“ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
Satan has ministers, and like wolves in sheep clothing, they pass of as ministers of Christ. It is by their fruit, not their words, that we are to know them.
Companion verses – Matthew 7:15-20 – “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
“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.” (2 Corinthians 12:2)
So there are three heavens. The third heaven that Paul speaks of here is up where the Lord and the angels are. Matthew 5:34 – “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:” The second heaven is what we call space, the abode of the sun, moon and stars. Deuteronomy 4:19 – “And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.” Then the first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere. Genesis 1:20 – “ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” Another way to remember it is that the first heaven is where the birds fly, the second one is where the rockets fly, and the third one is where the angels fly.
“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:12)
Notice that the signs of an apostle are spoken of in the past tense, just as they are in Hebrews 2:3-4 – “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” The apostolic signs were for the conversion of the first century Jews, not for the entertainment of twenty-first century charismatics.