Seven heavens
- This article is about Heaven. For other uses, see Seventh Heaven (disambiguation)
In ancient astronomy, before the telescope was invented, people referred to the Sun, Moon, and the five planets visible with the naked eye as the seven heavenly objects. Each had its own layer of heaven or sky assigned to it, and each was considered to be further and further away from Earth. Today we refer to the layers as the orbit of the object around the Sun.
It was believed by many cultures, and still is by some today, that when people die, their souls float into the sky, visiting each of the Seven Heavenly Objects as they travel to the outermost layer of heaven. When they reach that outermost layer, they are believed to actually meet God, who was/is supposed to exist just above the last layer of heaven, just above the orbit of the planet we currently call Saturn. Saturn was called Chronos by the Greeks, and was considered to be the Father of Time, and above it, time wasn't supposed to exist. This led to the idea that God exists "outside of time."
Judaism
According to Jewish mysticism, Heaven is divided into seven realms. In order from lowest to highest, the seven Heavens are listed alongside the angels who govern them and any further information:
1. Shamayim- The first Heaven, governed by Archangel Gabriel, is the closest of heavenly realms to the Earth; it is also considered the abode of Adam and Eve.
2. Raquia- The second Heaven is dually controlled by Zachariel and Raphael. It was in this Heaven that Moses, during his visit to Paradise, encountered the angel Nuriel who stood "300 parasangs high, with a retinue of 50 myriads of angels all fashioned out of water and fire." Also, Raquia is considered the realm where the fallen angels are imprisoned and the planets fastened (Rf: The Legends of the Jews I, 131, and II, 306)
3. Shehaqim- The third Heaven, under the leadership of Anahel, serves as the home of the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life; it is also the realm where manna, the holy food of angels, is produced (Rf: The Legends of the Jews V, 374). The Second Book of Enoch, meanwhile, states that both Paradise and Hell are accomodated in Shehaqim with Hell being located simply " on the northen side."
4. Machonon- The fourth Heaven is ruled by the well-known Archangel Michael , and according to Talmud Hagiga 12, it contains the heavenly Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Altar.
5. Machon- The fifth Heaven is under the administration of Samael, an angel referred to as evil by some but is merely a dark servant of God to others.
6. Zebul- The sixth Heaven falls under the jurisdiction of Zachiel.
7. Araboth- The seventh Heaven, under the leadership of Cassiel, is the holiest of the seven Heavens provided the fact that it houses the Throne of Glory attended by the Seven Archangels and serves as the realm in which God dwells; underneath the throne itself lies the abode of all unborn human souls. It is also considered the home of the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Hayyoth.
Islam
Islamic tradition also recognises seven heavens in Paradise (Arabic:Jannah), The highest level of heaven is Firdaws (فردوس), which is where the prophets, the martyrs and the most truthful and pious people will dwell, as stated in the following Quranic verses utilizing rhetoric to place emphasis on the magnificence of God:
"See you not how God has created the seven heavens one above another, and made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun a Lamp?" (Sura 71:15-16) [1]
"He who created the seven heavens one above another: no want of proportion will thou see in the Creation of (God), most gracious..." (Sura 67:3).
"Say: "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme?" They will say, "(They belong) to God." Say: "Will ye not then be filled with awe?" (Sura 23:86-87)
"When you pray ask for Firdaws, for it is in the middle of heaven and is higher in grade than the heaven and above Firdaws is God’s throne, moreover the canals of heaven flow from Firdaws." (Bukhari)
Furthermore, various legends have arisen about the seven Heavens in Islamic lore, such as the Angel of Death residing in the third Heaven whilst Jesus and John the Baptist are in the second Heaven.
Other
Proverbially, among Christians it expresses bliss or happiness (e.g. "I am in Seventh Heaven")
References
^ Quranic translations by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
- A Dictionary of Angels including the fallen angels, Gustav Davidson, The Free Press, New York, 1967 ISBN 66-19757
See also