Seven heavens

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(Redirected from
Seven Heavens
)

For other uses, see Seventh Heaven (disambiguation).
Wood carving 1475; pointing to 7 celestial bodies consisted 5 planets that can be seen with naked eye, the sun and the moon, each floating in a heaven layer, (Arabic Felaq in ancient cosmology)

In mythological or

traditions, including Jainism, also have a concept of seven earths or seven underworlds both with the metaphysical realms of deities and with observed celestial bodies such as the classical planets and fixed stars.[1]

Greek astronomy and cosmology

Each of the seven heavens corresponds to one of the seven

classical planets known in antiquity. Ancient observers noticed that these heavenly objects (the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) moved at different paces in the sky both from each other and from the fixed stars beyond them. Unlike comets, which appeared in the sky with no warning, they moved in regular patterns that could be predicted.[2] They also observed that objects in the sky influenced objects on Earth as when movements of the sun affect the behavior of plants or movements of the Moon affect ocean tides
.

Mesopotamian cosmology

Main article: Ancient near eastern cosmology

The concept of seven heavens as developed in ancient

incantations of the late second millennium BCE make references to seven heavens and seven earths. One such incantation is: "an-imin-bi ki-imin-bi" (the heavens are seven, the earths are seven.)[1][11]

The understanding that the heavens can influence things on Earth lent heavenly,

magical properties to the number seven itself, as in stories of seven demons, seven churches, seven spirits, or seven thrones. The number seven appears frequently in Babylonian magical rituals.[12] The seven Jewish and the seven Islamic heavens may have had their origin in Babylonian astronomy.[1]

In general, the heavens is not a place for humans in Mesopotamian religion. As Gilgamesh says to his friend Enkidu, in the Epic of Gilgamesh: "Who can go up to the heavens, my friend? Only the gods dwell with Shamash forever". Along with the idea of seven heavens, the idea of three heavens was also common in ancient Mesopotamia.[13]

Abrahamic religions

Judaism

In the

shamayim):[14]

  1. Vilon (וילון), see (Isa 40:22)
  2. Raki'a (רקיע), see (Gen 1:17)
  3. Shehaqim (שחקים), see (Ps 78:23, Midr. Teh. to Ps. xix. 7)
  4. Zebul (זבול), see (Isa 63:15, 1 Kings 8:13)
  5. Ma'on (מעון), see (Deut 26:15, Ps 42:9)
  6. Machon (מכון), see (1 Kings 8:39, Deut 28:12)
  7. Araboth (ערבות), The seventh Heaven where
    seraphim, and the hayyoth and the Throne of God are located.[15]

The Jewish Merkavah and Hekhalot literature was devoted to discussing the details of these heavens, sometimes in connection with traditions relating to Enoch, such as the Third Book of Enoch.[16]

Apocryphal texts

The

Enoch through a hierarchy of Ten Heavens. Enoch passes through the Garden of Eden in the Third Heaven on his way to meet the Lord face-to-face in the Tenth (chapter 22). Along the way, he encounters vividly described populations of angels who torment wrongdoers; he sees homes, olive oil, and flowers.[17]

The book's depiction of ten heavens represented an expansion of the ancient seven-heaven model. This expanded

medieval Christianity
.

Christianity

La materia della Divina commedia di Dante Alighieri, Plate VI: "The Ordering of Paradise" by Michelangelo Caetani (1804–1882)

The

third heaven appears in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, penned in Macedonia around 55 CE. It describes the following mystical
experience:

I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.

— (
2 Corinthians 12.2–4 NRSV
)

The description is usually taken as an oblique reference by the author to himself. The passage appears to reflect first-century beliefs among Jews and Christians that the realm of Paradise existed in a different heaven than the highest one—an impression that may find support in the original Greek wording (closer to "caught away" than "caught up").[18]

In the second century, Irenaeus also knows seven heavens (see his Demonstration of Apostolic Preaching 9; cf. Against Heresies 1.5.2).

Over the course of the

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. The idea of seven heavens is carried over into the esoteric Christian cabala.[19]

Islam

A Persian miniature depicting Seven Heavens from The History of Mohammed, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.
"Heaven in Islam" redirects here. For the final abode of the righteous in Islam, see Jannah.

