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

Idolatry in the Temple

8 In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders^(A) of Judah were sitting before^(B) me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there.^{(C) 2} I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man.^[a] From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal.^{(D) 3} He stretched out what looked like a hand^(E) and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up^(F) between earth and heaven and in visions^(G) of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court,^(H) where the idol that provokes to jealousy^(I) stood.

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

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.

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

¹² I don’t know where the Spirit^(A) of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth.