² I know a man in Christ^(A) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(B) to the third heaven.^(C) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^(D)

¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left^(A) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(B) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(C) forever.

¹⁷ “When I returned to Jerusalem^(A) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance^(B)

¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows^(A) I do!^(B)

² At once I was in the Spirit,^(A) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(B) with someone sitting on it.

⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”^[a](A) And her child was snatched up^(B) to God and to his throne.

²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(A) he entered heaven itself,^(B) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^(C)

²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(A) and be with Christ,^(B) which is better by far;

¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(A) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^(B)