2 Corinthians Chapter 12:1-11, Raptured, caught up, harpazo; Paradise, Sheol; Third Heaven; Abraham’s bosom; Paul prayed but was not healed; Be contented; Strength of mind and spirit

1. 2 Corinthians 12:;1-11
Raptured, caught up, harpazo; Paradise,
Sheol, Third Heaven, Abraham’s bosom;
Paul prayed but was not healed;
Be contented; Strength of mind and spirit
Botanical Gardens Fort Bragg, CA, Aug 2017

2. BIBLE IN FIVE
Pastor Dave Kooyers
Valley Bible Fellowship
Box 433
Boonville CA 95415
http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers
www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org
(707) 895-2325
God bless you as you examine His Word,
Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5
These Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are provided "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ"
(Ephesians 4:12-15). To help Christians to "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." So that "we are no longer...tossed here and
there...by every wind of doctrine." They may be downloaded and modified free of charge.
Matthew 10:8 …Freely you received, freely give.

3. 2 Corinthians 10:4, No Boasting
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:1 Boasting is necessary,
though it is not profitable; but I will go on to
visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a
man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether
in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do
not know, God knows-- such a man was caught
up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a
man-- whether in the body or apart from the
body I do not know, God knows-- 4 was caught
up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words,
which a man is not permitted to speak.
3

4. 2 Corinthians 10:2, “fourteen years ago”
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:2 …fourteen years ago…
• NAU Acts 14:8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no
strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had
never walked… 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The
gods have become like men and have come down to us.”
19…But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having
won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out
of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the
disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city.
The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After
they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many
disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to
Antioch,
4

5. 2 Corinthians 10:2, Raptured,
caught up into Paradise
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:2 …whether …out of the
body I do not know, God knows-- such a man
was caught up to the third heaven.
• <726> ἁρπάζω harpazo
• Meaning: to seize, catch up, snatch away
• Origin: from a prim. root ἁρπ- harp-
• Usage: carry off(1), caught(4), snatch(2),
snatched...away(1), snatches(1), snatches
away(1), snatching(1), take...away...by
force(1), take...by force(2). 5

6. 2 Corinthians 10:4
caught up into Paradise
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:4 was caught up [harpazo]
into Paradise and heard inexpressible words,
which a man is not permitted to speak.
• Paul could not speak about it, and he also did
not go on the public speaking circuit doing
conferences, write a book, and sell millions of
copies.
• He won't even openly confess that it was him
(“such a man”, vs. 3).
6

7. 2 Cor 12:4
3rd Heaven
• http://www.arielm.or
g/dcs/pdf/mbs107m.
pdf
7

8. Paradise, arielm.org
• “The eleventh term concerning the unseen world is Paradise.
The Greek word and its Hebrew equivalent means “a royal
park” or “a garden.”
• 1. The Scriptures
• It is a New Testament term only, and it is found in three
passages. The first is Luke 23:43, where Jesus said to the
other person dying on the cross: Today shall you be with me
in Paradise.
• A second passage is II Corinthians 12:4, which states that
Paul was caught up into Paradise.
• The third passage is Revelation 2:7, which speaks of the
future: the tree of life will be in the Paradise of God.
8

9. Paradise, arielm.org
• 2. The Deductions, From these three passages, four deductions can be made
concerning Paradise.
• First, it is a term describing the abode of the righteous ones, no matter where
that abode may be at any point in time. In Luke 23:43, it is the same as
Abraham's bosom because, at that point, all the righteous ones went down to
the righteous side of Sheol or Hades, known as Abraham's bosom or Paradise.
Until the death of Jesus, Paradise was in Abraham's bosom.
• Secondly, according to II Corinthians 12:4, Paradise today is in Heaven. After
the Ascension of Jesus, Abraham's bosom was eliminated. Believers no longer
descend down to Abraham's bosom, but now go directly into Heaven. Today
the believer's abode is Heaven, and so now, Paradise is in Heaven.
• The third passage, Revelation 2:7, speaks of the future, when Paradise will be
in the new Jerusalem, which means that the abode of Paradise will change
again. As the new Jerusalem on the new earth will be the abode of all
believers after the Messianic Kingdom, even so, Paradise is going to be in the
new Jerusalem on the new earth.

