01/24/2026
The kingdoms of glory are scriptural and logical.
Latter-day Saints believe that after this life, all people will stand before God to be judged with perfect justice and mercy. Through Jesus Christ’s atonement, everyone will be resurrected and inherit a kingdom of glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, or Telestial) according to their works, desires, and willingness to accept Christ (D&C 137:8–9; D&C 76).
Some critics argue that this belief contradicts the Bible, claiming that God has prepared only one kingdom of heaven and that multiple kingdoms would imply inequality in God’s love or a limitation in the scope of Christ’s atonement. Because this is a serious doctrinal concern, it deserves a careful and respectful scriptural response showing that belief in the three degrees of glory is both scriptural and consistent with God’s justice, mercy, and grace.
📌 (1) Does the Bible Explicitly Teach “Only One” Kingdom?
A common claim is that because Jesus and the apostles often spoke of “the kingdom of God” in the singular, there must therefore be only one kingdom of glory or one heaven. However, NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE does any verse explicitly state:
“There is only one kingdom of glory.”
We cannot find a verse in any revealed scripture that states that He prepared only one kingdom. Critics may argue, however, that the singular use of the word “kingdom” can be taken to imply that He prepared only one; yet mentioning a kingdom does not automatically deny the existence of other kingdoms. For this reason, the term “kingdom of God” should not be understood with only one meaning. The scriptures use the phrase “kingdom of God” in at least two distinct ways:
1️⃣st, the ‘Kingdom of God’ as God’s Established Kingdom on Earth
In several passages, the kingdom of God refers to God’s established kingdom on earth, that is, His Church.
“Seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness” (JST Matt. 6:38; Dan. 2:44; Acts 2:44).
If the “kingdom of God” always meant heaven itself and was always taken literally, this passage would raise serious questions: Are mortals capable of building God’s eternal dwelling place? Can we create our own eternal inheritance through works alone? That would be blasphemous.
What, then, are we commanded to build, and how are we to do it?
The answer is simple and clear: we build the KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH (His church) by serving others, comforting the brokenhearted, and faithfully fulfilling our responsibilities as disciples of Christ within His Church.
2️⃣nd, the ‘Kingdom of God’ as God’s Highest Kingdom (Celestial Kingdom)
In other passages, the kingdom of God refers to the Celestial Kingdom, the place where God Himself dwells.
The Apostle Paul taught:
“The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9).
In this context, the kingdom of God is clearly not the Church but the highest kingdom. We are still encouraged to attend His Church even if we are not perfect; therefore, it would not make sense to interpret the ‘kingdom of God’ in this verse as referring to the Church. Rather, the ‘kingdom of God’ spoken of here refers to the highest kingdom, namely the celestial kingdom. Additionally, this also helps explain why scripture often speaks of the kingdom in the singular.
But why, then, are the Terrestrial and Telestial kingdoms not mentioned when Jesus speaks of the “kingdom of God”? Because God consistently invites us to the best. His teachings direct our hearts and hopes toward His presence, not toward lesser kingdoms. Still, choosing not to inherit the kingdom of God does not mean inheriting nothing at all.
To further establish the truth that has been said, John stated, “The kingdoms of this world are become the KINGDOMS of our Lord” (Rev. 11:15). Do the teachings of Jesus contradict John’s when He said there is a ‘kingdom’? No. This is just additional evidence that the ‘kingdom of God’ doesn’t imply the absence of three degrees of glory/kingdom, and that modern revelations (D&C 76:70-71), the words of the Savior (Jhn. 14:2-6), and the epistles of Paul (2 Cor. 12:1-5; 1 Cor. 15:40-41) are true.
Therefore, the term ‘kingdom of God’ is correctly understood as either the Celestial kingdom or His church here on Earth, which aligns with all the scripture passages.
📌 (2) Paul Explicitly Teaches Kingdoms of Glory (1 Cor. 15)
Scripture itself testifies that there are other kingdoms of glory, and this becomes clearer when read alongside modern revelation. One of the clearest biblical foundations for the doctrine of kingdoms of glory is found in Paul’s discourse on the resurrection:
“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another… There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars.” (1 Cor. 15:40–41)
In this passage, Paul clearly identifies different kinds of resurrected glory:
▪️Celestial bodies/glory
▪️Terrestrial bodies/glory
▪️A lesser glory likened to the stars
Latter-day Saint doctrine does not invent these categories. Rather, it organizes and names what Paul already taught.
Through modern revelation, these distinctions are further clarified (D&C 76:70–71, 81) as:
▪️Celestial - likened to the glory of the sun
▪️Terrestrial - likened to the glory of the moon
▪️Telestial - likened to the glory of the stars
It is important to note that these descriptions are not meant to be taken literally. The sun, moon, and stars are used as metaphors to illustrate how each kingdom differs in glory. Paul himself uses comparative language “as” to show distinction, not to suggest physical similarities.