The

Q71:15. The seven heavens are not final destinations for the dead after the Day of Judgment, but regions distinct from the earth, guarded by angels and inhabited by souls whose abode depends on their good deeds (fasting, jihad, Hajj, charity), with the highest layer, the closest to God.[21][22] According to Quran and Hadiths, each of the skies has its own Qibla or a structure which became direction of prayer, similar to Kaaba of the mortal world, where the Qibla of highest heaven called Bayt al-Ma'mur. while the Qibla building for the lowest sky is called Bayt al-Izza.[23][24][25]

In other sources, the concept is presented in metaphorical terms. Each of the seven heavens is depicted as being composed of a different material, and Islamic prophets are resident in each. The names are taken from

Suyuti's Al-Hay’a as-samya fi l-hay’a as-sunmya:[26]

  1. Raqi'a (رقيعاء): The first heaven is described as being made of water and is the home of Adam and Eve, as well as the angels of each star. According to some narratives, Muhammad encountered the angel Habib here.[27]
  2. Araqlun (أزفلون): The second heaven is described as being made of white pearls and is the home of
    Isa (Jesus
    ).
  3. Qaydum (قيدوم): The
    Joseph and the Angel of Death (named Azrael) are resident there.[28]
  4. Maʿuna (ماعونا): The fourth heaven is described as being made of brass (alternatively
    Enoch) and the "Angel of Tears
    " reside there.
  5. Di'a (ريقا): The fifth heaven is described as being made of silver; Aaron holds court over this heaven. Sometimes, the guardian of hellfire is assigned to this place.[27]
  6. Daqua (دقناء): The sixth heaven is described as being composed of gold (alternatively garnets and rubies); Moses can be found here.[29]
  7. ʿAriba (عريبا): The seventh heaven, which borrows some concepts from its Jewish counterpart, is depicted as being composed of divine light incomprehensible to the mortal man (alternatively emerald). Abraham is a resident there and Sidrat al-Muntaha, a large enigmatic Lote tree, marks the end of the seventh heaven and the utmost extremity for all of God's creatures and heavenly knowledge.[30]

There are two interpretations of using the number "seven". One viewpoint is that the number "seven" here simply means "many" and is not to be taken literally (the number is often used to imply that in the Arabic language).[31] But many other commentators use the number literally.

One modern interpretation of "heavens" is that all the stars and galaxies (including the Milky Way) are all part of the "first heaven", and "beyond that six still bigger worlds are there," which have yet to be discovered by scientists.[31]

Gnosticism

The Gnostic text On the Origin of the World states that seven heavens were created in Chaos by Yaldabaoth below the higher realms, and each of them are ruled over by an Archon. During the end times, these heavens will collapse on each and the heaven of Yaldabaoth will split in two, causing its stars to fall upon the Earth, therefore causing it to sink into the Abyss.[32]

In the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul, the apostle Paul ascends through the lower Seven Heavens. At the seventh heaven, he meets an old man who opens the gate to the realm beyond the material universe, and Paul then ascends to the eighth, ninth, and tenth heavens.[33]

In Mandaeism, a series of maṭartas, or "toll houses," are located between the World of Light (alma ḏ-nhūra) from Tibil (Earth). The term maṭarta has variously been translated as "watch-station",[34] "toll-station",[35] "way-station", or "purgatory". Maṭartas are guarded by various uthras (celestial beings from the World of Light) and demons. In the Ginza Rabba, seven maṭartas are listed and described in Chapter 3 in Book 5 of the Right Ginza. However, the number of maṭartas is not always seven; Book 6 of the Right Ginza (also known as the "Book of Dinanukht") lists six, and Chapter 4 in Book 1 of the Left Ginza lists eight.[36] Alternatively, the Seven Heavens can also be seen as corresponding to the Seven Planets, who form part of the entourage of Ruha in the World of Darkness.[36]

Hinduism

According to all

lokas. Seven are upper worlds: Bhuloka (the Earth and sky), Bhuvarloka, Svargaloka, Maharloka, Janarloka, Tapaloka and Satyaloka; and seven are lower worlds: Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala.[37]

See also

  • As above, so below – Popular Neo-Hermetic maxim
  • Astral religion
     – Worship of stars and other heavenly bodies as deities
  • Empyrean – Highest heaven in ancient cosmologies
  • Hierarchy of angels – Belief that angels are ordered according to rank
  • Katabasis – Journey into the underworld in literature
  • Isra and Mi'raj
     – Night journey undertaken by Muhammad in Islamic tradition
  • Naraka – Hell realm in Jainism
  • Ogdoad – Gnostic cosmology of eight heavens

