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So there are three heavens in time as well as at least three departments of heaven itself.
The Apostle John, in the Revelation, links this new creation with Paradise (Rev. 2: 7), so
it would appear that both Paul and John were given a preview, as it were, of this
wonderful new heaven and earth where at last is absolute perfection and untold glory and
joy. The word `paradise', a Persian word meaning `park', is used in the LXX of the
garden of Eden and in the Revelation of the new earth. We should note that in both cases
it is linked with the earth and not with heaven.
The rapturous experience that Paul had was beyond expression in human words. He
did not know whether it was `in the body' or `out of the body' (verse 2). He says nothing
about what he saw. What he heard he describes as `unspeakable words, which it is not
lawful for a man to utter'. The Scriptures say little about resurrection life after death.
Suffice it to say that it is so wonderful that there are no human means of adequately
describing it. But its superlative and eternal wonders are real, and faith is willing to wait
until the day of glory when all the shadows and limitations will have gone and we shall
know and enjoy fully the pleasures that are at God's right hand for evermore (Psa.xvi.11).
Such an extended revelation might have puffed up the pride of any man and even the
Apostle was not immune from this, for he states:
"And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was
given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too
elated" (12: 7, R.S.V.).
Our heavenly Father, in His love and wisdom, knows how to balance us up so that we
can remain in the centre of His will and be usable by Him. Some Pentecostalists assert
that all bodily ailments are foreign to the will of the Lord for the believer. The Lord's
death, they claim, was to save us from bodily illness as well as from our sins.
However, this is completely disproved by Paul's experience here. Three times he
prayed and asked the Lord to remove the `thorn'. Doubtless he thought he could do
better work for the Lord if he was relieved of this burden. But the Lord's answer was
`No'. He said to the Apostle `My grace is sufficient for you and My power is made
perfect in weakness'. There was a lesson that Paul had to learn through the experience of
`the thorn', so the Lord did not remove it.
We should be wise too, if, instead of asking for our `thorns' to be removed, we prayed
that we might learn whatever lesson the Lord wants to teach us in the experience we are
undergoing. Let us not make the mistake of keeping grace to the gospel of salvation.
Grace, as well as saving, strengthens, guides and enables us to become `more than
conquerors through Him Who loved us' (Rom. 8: 37). In fact, grace follows us all
through our earthly pilgrimage and service, and will be with us till the day of glory
dawns, and there is not a moment we can dispense with it.
Just what was Paul's thorn in the flesh? Many have been the opinions of believers on
this point. Professor F. F. Bruce summarizes some of them: