PAUL'S VISION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN.
By John Nevins Andrews
PAUL, in 2 Cor. xi, enumerates some of the labors and sufferings incident to his ministry. He speaks with modesty, but yet with distinctness, that himself was the man who endured this heavy burden of labor and suffering. But when he passes to his visions and revelations of the Lord, observe how guardedly he speaks. "I knew a man in Christ," "such an one caught up to the third Heaven." "I knew such a man," "how that he was caught up into Paradise." Of course, this was himself. Indeed he could not know it of some other man. Besides, the connection plainly implies that he was speaking of revelations made to himself. See 2 Cor. xii, 1-7. Why then should he speak in this somewhat ambiguous manner, as to who the individual was that was thus caught up? Evidently for the reason, that in this very thing Satan had his chief power of attack. Paul's danger of exaltation, as he here tells us, lay in the matter of these wonderful revelations from the Lord. And so observe how modestly he speaks concerning this dangerous topic. It was a matter of necessity that he should speak of these visions and revelations of the Lord. Yet he might have made this an occasion of sin. His senses were exercised by reason of use to discern the approach of danger. Heb. v, 14. There was no affectation in all this. It was a sense of danger that led him to hide himself when speaking of this matter that Satan had made the special ground of powerful temptation. But why were these revelations granted to Paul? And in particular, why was this wonderful view of the third Heavens and of the Paradise of God opened to him? It does not seem very difficult to answer. When Paul says that he could not tell whether this man were in the body or out of it, he does not mean to say that he knew not whether he was dead or alive. No, by no means was this the point of doubt. He knew not whether this was a vision or a revelation of the Lord, in the highest sense. Whether the third Heaven was shown him in vision, or whether he was actually transported thither. Ezekiel speaks of himself very much in this manner. Eze. iii, 13, 14; viii, 3; xi, 1, 24; xii, 1, 2, 8; and in the book of Acts, we do learn that Philip was caught away bodily from the eunuch, and found at a considerable distance from that place. Acts viii, 39, 40. So wonderful was Paul's view that he was not certain that he had not been transported to the third Heaven bodily. He could not, in God's purpose, be translated as was Elijah. He could not then be made immortal, and like him taken thither to abide. But he could have its infinite glory displayed to him, and this was what it pleased God to grant in his case. Now the Lord never does anything without a reason. There was need of these manifestations of the Spirit of God to guide Paul in his most weighty and awfully solemn responsibilities. Paul was but a man, though greatly the superior of almost all the children of men. But he needed, in the highest sense, divine guidance. He was sensible of it, and sought it. He walked before God with such fear and trembling that even this wonderful, guiding hand of God could be revealed to him. His own judgment, indeed, had to be exercised; but even far more than sanctified judgment was often needed by him in that great work given him to do, and was, therefore, granted him in direct revelations of the Lord. But this one in particular, of which he here speaks, was evidently granted for his own personal benefit; for he was not permitted to tell what he saw. But there was a wise reason for all this. Paul's own case demanded this great encouragement and support. Probably no other person, with the single exception of "Moses, the man of God," ever bore such burdens, or performed such labors, as did this noble servant of Christ. At the very outset of his ministry the Lord said to Ananias, "I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." Acts ix, 16. And the Holy Spirit witnessed to him in every city that bonds and afflictions did abide him. Acts xx, 23. And surely he met them. Read some of them in 2 Cor. xi. No doubt the sustaining grace of God was wonderfully granted to this servant of Christ, yet there was the utmost danger that so great and constant a pressure upon his spirits should destroy their elasticity, and bring deep gloom and discouragement upon his mind. He was but a mortal man. He had a terrible foe with which to contend. He needed help from God. Undoubtedly his lot must at times have seemed hard to him. And there was even danger that he should feel some measure of unreconciliation, or some feeling akin to it, in view of his hard lot. Poor Paul! pressed out of measure above strength, so that he despaired of life. 2 Cor. i, 9, 10. But how faithful to his servants is their great Master. Paul sought God in prayer. And as he prayed, seeking only submission and reconciliation to the will of God, asking not to have his labors and sufferings abated, but only to have strength to bear his burden, how wonderfully was his prayer answered. The Heaven was opened to him. He was transported to Paradise. He saw what is in reserve for the overcomers. He heard the unspeakable words. He must not tell to others, only in general terms, what he saw and heard. But when he wrote to the Corinthians, in this same epistle, concerning the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, he knew whereof he wrote. Now he could speak of the sufferings of this present time, as our light affliction that is but for a moment. 2 Cor. iv, 17. He was poor Paul no longer. Now he could say, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself." Acts xx, 24. He no longer held on to the promises of God by a hand almost paralyzed with anguish. He was raised as on the pinions of an angel, above this sharp anguish. He was exceeding joyful in all his tribulations. He was comforted in afflictions, that he might know how to comfort others. 2 Cor. i, 4. Though we may not be allowed at present, as was Paul, to look into Paradise; we do know that it is now only a step between us and that place of infinite felicity. Courage, brethren in the Lord. A brief moment of cross-bearing and anguish, and we shall be there. Hold out, faith and patience. There is a reward to the overcomer, and that reward is now, thank God, at hand to be given.