v. Firmament, Cloud, Earth
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the c and the earth
Gen 1:8 God called the expanse c. And it was the
Gen 11:4 a tower, the top of which reaches to the c
Gen 28:12 ladder .. and its end touched the c
Exo 20:22 I have spoken from the c with you
Deu 10:14 of Jehovah .. are the c, and the c of the c
Deu 30:12 is not in the c, so that you say: Who
1Ki 8:27; 2Ch 2:6; 6:18
Heaven (Heb. shâmayim, mârôm, mâal; ouranós). Terms it describes: 1. The atmospheric sky. It is the space in which the birds fly (Gen 1:20), from which the rain descends (Gen 7:11; Deu 11:11) and where the winds blow (Dan 8:8). On judgment day the atmospheric heaven will dissolve with fire (2Pe 3:10; cf Isa 51:6), after which God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2Pe 3:13; Rev 21:1) . 2. The astronomical sky, that of the stars. It is the space in which the sun, moon and stars rotate in their orbits (Gen 1:14,16,17; Isa 13:10; Jl. 2:30,31; Mat 24:29). 230 3. The abode of God (1Ki 8:30,39; Psa 11:4; 53:2; 80:14; 102:19; 139:8; etc.). Jesus frequently referred to the Father in heaven (Matt 5:16, 45, 48; 6:9; etc.). Christ descended from heaven in his incarnation (Joh 3:13, 31; 6:38), ascended to it after his resurrection (Heb 9:24) and will descend from there at his 2nd coming to take with him all the redeemed (Joh 14:1-3; 1Th 4:13-18; 1Pe 1:4). It will be the abode of the blessed until the saints inherit the new earth at the end of the millennium (Rev 21:1-7). The term is sometimes used as a substitute for the divine name (Mar 11:30; Luk 15:18,21) and reflects a reluctance to pronounce God’s name.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Latin coelum. In Scripture this term is used indistinctly in singular or plural to signify the indefinite space in which the stars move; the space that seems to form a vault above us; as well as the abode of God. The term appears for the first time in the Holy Scriptures in Gn 1, 1, †œIn the beginning God created the c. and the earth† , with which the universe is expressed in its entirety, an expression that has the same meaning in other places, Gn 2, 1 and 4; 14, 19 and 22; Ex 20, 11; 2R 19, 15; 2 Chr 2, 11; Jdt 9, 12; 13, 18; Esther 4, 15-17; Salt 89 (88), 12; 115 (113B), 15; 121 (120), 2; 124 (123), 8; 134 (133), 3; 146 (145), 6; Is 37, 16; Jer 32, 17; Dan 14, 5; Acts 4, 24; 14, 15; Rev 14, 7. In the heavenly vault, in the firmament, above us, Gn 6, 17; Salt 104 (103), 2; Ex 17, 14; Deut 28, 23; that Yahweh called c., Gn 1, 8, metaphorically it is said that he put the stars, the stars, 1 R 8, 12, 2 Cro 6, 1; to distinguish day from night, and as signs for solemnities, days and years, Gn 1, 14-15; ancient peoples, including Israel, made calendars according to the movement of the stars. Yahweh created the waters from above, from c., and those from below, when the flood, figuratively it is said that it opened the floodgates from c. and unloaded the rain during forty days, Gn 7, 11; Dt 11, 17; 28, 12; Ps. 78, 23; after this time the floodgates of c. they were closed and the rain stopped, Gn 8, 2.
the c. it is the abode of God where he sits on his throne, Dt 26, 15; 1 R 8, 43; Salt 8, 2; 11(10), 4; 14(13), 2; Tb 5, 17; 2 M 3, 39; Is 66, 1; Lm 3, 41 and 50; Ba 2, 16; Am 9, 6; the Father is in heaven, Mt 5, 16 and 34; 6, 1 and 9; 7, 11; 16, 17; Mark 11, 25; Acts 7, 49; with God dwell, also, in the c., the spirits that form his court, sometimes called the army of heaven, 1 R 22, 19; 2 Chr 18, 18; the angels, Tb 12, 15; Mt 18, 10; Mark 13, 32; Rev 8, 2; Satan rebelled against God and fell from c., Lk 10, 18; Rev 12, 7-9.
Christ came down from c. Jn 3, 13 and 31; 6, 33 and 38, and after his death he was resurrected and raised to c. and sat down at the right hand of God, Mk 16, 19; Lk 22, 69; 24, 50-51; 1 Pet 3, 22; from where he has to return at the end of time, Mt 24, 30; 26, 64; Mark 14, 62; Acts 1, 9-14; 1 Thess 1, 10; 4, 16; 2 Thess 1, 7.
