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The LDS concept of three heavens, or degrees of glory, comes from D. & C. 76. The first heaven is the "telestial glory," where unbelievers and the worst kind of people go after the final judgment. The second heaven is the "terrestrial glory," where good, religious people who are not Mormons go after judgment. But, the third heaven is the "celestial glory," and is reserved for Mormons alone.

LDS claim that I Cor. 15:40-41 teaches three degrees of glory or three heavens. However, the context in I Cor. 15:35-54 is not about heavens, but about the difference between our earthly mortal body and our new immortal body given us at the resurrection. Celestial and terrestrial bodies are mentioned in v. 40, but any dictionary will show that celestial means "heavenly" and terrestrial means "earthly." The word "telestial" is not found in I Cor. 15 because it was a concept of Joseph Smith's and can only be found in Mormon teachings. The glory of the sun, moon, and stars in v. 41 is used by LDS to support their concept of three heavens, but the context refers to "bodies," not heavens! If this verse is about different "heavens," then there must be innumerable "glories" or heavens, for it goes on to say that "one star differeth from another star in glory." Furthermore, many stars are actually bigger and brighter than our sun, so if the LDS analogy is followed, the telestial heaven (represented by stars) could be better than the celestial glory (represented by the sun)! In verse 39, Paul mentions four kinds of flesh. Does this verse teach that there are four heavens? That reasoning is just as valid as what the LDS do with verses 40-41.

LDS also use II Cor. 12:2 where Paul mentioned "the third heaven." Anyone familiar with Hebrew thought (and Paul was a Hebrew) knows that they believed in the same three heavens as Christians do today. The first heaven was the atmospheric heaven of clouds, birds, planes, and so on. Second was the heaven of stars and planets. And the third heaven was where God dwelt! Paul said in II Cor. 12:2 that a man was caught up to the third heaven where God is, and v. 4 calls that place "paradise." The Bible nowhere teaches that there are three heavens where people live eternally.

1st Heaven is Rakia to a Jew it is the atmospheric heaven found in Jer 8:7, 10:13

Isa 55:10. it is were the birds fly clouds, made on 2nd day

2nd heaven shamayim to a Jew it is the starry heaven found in Jer 44:17,25; Psalm 8:3

3rd heaven shemi Hashamayim it is the heaven where God dwells found in 1 Kings 8:27, Deut. 26:15, 2 Chron 6:33 Eccl. 5:2

https://i.imgur.com/TOw0hr1.jpg

http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/mclaims10.htm#three

Mittens, have you considered that Mormons believe that this understanding of three heavens was information received directly from God who has a fuller understanding than the Bible has?

Swedenborg taught multiple heavens and some of his followers taught that various planets, within and outside our solar system, were the actual locations.

Mittens , i have no reason to doubt your understanding of that letter by Paul. But that does not mean Mormons are wrong about three degrees of heaven. Paul plus the inspiration of God knows much much less than God himself knows.

huckelberry wrote:Mittens , i have no reason to doubt your understanding of that letter by Paul. But that does not mean Mormons are wrong about three degrees of heaven. Paul plus the inspiration of God knows much much less than God himself knows.

I feel I have lots better understanding of what Paul was teaching than some Mormon

Maksutov wrote:Swedenborg taught multiple heavens and some of his followers taught that various planets, within and outside our solar system, were the actual locations.

Emmanuel Swedenborg even introduced the same names for the three levels of heaven, as well as the sun, moon, and stars motif.

He also introduced the concept of celestial marriage, but only for monogamous couples.

moksha wrote:

Maksutov wrote:Swedenborg taught multiple heavens and some of his followers taught that various planets, within and outside our solar system, were the actual locations.

Emmanuel Swedenborg even introduced the same names for the three levels of heaven, as well as the sun, moon, and stars motif.

He also introduced the concept of celestial marriage, but only for monogamous couples.

It is claimed Joseph Smith got his ideas from Swedenborg

To me there should be an infinite number of heavens and degrees of glory because we're all individuals faced with an infinite number of decisions.

Mittens wrote:

huckelberry wrote:Mittens, have you considered that Mormons believe that this understanding of three heavens was information received directly from God who has a fuller understanding than the Bible has?

God is the Author of The Bible it it is clear 1 Cor 15 is about our natural terrestial flesh and blood body versus the upcoming heavenly, celestrail, spiritual body of flesh and bone

That God is the author of the Bible is your assumption, premise, personal axiom, whatever you want to call it, but it's not verifiable.