "a sign of the TIMES!"

He GAVE them signs: "Red sky at night is a sailor's delight; red sky at morning is a sailor's sure warning!" They asked for a "sign from Heaven"; He gave them a "sign from the SKY!"

So, let's use this information in the verses above:

Acts 1:11 (KJV)

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into the sky? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into the sky, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into the sky.

Matthew 7:21 (KJV)

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom from the sky (skies); but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in the sky (skies).

Another thought: Is is His "Father" who is "in the skies?" OR, is it His Father's "WILL" which is "in the skies?"

See how these renderings make the passages simpler to understand?

Edited June 2, 2018 by Retrobyter

[Retrobyter]

On 5/31/2018 at 10:12 AM, Willa said:

[ And, NONE of these verses suggest the Messiah reigning right now, and much less in a fictional place called "Heaven!"]

Retrobyter, how can you pray Our Father which art in Heaven and believe that He is in a fictional place?  That is where Christ believed He is.  

Act 1:11  who also said, Men, Galileans, why do you stand looking up to the heaven? This Jesus, the One being taken from you into the heaven, will come in the way you saw Him going into the heaven.

 Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

While I admire all scholarly investigation of God's word,  it is sad when some people acquire a "its my way or the highway attitude."  Some consider themselves the final authority pertaining to understanding the Scriptures.  It is this attitude that also reveals a lack of love of the brethren and certainly fosters personal attacks.  I am thankful that you  have not been guilty of this Retrobyter, but encourage you to continue to focus more on the need of godly attitudes than on being "right".

2Ti 2:24 LITV But a bondslave of the Lord ought not to quarrel, but to be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,  2Ti 2:25  in meekness teaching those who have opposed, if perhaps God may give them repentance for a full knowledge of the truth....

Shabbat shalom, Willa.

My dear sister, I hope you understood my understanding of these Scriptures, but just to reiterate my position in light of your question, I don't believe that God the Father is in a fictional place. God the Father of our Lord Yeshua` the Messiah is VERY REAL; so, anywhere - EVERYWHERE - He exists is also very real! It's just that the PLACE CALLED "Heaven" that is suggested in the minds of individuals because of language interpretation is imaginary and fictional. How could it be otherwise, since we've never been there?

But, how does one usually describe "Heaven?" Isn't it said to be "a place with streets of gold and pearly gates?" Anyone who has studied Revelation KNOWS that this is the description of the New Jerusalem, not some place called "Heaven!" Also, Revelation describes a new earth formed from the remains of this present "first earth," and this is confirmed and supported by Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:3-13.

Truth be told, the new heaven or new sky will also be formed from the remains of this present "first heaven" or this present sky! The molecules of the atmosphere of this present earth will be used to form the atmosphere of the New Earth! That's to what the Greek word "ouranos" refers in Revelation 21:1!

When the New Jerusalem descends, in Revelation 21:2, it descends (Greek: katabainousan) FROM God (Greek: apo tou theou) and OUT OF the sky (Greek: ek tou ouranou). That means that it LANDS upon the New Earth. There is no big "white space" (like kids draw) between the sky and the earth. When we look away in the distance, we see the horizon where the sky MEETS the earth. Thus, if it comes "out of" the sky - the atmosphere - which consists of gases, then it must touch down upon the ground.

Now, which is bigger, the New Earth or the New Jerusalem? Well, since we are told this is God's TENT (Greek: skeenee translated "tabernacle") that sits UPON the New Earth, one would be right to assume the New Earth is bigger. If the New Earth is made from the material of the old earth, the old earth is said to be 6.6 SEXTILLION TONS of matter and has a circumference of about 24,902 MILES or a diameter of approximately 8,000 MILES. One may assume that the dimensions of the New Earth will be similar.

The New Jerusalem is said to have a length, width and height of 12,000 "furlongs," which is the Greek word "stadioon," patterned after the Roman "stadium" or "stad" for short, from which we get our word "stadium." We KNOW how long the Roman "stad" was because we still to this day have mile markers all over Europe from the time of the Roman Empire with distances marked upon them! It was a distance of 600 "feet," or actually, about 185 m (607 ft), measured by 125 double paces. Twelve thousand of these, would be 7,284,000 feet (2,220,000 m), which translates to 1,379.5 miles (2,220 km). That means that the New Jerusalem would be 1,379.5 miles long, wide, and high! While that's a HUGE distance, it's still much smaller than that of the earth!

This is not "my way or the highway"; it's "GOD'S way or the highway." All I'm doing is investigating and revealing what God has already shown through His Son's Revelation and through the hand of Yochannan (John). There are just some things that are FACTS, ABSOLUTE TRUTHS by which we may make a stand! And, I love you and these others so much that I MUST share it with you all! If I can just show you all how to grasp a future so REAL and so CONCRETE and so much HOME that it's as real to you as your own bedroom!

May God give you eyes full of joy and happiness for the future you possess!

[Willa]

Thank you for a thorough description of the new earth.  This I am sure is biblical, though I have not understood the measurement in so many different kinds, ancient and modern.  And God's Omnipresence is also well known, even though Jesus locates Him in heaven so many times.  Perhaps it is our concept of heaven that is uncertain, as you suggested.  We can ask Him about such things when we see Him face to face.  

