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The Three Heavens by John Hagee:
The first sentence of the Bible says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Why is the word “heavens” plural? Is there more than one heaven? Is that a typo?
Of course it’s not a typo. But then what does it mean? John Hagee takes on this question in The Three Heavens and his explanation reads like a reconnaissance of the battlefield in which Spiritual Warfare takes place.
The First Heaven is the natural world, the one we can explore scientifically and experience through our senses. It is creation of God, and his power and majesty pour out on us from every direction. It is the general revelation we experience with each sunrise, and each flutter of a butterfly’s wing. The border of this First Heaven is rapidly approaching each of us as we grow older and nearer to death.
The Second Heaven is a supernatural realm that is occupied by both angelic and demonic forces. It is (primarily) in this realm that Spiritual Warfare takes place. Hagee supports his view by quoting extensively from Paul’s descriptions of thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers (Eph 6:12). Occupying the lowest position of this dark hierarchy are the evil spirits, or demons, who in turn take direction from the higher-ranking beings. These are the forces that stand between us and the Third Heaven.
The Third Heaven is the throne room of God. Hagee does an excellent job of providing Scriptural references that describe the wonders of the Third Heaven as a place of unimaginable beauty, brilliant light, and as a place of service and joy.
The bulk of The Three Heavens is occupied by an examination of the Second Heaven, the nature of Satan and evil, the invasion of earth by demonic forces, and the role and function of angels. While I sometimes felt the writing style was a bit rambling, the subject matter is incredibly important. This book is a valuable primer for anyone wishing to arm themselves with the knowledge necessary to stand against evil.
