Hi! This is brother Scott with another Truth Time, Look in the Book!
All references are from the King James Bible.
Today is part 21 in my series, “Bible Key Words and Meanings A to Z.”
We move on to the letter “H.”
The word today is:
Heaven
This word is interesting to me personally in that I realized I never knew much or thought about “heaven” singular and “heavens” plural.
The very first verse in the King James Bible reads:
(Genesis 1:1 KJB)
(1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Two different realms.
The Genesis 1:1 “…heaven…” is singular in the King James Bible.
As far as I know, it is translated, “…heavens…” plural, in every modern, corrupt version.
I even heard a self-proclaimed grace preacher from North Carolina who teaches from the King James Bible read that verse and then declare more than once, “That is actually heavens, plural.”
If that is the case, then why do we see it spelled, “heaven,” singular again in this verse:
(Exodus 20:11 KJB)
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
And here are four other example verses of a singular “heaven” being mentioned:
(Genesis 1:9 KJB)
(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.
(Exodus 31:17 KJB)
(17) It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
(Genesis 1:20 KJB)
(20) And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
And in the book of Revelation we read this:
(Revelation 21:1 KJB)
(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.
I cross-referenced the New King James Version, and 3 of the 4 verses mentioned are translated, “heavens” plural, but Revelation 21:1 is translated, “heaven” singular.
And these verses appear to be describing the second heaven:
(Genesis 1:14-15 KJB)
(14) And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
(15) And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
(Genesis 1:17 KJB)
(17) And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Those are both translated, “heavens” plural, in the New King James.
It appears to me that before creating the heaven and earth, that obviously the earth and the first heaven, or the atmosphere that surrounds the earth, did not exist and God created them at the same time. Which would mean he only created one heaven “in the beginning.”
But then in Genesis 2:1, we read this:
(Genesis 2:1 KJB)
(1) Thus the heavens (plural) and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
So, why is it “heaven” in Genesis 1:1, and “heavens” in Genesis 2:1?
I’m speculating that the “heaven” in Genesis 1:1 is the atmosphere that surrounds the earth where birds, insects, and now airplanes fly, and skydivers glide down after jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
And the “heavens” in Genesis 2:1 is what surrounds the earth AND where the moon, stars, and planets are, because the Bible says in
(Genesis 1:16 KJB)
(16) And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
It seems the two lights and the stars reside in the second heaven, even though the Bible never mentions the phrase, “second heaven.”
And then the Bible reads, “third heaven,” in 2 Corinthians 12:2.
(2 Corinthians 12:2 KJB)
(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 caught up to the third heaven.
Some speculate this was Paul speaking of himself.
Or is it possible Paul was speaking of John based on
(Revelation 1:10-11 KJB)
and
(Revelation 4:1-11 KJB)?
Apparently the Bible does not provide a definitive answer, unless I’m missing something.
What are your thoughts on this lesson concerning heaven and heavens?
Like the noble Bereans did with Paul’s messages, I urge you to search the scriptures to see if what I am teaching is true. (Acts 17:10-11)
And prove all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Finally, please do not place confidence in what I say. (Psalm 118:8-9)
This is brother Scott with another Truth Time, Look in the Book!
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