I am assuming you refer to the first heaven as our atmosphere or air, In this not only do the fowl of the air fly (Mat 6:26; Mat 8:20; Mat 13:32), but the clouds are suspended (Mat 24:30; Mat 26:64; Luk 12:56) and the rain is formed (Jas 5:18);  the second as the sky, also the sun, moon and stars are placed in the same celestial expanse (Mar 13:25; Heb 11:12) Psm 8:3;  the third as the abode of God outside of creation where He existed prior to creation, Psm 103:19  [It is also used for that heaven where the residence of God is, called by the Psalmist "the holy heavens" (a.t.), or "heavens of holiness" (a.t.), of separation (Sept.: Psa 20:6). It is God's dwelling or resting place (Mat 5:34, Mat 5:45, Mat 5:48); where the blessed angels are (Mar 13:27); from whence Christ descended (Joh 3:13, Joh 3:31; Joh 6:32-33, Joh 6:38); where after His resurrection and ascension "He sitteth at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (a.t. [Heb 8:1]) and appears in the presence of God on our behalf (Heb 9:24); and where a reward is reserved for the righteous (Mat 5:12; 1Pe 1:4). [Word Study Dictionary OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS by Spiros Zodhiates]

[Retrobyter]

1 hour ago, Willa said:

Thank you for a thorough description of the new earth.  This I am sure is biblical, though I have not understood the measurement in so many different kinds, ancient and modern.  And God's Omnipresence is also well known, even though Jesus locates Him in heaven so many times.  Perhaps it is our concept of heaven that is uncertain, as you suggested.  We can ask Him about such things when we see Him face to face.  

I am assuming you refer to the first heaven as our atmosphere or air, In this not only do the fowl of the air fly (Mat 6:26; Mat 8:20; Mat 13:32), but the clouds are suspended (Mat 24:30; Mat 26:64; Luk 12:56) and the rain is formed (Jas 5:18);  the second as the sky, also the sun, moon and stars are placed in the same celestial expanse (Mar 13:25; Heb 11:12) Psm 8:3;  the third as the abode of God outside of creation where He existed prior to creation, Psm 103:19  [It is also used for that heaven where the residence of God is, called by the Psalmist "the holy heavens" (a.t.), or "heavens of holiness" (a.t.), of separation (Sept.: Psa 20:6). It is God's dwelling or resting place (Mat 5:34, Mat 5:45, Mat 5:48); where the blessed angels are (Mar 13:27); from whence Christ descended (Joh 3:13, Joh 3:31; Joh 6:32-33, Joh 6:38); where after His resurrection and ascension "He sitteth at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (a.t. [Heb 8:1]) and appears in the presence of God on our behalf (Heb 9:24); and where a reward is reserved for the righteous (Mat 5:12; 1Pe 1:4). [Word Study Dictionary OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS by Spiros Zodhiates]

Shabbat shalom,  Willa.

This is a common error that is expressed suscinctly in the center margin of the old Scofield Reference Bible (KJV) on page 1238 (2 Corinthians 12:2): He states flatly and without a Bible reference that 'the first heaven is “of clouds,” the second heaven is “of stars,” and the third heaven is “God’s abode.”'

However, Peter contradicts this view in 2 Peter 3:3-13:

2 Peter 3:3-5 (KJV)

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (uniformitarianism). 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water [below] and [with]in the water [above].

FIRST HEAVENS AND EARTH

Genesis 1:6-10 (KJV)

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven (Hebrew: Shaamaayim, a DUAL word, neither singular nor plural). And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

2 Peter 3:6 (KJV)

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

THE FLOOD 

Genesis 7:17-24 (KJV)

17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

2 Peter 3:7-12 (KJV)

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [sentencing] of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

SECOND HEAVENS AND EARTH

Revelation 20:7-9a (KJV)

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: ...

2 Peter 3:10-12 (KJV)

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

THE FIRE 

Revelation 20:9b-15 (KJV)

... and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

(THE JUDGMENT AND PERDITION)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

2 Peter 3:13 (KJV)

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

THIRD HEAVENS AND EARTH

Revelation 21:1-4 (KJV)

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Therefore, Paul's "third heaven" (or "third sky"; Greek: tritou ouranou) is simply Peter's "new heavens" in 2 Pet. 3:13 and John's "new heaven" in Rev. 21:1.

The Greek word translated as "caught up" in 2 Corinthians 12:2 is "harpagenta." It comes from "harpazoo," which is defined in Strong's as...

726 harpazoo (har-pad'-zo). From a derivative of haireomai; to seize (in various applications) -- catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

The word has NO connection with "up!" The word "up" was SUPPLIED by the translator! So, a better translation of the word would have been "seized":

2 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV with modification)

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one seized to the third heaven.

One might even use "snatched away":

2 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV with modification)

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one snatched away to the third heaven.

In both cases, the implication is that this "man that Paul knew" was MOVED THROUGH TIME to the "third heaven"; NOT MOVED THROUGH SPACE! And, this is TYPICAL for a prophet having a vision of the future!