10. Paradise, arielm.org
• …Heaven or the New Jerusalem will come down upon the
new earth. The eternal abode of the Triune God, the elect
angels, and the redeemed men will be in the New
Jerusalem on the new earth. If one distinguishes between
Heaven and the New Jerusalem, then one can say that
believers now go to the New Jerusalem in Heaven, and
eventually the New Jerusalem will be placed on the new
earth, when the new earth is created after the Messianic
Kingdom.
• These are the thirteen terms that are used to describe the
unseen world. One must be familiar with all thirteen
words and know how to distinguish and relate them to
each other to get a full comprehension…”

11. 1
1

12. NAU 2 Corinthians 12:6 For if I do
wish to boast I will not be foolish,
for I will be speaking the truth; but
I refrain from this, so that no one
will credit me with more than he
sees in me or hears from me.
12

13. 2 Cor 12:6
13

14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17

18. 18

19. 2 Corinthians 12:7
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:7 Because of the
surpassing greatness of the revelations, for
this reason, to keep me from exalting myself,
there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep
me from exalting myself!
1
9

20. 2 Corinthians 12:7, thorn?
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:7 …there was given me
a thorn [masculine singular] in the flesh, a messenger
[masculine singular] of Satan to torment me… 8
…that it might leave [3rd person singular] me.
• 4647 σκόλοψ skolops {skol'-ops}
• Meaning: 1) a pointed piece of wood, a pale, a
stake 2) a sharp stake, splinter…
2
0

21. 2 Cor 12:7
2
1

22. Paul uses “concerning” as a Divinely inspired
outline
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this I
implored the Lord three times that it might
leave me.
22

23. 2 Corinthians 12:8
Because You Prayed, 3X’s
• NAU 2 Kings 19:20 Then Isaiah…sent to Hezekiah
saying, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
'Because you have prayed to Me… I have heard
you.’ (Isaiah 37:21 also)
• NAU 1 Chronicles 5:20 … He answered their
prayers because they trusted in Him.
• NAU James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to
one another, and pray for one another so that you
may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous
man can accomplish much.
• Jeremiah 11:14, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
2
3

24. NAU 2 Corinthians 12:8
Concerning this I implored the
Lord three times that it might
leave me. 9 And He has said to
me, "My grace is sufficient for
you, for power is perfected in
weakness." Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast
about my weaknesses, so that
the power of Christ may dwell
in me.
Did Paul lack faith to be healed?

25. NAU 1 Timothy 5:23 No longer drink water
exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake
of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

26. 26

27. NAU 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to
me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power
is perfected in weakness." Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may
dwell in me. 27

29. 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Is God's grace
sufficient for you
even when you are
having a big
problem?
29

30. 2 Corinthians 12:9
• NAU John 15:5 "I am the vine… apart from Me
you can do nothing.
• NAU Romans 8:8 and those who are in the
flesh cannot please God.
• NAU Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able
to do far more abundantly beyond all that we
ask or think, according to the power that
works within us,
• NAU Philippians 4:13 I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me. 3
0

31. compass.org’s THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
MINI BIBLE STUDY FOR THE DAY
• “God can use our weakness as well as our strengths. We tend to
think that if we are strong in an area, God could really use us for His
kingdom. But the Bible is full of examples where God specifically
used a weakness to show His strength.
• Moses was a poor speaker. Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please,
Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past,
nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech
and slow of tongue." —Exodus 4:10 Yet God used him mightily as a
spokesperson on Israel's behalf.
• Peter, John and James were hot-headed and impulsive. James, the
son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave
the name Boanerges, which means, "Sons of Thunder") —Mark 3:17
Yet God used them to be patient with the building of the early
church.
• So rather than look only at your strengths as tools God could use,
broaden your thinking to include ANYTHING God may want to use
from your life, including your weaknesses.”

32. 2 Corinthians 12:10
So, Paul threw a temper tantrum…
• God answered Paul’s prayers with a no.
So Paul got mad at God, left the ministry,
and never served the Lord again.
• Is that what Scripture says?
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am
well content with weaknesses, with
insults, with distresses, with
persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's
sake; for when I am weak, then I am
strong.

33. 2 Cor 12;10
Afflicted
Prophetic Newsletter, March 2017
• NAU 2 Corinthians 4:8
we are afflicted in
every way, but not
crushed; perplexed,
but not despairing; 9
persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck
down, but not
destroyed; 3
3
Don't squint! The
complete article follows
after the THE END slide.

34. 2 Cor 12;10
Afflicted
3
4

35. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Sadness And Depression
• GotQuestions.org, Question: "How can I
experience joy in my Christian life?"
Answer: Periods of sadness and depression can
enter the life of even the most devout Christian.
We see many examples of this in the Bible. Job
wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David
prayed to be taken away to a place where he
would not have to deal with reality (Psalm 55:6-
8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of
Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings
18:16-46), fled into the desert and asked God to
take his life (1 Kings 19:3-5).
So how can we overcome these periods of

