What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "2 Cor 12:2‑4: “I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body or in the spirit I do not know—and I know that he was caught up into Paradise, where he heard unspeakable things.”"
Answer
In 2 Corinthians 12:2‑4 the Apostle Paul describes a prophetic vision in which he was caught up into the heavenly Paradise or the third heaven—the dwelling place of God. The phrase “outside the body” refers to the prophetic spiritual condition in which a person is completely removed from his earthly surroundings, and it provides no evidence for an immortal soul separate from the body. These indescribable revelations profoundly shaped Paul’s entire ministry and led him to deepest humility and devotion.
Paul remained humble despite heavenly visions
»The Apostle Paul was highly honored by God when he was caught up in a holy vision into the third heaven, where he saw scenes whose glory was not to be revealed to mortals. Yet all this did not lead him to boastfulness or self‑confidence. He recognized the necessity of constant vigilance and self‑denial ... Mysteries that had been hidden for ages were revealed to him, and as much as he could bear of God’s ways and His dealings with human hearts was made known to him.«
The significance of the revelation for apostolic ministry
»The Apostle Paul received early in his Christian experience special opportunities to learn God’s will concerning the followers of Jesus. He was “caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words that no man may utter.” He himself confirmed that many “visions and revelations of the Lord” were given to him ... Paul could not convey everything he saw in the vision, because among his listeners were some who would have misapplied his words. Yet what was revealed to him enabled him to act as a leader and wise teacher, and also shaped the messages he later sent to the churches.«
“Outside the body” means in the state of prophetic vision
»Note the apostle’s theme: it deals with visions and revelations. He reports a sight he had of Paradise and states that he was uncertain whether he was caught up into Paradise bodily or not. If it was not bodily, then, in accordance with his theme, he was naturally in a vision. Everyone must admit that these are the only two states the apostle envisions: either being taken bodily into Paradise or seeing it in a vision. Everything the apostle means by the phrase “outside the body” is simply being in a vision.«
A vision does not prove a conscious soul state in death
»In 2 Corinthians 12:2‑4 Paul speaks of being caught up into the third heaven, where he heard unspeakable words. It is often claimed that this passage provides an example of a human soul or spirit that actually exists or travels in a conscious, perceiving state outside the body ... But Paul explicitly states that this was a “vision” or “revelation” (verse 1). A prophetic vision certainly does not prove consciousness in the state of death.«
The third heaven as the real place of God and Paradise
»The Bible unmistakably acknowledges three heavens in the current order of things: the first, the atmospheric heaven inhabited by the birds of the air; the second, the planetary heaven, the realm of the sun, moon, and stars; and the third, far above the others, where Paradise and the Tree of Life are located; where God has His dwelling and His throne; to which Paul was caught up in a heavenly vision; where Christ ascended when He left the earth; and where He now sits as priest‑king with His Father on the throne.«
Complete removal from the physical surroundings
»When the curtain was drawn back and Paul was allowed to see heavenly scenes, it seemed to him as if he had ascended into heaven ... Paul was insensitive to everything around him. As long as the vision lasted, he knew nothing of his surroundings, and therefore he could only testify to what he saw during the vision.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
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