So, in a nutshell, it can be broken down like this:
▪️Celestial glory - AS the glory of the sun
▪️Terrestrial glory - AS the glory of the moon
▪️Telestial glory - AS the glory of the stars
Therefore, the doctrine of the kingdoms of glory does not contradict Paul’s teaching; it clarifies it.
📌 (3) Paul’s Vision of the “Third Heaven”: Mystical or Literal?
Paul also records an extraordinary experience:
“Such an one caught up to the third heaven… caught up into paradise.” (2 Cor. 12:2–4)
Some dismiss Paul’s vision of the third heaven as merely “mystical.” How can it be mystical if it’s supported by 1 Cor. 15:40-41 and modern revelations? Paul’s experience must be understood in one of two ways: either it was purely mystical, or it was a literal visionary experience. If it’s mystical, then his own epistles (1 Cor. 15:40-41), the words of the Savior (Jhn. 14:2-6), and the modern revelations (D&C 76:70-71, 81) are also mystical. But if it’s literal, then it would just give strength and support to what he has been declared. Aside from scriptural support, Paul’s writing also follows clear and reasonable logic:
1️⃣st, the third heaven Paul saw is described as something so sacred that it was “not lawful for a man to utter.” This aligns naturally with the Celestial Kingdom, the highest glory, where God Himself dwells.
2️⃣nd, if there is a 'third heaven,' is it not both logical and reasonable to conclude that there must be a second or first 'heaven' (Terrestrial and Telestial)?
3️⃣rd, Paul identifies the third heaven as “paradise.” Throughout scripture, paradise is closely associated with God’s presence and the highest state of blessedness. It would be difficult to describe the third heaven as paradise unless it referred to the highest kingdom of glory.
4️⃣th, prophets of old had always had this kind of visionary experience. Here, we can clearly read that he saw the third heaven in “visions and revelations [from] the Lord” (V.1). Does the term 'third heaven' have any Hebrew or Greek derivation to call it 'mystical'? We can find none. What greater revelation could the Lord show Paul than a vision of the highest heaven, where God Himself resides? There is none more glorious than that.
The conclusion, therefore, is difficult to avoid. Paul’s third heaven is interpreted as the Celestial Kingdom, which he also described doctrinally in 1 Cor. 15:40–41.
Therefore, if the 'third heaven' is proven to be literal, then there must be a 2nd and 1st heaven as well (Terrestrial and Telestial).
📌 (4) “My Father’s House Are Many Mansions” (Jhn. 14:2)
Jesus himself taught:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”
Some have suggested that these “mansions” exist only within one kingdom. However, the scripture itself leaves room for a broader and more compassionate understanding:
1️⃣st, the text never defines the “house” as a single kingdom of equal condition. Jesus does not explain the structure in detail, only that it belongs to the Father and contains many prepared mansions.
2️⃣nd, the passage does not suggest that all these mansions are the same. Instead, the idea of preparation suggests care. A prepared place is made to fit the one who will live there.
3️⃣rd, Jesus speaks of ‘mansions’ in the plural, and that choice of words matters. It points to more than one destination, more than one eternal dwelling, each prepared by Christ Himself.
When this teaching is read alongside Paul’s testimony of differing degrees of glory (1 Cor. 15:40–41) and clarified through later revelation, the message becomes beautifully coherent: God has prepared three kingdoms of glory. Rather than limiting God’s love, this teaching shows a Savior who knows His children well, prepares a place for each of them, and invites all to the highest while still honoring agency with justice and compassion.
📌 (5) No Contradiction Between the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His Grace
A common concern is that belief in kingdoms of glory weakens salvation by grace. This concern, while understandable, reflects a misunderstanding of Latter-day Saint belief.
“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).
Because of Christ’s atonement, all people will be resurrected unconditionally, not because of their works, but because of His grace and mercy (Eph. 2:8–9). While God is merciful, scripture also teaches that His judgment is just:
“For the Son of man shall come… and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matt. 16:27).
For this reason, Latter-day Saints believe that while everyone will be resurrected, not everyone will receive the same kingdoms of glory. However, these differences do not reflect unequal love from God. He “is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34), but He honors human freedom. In a nutshell, it can be broken like this:
Justice: Different kingdoms reflect different choices and desires
Mercy: Everyone is resurrected and receives a kingdom of glory.
Kingdoms of glory show our different relationships with God, not different levels of His love. Thus, God’s justice and mercy work together perfectly.
📌 Conclusion:
Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected and inherit a kingdom of glory according to their choices and willingness to receive God. This truth is established by the witnesses (2 Cor. 13:1). Modern revelation does not replace the Bible; it clarifies what earlier prophets taught. Thus, the kingdoms of glory are not only scriptural and logical but also reveal how God honors agency and perfectly balances justice and mercy through the grace of Jesus Christ.