36. • joylessness? We can see how these same people overcame
their bouts of depression. Job said that, if we pray and
remember our blessings, God will restore us to joy and
righteousness (Job 33:26). David wrote that the study of
God's Word can bring us joy (Psalm 19:8). David also realized
that he needed to praise God even in the midst of despair
(Psalm 42:5). In Elijah's case, God let him rest for a time and
then sent a man, Elisha, to help him (1 Kings 19:19-21). We
also need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). It may be helpful to share our feelings
with a fellow Christian. We may be surprised to find that he
or she has struggled with some of the same things that we
are going through.
Most importantly, it is certain that dwelling on ourselves, our
problems, our hurts, and especially our pasts will never
produce true spiritual joy. Joy is not found in materialism, it
is not found in psychotherapy, and it most certainly is not
found in obsession with ourselves. It is found in Christ. We
who belong to the Lord “glory in Christ Jesus, and put no
confidence in the

37. • flesh” (Philippians 3:3). To know Christ is to come to have a
true sense of ourselves, and true spiritual insight, making it
impossible to glory in ourselves, in our wisdom, strength,
riches, or goodness, but in Christ—in His wisdom and
strength, in His riches and goodness, and in His person only.
If we remain in Him, immerse ourselves in His Word, and
seek to know Him more intimately, our “joy will be full”
(John 15:1-11).
Finally, remember that it is only through God's Holy Spirit
that we can find true joy (Psalm 51:11-12; Galatians 5:22; 1
Thessalonians 1:6). We can do nothing apart from the
power of God (2 Corinthians 12:10, 13:4). Indeed, the harder
we try to be joyful through our own efforts, the more
miserable we can become. Rest in the Lord's arms (Matthew
11:28-30) and seek His face through prayer and Scripture.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Recommended Resources: Laugh Again, Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll and Logos
Bible Software. GotQuestions.org?

38. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Be Content, Wise, Strong
• Who is a wise man? -He who studies all the
time.
Who is strong? -He who can limit himself.
Who is rich? -He who is happy with what he
has. The Talmud
• Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong, And a man
of knowledge increases power.

39. 2 Cor 12:10, There is strength of body and
strength of mind. And strength of spirit.
• “A young strong man at the construction site was
bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength.
He kept making fun of one of the older workers. After
several minutes, the older worker had had enough. "Why
don't you put your money where your mouth is," he said.
"I will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a
wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won't be
able to wheel back." "You're on, old man," the braggart
replied. "Let's see what you got."
• The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow
by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said,
"all right, get in.”

40. 2 Cor 12:10, strength of mind
And strength of spirit
• NAU 1 Timothy 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little
profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it
holds promise for the present life and also for the life to
come.
• NAU 2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in
the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
• NAU Isaiah 40:28 …the LORD… 29 He gives strength to
the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases
power… 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain
new strength; They will mount up with wings like
eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk
and not become weary.

41. 2 Cor 12:10, P.U.S.H., By Chris Talton
• P.U.S.H. - Pray Until Something Happens. “Don't
give up praying until something happens either
to change your situation or to change you. A little
boy told his teacher one day that he had lost his
marble. He asked if he could have prayer that
God would enable him to find it. She was a
Christian, and so she agreed. The next day, she
hesitantly asked the little boy if he had found his
marble. He answered, "No ma'am,
• but he took away my desire for it."

42. • NAU 1 Cor 16:13 Be on
the alert, stand firm in
the faith, act like men,
be strong.
• NAU 2 Timothy 2:1 You
therefore, my son, be
strong in the grace that
is in Christ Jesus.
• NAU Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the
Lord and in the strength
of His might.
4
2

43. 2 Corinthians 12:10, Be Content
• 2 Corinthians 12:10 …I am well content…
• NAU 1 Timothy 6:8 If we have food and covering,
with these we shall be content.
• NAU Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your
character is free from the love of money, being
content with what you have; for He Himself has
said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I
EVER FORSAKE YOU,“
• NAU Luke 3:14 …be content with your wages.“
• Epictetus once said, “I am always content with
what happens, for I know that what God
chooses is better than what I choose.”

44. 44

45. 2 Corinthians 12:10, Be Content
• NAU Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from
want, for I have learned to be content in
whatever circumstances I am.
• This is the verse that proves that Paul was
a Texan.
• KJV Philippians 4:11 …in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content.

46. 2 Corinthians 12:11,
• NAU 2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become
foolish; you yourselves compelled me.
Actually I should have been commended
by you, for in no respect was I inferior to
the most eminent apostles, even though I
am a nobody.

47. In closing
4
7

48. THE
END
• Once all villagers decided to pray for
rain.
• On the day of prayer all the people
gathered,
• but only one boy came with an
umbrella.
• That's FAITH ..
4
8

49. BIBLE IN FIVE
Pastor Dave Kooyers
Valley Bible Fellowship
Box 433
Boonville CA 95415
http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers
www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org
(707) 895-2325
God bless you as you examine His Word,
Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5
These Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are provided "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ"
(Ephesians 4:12-15). To help Christians to "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." So that "we are no longer...tossed here and
there...by every wind of doctrine." They may be downloaded and modified free of charge.
Matthew 10:8 …Freely you received, freely give.

50. THE
END
5
0