“And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak [words too sacred to tell]. On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. If I wish to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it], so that no one will credit me with more than [is justified by what] he sees in me or hears from me.”
2 Corinthians 12:3-6 AMP
To be called into heaven seems like sort of a big deal, doesn’t it? In all of history only a few people have had this happen. Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven but they didn’t return to talk about it. Only Paul has this very interesting distinction. As we’ve already remarked in the previous study, Paul’s visit – either in body or spirit – was before his ministry started. It would seem that this inestimable privilege was granted to him as a way to buoy his spirits due to the great trials that lay ahead (which he detailed in part in the last chapter).
Interestingly – as far as this point is concerned – Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration and spoke with Jesus. They appeared in glory along side our Lord whose appearance was transformed before them. His clothing became an impossible and blazing white, flashing in stunning brilliance! Ah, we think what we see here on earth is splendid, but it’s pale and drab compared to the glories of the age to come (see Romans 8:20). But that’s not entirely the point either. The Bible tells us what they spoke to Jesus about during their short visit.
“And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory, and were speaking of His departure [from earthly life], which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” Luke 9:30-31 AMP
Jesus was facing, of course, the cross. But not only the physical horrors of scourging by the Romans and then the brutality of being nailed to the tree – He also endured the extreme emotional brutality of betrayal by Judas and the rejection of His people.
Have you been betrayed?
Have you been slandered or persecuted for your good deeds? Has your heart been broken and broken and cast down?
Think about how the sinless Lord of the universe must have felt in light of all that. Think of His humanity…and then think of how it was that the Father sent Moses and Elijah to speak with Him. We don’t have a record of what was said. We only know that they spoke of His “departure.”
We may, in the economy of the Scripture, in light of the heart of the Spirit toward God’s children, see this as a great mercy. Our God will not ever abandon us neither in the physical world, nor in the deepest recesses of our hearts.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness. [James 5:11] He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], Nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father loves his children, So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. For He knows our [mortal] frame; He remembers that we are [merely] dust.” Psalms 103:8-14 AMP
We return to the fact that Paul is the only one to have journeyed to the halls of heaven and come back to speak of it. Lazarus was dead and in the tomb for days but there’s no record of his speaking to anyone of the heavenly world. Of all the millions who have gone to heaven before us not a single one has ever been permitted to return to discuss or bear witness to its glories.
Not one.
We should be in awe. We should be humbled as we study His word because it naturally occurs to us that someone from our family that’s predeceased us would be a powerful witness, would they not? I imagine what it would be like to see my mother who I adored come to me in a vision or in real form to speak of the Kingdom’s reality. Or to warn or to inspire.
But God’s law (in this regard) is fixed and cannot be broken. Consider:
“Now it happened that the poor man died and his spirit was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom (paradise); and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom (paradise). And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in severe agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things [all the comforts and delights], and Lazarus likewise bad things [all the discomforts and distresses]; but now he is comforted here [in paradise], while you are in severe agony. And besides all this, between us and you [people] a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’ So the rich man said, ‘Then, father [Abraham], I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may solemnly warn them and witness to them, so that they too will not come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have [the Scriptures given by] Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets; let them listen to them.’ He replied, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent [they will change their old way of thinking and seek God and His righteousness].’ And he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to [the messages of] Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:22-31 AMP
We contrast this with Muhammad’s famous “night journey” detailed briefly in the Quran (17:1). According to the Quran, Muhammad was whisked away on a winged creature of some sort, accompanied by the angel Gabriel, from the temple of Mecca all the way to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He reports that he successively ascended the seven heavens all the way to the very throne of God. At that point he was touched on the shoulder by God and commanded – by God – to pray 50 times a day. Yes, 50! Well, that’s a lot of praying! It’s a huge commitment and certainly doesn’t leave much time for other things. Fortunately, Moses was there and was able to prevail upon Allah to lower the number to five. Whew! Imagine trying to work and provide for the family while needing to pray 50 times every 16 hours (unless, of course, you don’t sleep much).
So, at that point, he was whisked away again, first returning to Jerusalem and then back to Mecca. It was a journey extraordinary in time and space – covering thousands of years and many miles all in the tenth of a night.
Contrast that with Paul not being permitted to communicate what he’d seen and heard. Barnes and other commentators have addressed why God wouldn’t allow this, nor His departed saints to tell people about heaven. Why not let them come to clear up doubts, right? Why not brag about it like Muhammad? We can always detect the works of the flesh and the Enemy by the fact that they bring glory to us rather than God.
Again, we repeat that man’s pride is the enemy of God (Proverbs 16:8)! How would it make sense to provide such an experience in light of how that would easily lead us to considering ourselves superstars in the faith?
Instead, it was designed to lift up the spirits of His servants who were to be facing extraordinary pressures to spread the Good News. It’s about Christ and His gospel, not cool visions and gifts!
Many of us have similar experiences before a trial. We have elevated spiritual experiences and deeper feelings of the Spirit moving in our lives before we’re called to endure a great struggle. Sometimes, special grace is given in order to give us a steady source of hope from which to draw. Our God is our Comforter! He is there and His grace and abounding love is always ours in Christ. This is the first and great lesson. Achievements, talents and possessions – even trips to heaven – often take our eyes from Christ. We should and must heed the word here and boast and trust only and always in Him.
What else can we learn from why trips to heaven or visits from departed loved ones are not, repeat not, greater than the “ordinary” means of grace?
Well, second, we would likely be unable to comprehend a full revelation of the glories of heaven anyway.
Third, the true goal isn’t to speak about heaven, but to get us there! And that’s the work of the gospel. The question isn’t: do we have enough information about heaven, but do we have the Christ who will get us there?
Fourth, God has revealed enough of heaven for our guidance and comfort in this world. It will be a world without sin! Oh, how glorious that will be! There will be no tears, no injustice or wrongs, no frauds, no lying. Disease and war and poverty will all be vanquished. It is enough now for us to be busy living in the light of God, through faith, in the hope of this.
Fifth, the goal isn’t merely to be saved but to be transformed into the image of God’s Son! We will be citizens of that great city someday. Today is the day, provided we are believers of our sanctification. Our glorification will surely come.
Sixth, Barnes says that if all the glories of heaven were revealed, and if heaven were made as attractive to mortal view as possible, then it might appear that His professed people were influenced solely by the hope of the reward.
It is quite possible to be a mercenary of the faith over against being a lover of God. In fact, we see this temptation in various forms of the heretical prosperity gospel.
To love heaven but not God is a contradiction in terms because it means that we still worship ourselves – our own glory and comforts – rather than Him.
Seventh, we must be reminded that no other word will come to us about heaven in this age. No other messenger will come. If we will not hear Jesus and His word, which is closed after Revelation, we will perish in our sin.
Eight, we’ll know heaven soon enough, won’t we? This life is a puff of smoke and the days race by like clouds driven furiously on the wind across the sky. Our children are one minute in a high chair, the next graduating from school. Time breaks the hearts of all. We don’t know when we’ll breathe our last, do we? There’s a nap we might not wake up from, or a birthday party we’ll never attend. All of us are given a date…and that is enough. Let us focus, therefore, on Him.
Ninth, and finally, sinners will soon know what it is to lose all. Like the rich man after he died, who argued with Abraham even in hell, we have all we need to know. The Scriptures. Prayer. Worship. Fellowship. Evangelism. These are the things God has ordained for us to be saved, to know Him, and to grow like Him. Let us not look past the Scriptures for anything else.
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