Why is the 2nd day of creation not called good?
BECAUSE THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE HEAVENS talked about in the Scriptures.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:2, “I knew a man in Christ about fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.”
The first heaven talked about here is the atmosphere, air, or clouds.
“The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; our arrows flashed here and there. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning's lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.” (Psalm 77:17-18)
“Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind;” (Psalm 104:2-3)
The Earth's atmosphere is about 300 miles (480 km) thick, but most of the atmosphere (about 80%) is within 10 miles (16 km) of the surface of the Earth. There is no exact place where the atmosphere ends; it just gets thinner and thinner, until it merges with outer space.
The reason God did not call the atmosphere (air) GOOD it possibly was because as soon as the firmament was established. The disembodied spirits of the pre-Adamic world along with Lucifer (the Devil) “the prince and power of the Air” (Ephesians 2:2) immediately occupied that space.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) the Darby translation says - “because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual [power] of wickedness in the heavenlies.”
Praise God Jesus Christ and Him crucified has defeated Satan “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven (third heaven) with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Second heaven or the starry place “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” (Isaiah 13:10; “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:” (Isaiah 14:13)
Third Heaven where God dwells “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 1I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”(Isaiah 14:12-14); I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
“The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless the LORD, ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 103:19-22)
SO: The FIRST heaven: This refers to the atmosphere. For instance, in Genesis 1:20, the birds fly in the “expanse of the heavens.”
The SECOND heaven: This refers to outer space. For instance, in Genesis 1:17, God placed the stars and planets in the heavens.
The THIRD heaven: This refers to the dwelling place of God beyond the universe. Solomon told God, “Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You” (1 Kings 8:27). Since God is beyond the universe, he must dwell in some spiritual place outside of it. This must be what Paul had in mind by calling this place the “third heaven.” While Jewish interpreters during the time of Paul split the heavens into five, seven, and even ten different divisions, The Apostle Paul kept it simple. He calls this place the “third heaven” to differentiate it from the atmosphere (the first heaven) and from outer space (the second heaven).