References

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  2. ^ Campbell, Robert. "Aristotle's 'On the Heavens'". World History Encyclopedia.
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  4. ^ "Sumerian Words And Their English Translation". History World. Archived from the original on 10 December 2005. Retrieved 2 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  14. ^ "Angelology". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  15. ^ Hagigah 12b
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  17. ISBN 978-1-62564-991-1
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  18. ^ E. W. Bullinger. A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek. 2, 14, To this 'Third heaven' and 'Paradise' Paul was caught away, 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4, (not 'up', see under 'catch') in 'visions and revelations of the Lord', 2 Cor. xii. 1. One catching away—with a double revelation of the New heaven and the...
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  21. ^ Coulter-Harris, D. M. (2016). Chasing Immortality in World Religions. USA: McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 121.
  22. ^ "The Concept of Seven Skies in Islam". About Islam. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  23. ^ Ammi Nur Baits (2 October 2018). "Baitul Izzah, Rumah di Langit Dunia". konsultasisyariah.com (in Indonesian). Yufid. Retrieved 28 November 2023. Adapun baitul izzah, adalah tempat di langit dunia. Mengenai keberadaannya disebutkan dalam riwayat Ibnu Abbas radhiyallahu 'anhuma, beliau mengatakan, فُصِلَ القُرْآنُ مِنَ الذِّكْرِ [أي: اللّوح المحفوظ]، فَوُضِعَ فِي بَيْتِ العِزَّةِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَجَعَلَ جِبْرِيلُ عليه السّلام يَنْزِلُ بِهِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلّى الله عليه وسلّم Al-Quran dipisahkan dari ad-Dzikr (Lauhul Mahfudz) lalu diletakkan di Baitul Izzah di langit dunia. Kemudian Jibril menyampaikannya kepada Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam. (HR. Hakim dalam al-Mustadrak 2/223, Ibnu Abi Syaibah dalam al-Mushannaf 10/533, dan dishahihkan oleh ad-Dzahabi). Az-Zarqani memberikan komentar untuk riwayat Ibnu Abbas, وهي أحاديث موقوفة على ابن عبّاس غير أن لها حكم المرفوع إلى النبيّ صلّى الله عليه وسلّم لما هو مقرّر من أنّ قول الصّحابيّ فيما لا مجال للرّأي فيه، ولم يعرف بالأخذ عن الإسرائيليّات حكمه حكم المرفوع Hadis ini mauquf sampai Ibnu Abbas, hanya saja dihukumi marfu' sebagaimana sabda Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam. Berdasarkan kaidah bahwa perkataan sahabat, untuk masalah di luar logika, dan dia bukan termasuk orang yang suka menerima berita israiliyat, maka status perkataannya sama seperti sabda Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam. Beliau melanjutkan, ولا ريب أنّ نزول القرآن إلى بيت العزّة من أنباء الغيب الّتي لا تعرف إلاّ من المعصوم، وابن عبّاس رضي الله عنه لم يعرف بالأخذ عن الإسرائيليّات، فثبت الاحتجاج بها Tidak diragukan bahwa turunnya al-Quran ke baitul izzah termasuk berita ghaib, yang tidak bisa diketahui kecuali melalui Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam yang ma'shum. Dan Ibnu Abbas juga bukan orang yang dikenal suka menerima berita israiliyat, sehingga perkataan beliau dalam hal ini boleh dijadikan dalil. (Manahil al-Urfan, 1/45).
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  28. ^ Webster, Richard. "Living in Your Soul's Light: Understanding Your Eternal Self".
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  30. ^ Abdullah, Yusuf Ali (1946). The Holy Qur-an: Text, Translation and Commentary. Qatar National Printing Press. p. 1139, n. 3814.
  31. ^ a b |"What Is Meant By 'Seven Heavens'?". Al-Islam.org.
  32. ^ Marvin Meyer; Willis Barnstone (2009). "On the Origin of the World". The Gnostic Bible. Shambhala. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
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  34. ^ Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
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Further reading

External links

Learning materials related to Seven Heavens at Wikiversity

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