Jesus tells whoever wants to follow him to renounce what is earthly and will have a treasure in c., Mk 10, 21; Lk 18, 22; Jesus invites detachment from material things and to accumulate treasures for c., Lk 12, 33; blessed are those who suffer because of the Son of man, for great will be the reward in the c., Mt 5, 12; Lk 6, 23; an incorruptible inheritance is reserved in heaven for those who have faith, Col 1, 5; 1 Pet 1, 4. The promise of Jesus for the believing man is c., Jn. 14 1-3; and c., according to the Apostle, is glory, Heb 2, 10. ® Kingdom of Heaven.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
1. Cosmologically speaking, one of the two major divisions of the universe: the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1; Gen 14:19); or one of three: heavens, earth and the waters under the earth (Exo 20:4). In the visible sky are the stars and planets (Gen 1:14-17; Eze 32:7-8). The phrase the heavens of heavens (Deu 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Psa 148:4) is translated “the highest of the heavens” in DHH.
2. The abode of God (Gen 28:17; Psa 80:14; Isa 66:1; Mat 5:12; 2Co 12:2) and of the angels (Mat 24:36). The place where the redeemed will one day be (Mat 5:12; Mat 6:20; Eph 3:15), and where the Redeemer has gone, where he intercedes for the saints and from where he will one day come for his own (1Th 4: 16).
3. The inhabitants of heaven (Luk 15:18; Rev 18:20).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
Paradise: Luke 23:43, 2Co 12:2-4. Glory: Luc 24:26, 1Co 15:40, Rev 21:23, Father’s House: Jua 12:2. Barn: Mat 3:12. Heavenly Homeland: Heb 11:16. Eternal Rest: Heb 4:9, Rev 14:13. Heavenly Jerusalem of the Apocalypse: (Rev 21:2-11).
– For ever and ever: (Rev 22:5).
– Dwelling of God: Mat 3:16, Mat 5:16, Mat 5:45, Mat 5:48.
– Abode of the angels: Mat 18:10, Mat 22:30, Luc 2:13.
– Reward of the righteous: Mat 5:12, Mat 19:21, Mat 25:46, Luk 6:23, Luk 10:20, Luk 12:33, Luk 16:22-26, Rev. 21 and 22.
How is this sky?: Greatly wonderful: The human mind cannot even imagine it.
1 Cor. 2-9, Rev. 9:00 p.m. to 10:50 p.m. There are no tears, no suffering, it is all the time immense joy of praise, even the floor is diamond!: For ever and ever, Rev 22:5, Mat 25:46.
The good go to him, and the bad go to hell: Mat 25:31-46, Rev 21:8, Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, Rev 22:15.
How many go to heaven? Many go to hell, says Jesus four times: (See “Hell”). but to heaven go billions of billions. This is how John saw it in Rev 5:10-11 and 7:9. Glory to God!
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
In the OT it is always said samayim, in the plural. In the NT the most frequent term is ouranos and it is used in the plural or in the singular. The Hebrews used to refer to the universe by joining the concepts of c. and land. As in Gen 1:1 (“In the beginning God created the c. and the earth† ). Abraham calls out to God: “Jehovah God Most High, creator of the c. and of the earth† (Gen 14:22). The idea that was had of the c. it does not appear anywhere explained, but by the different expressions of the Scripture it is inferred that they were considered as a great sheet extended by God. Thus, we read: “I am Jehovah, who do everything, who extends only the c.” (Isa 44:24). God is the †œwho extends the c. like a curtain† (Ps 104:2; Isa 40:22).
It is said c., in the plural, because in effect the Hebrews thought that there were several. First there was the “expanse in the midst of the waters” (Gen 1:6-7), which is the space between the sea and the clouds (“the waters that are above the c.†). There move “the birds of the c.” (Gen 1:26; Job 28:21). Then comes “the firmament”, the place where the heavenly bodies are, the sun, the moon, the stars (“Praise him in the magnificence of his firmament”). Then there were “the c. of the c..† , the place where God is (†œHe who dwells in the c.† ), adored by the angels (1 Kings 22:19). “Behold, Jehovah your God are the c. and the c. of the c.† (Deu 10:14). †œBehold, the c., the c. of the c., they cannot contain you…. You will hear it in the place of your dwelling, in the c.† (1Ki 8:27, 1Ki 8:30). This must be taken into account in interpreting Paul’s words when he says that he was “caught up to the third c.” (2Co 12:2). There are even expressions in late Judaism that speak of as late as seven and ten c.
én is spoken among the Hebrews as if the c. they were a vault, an inverted glass that rests on the ground. Job’s language is interesting, mentioning “the columns of c.”, but at the same time saying that God “stretches out N over emptiness, hangs the earth over nothing” (Job 26:7-11). It is also said that the c. they have foundations (2Sa 22:8). That heavenly vault has “cataracts” through which the flood poured (Gen 7:11) and “windows” (Mal 3:10). In the OT it is expressed that the judgments that God will make because of man’s sin will include the c., who will be shaken, or removed, or destroyed (Isa 13:13; Isa 34:4). Indeed, God promises a new creation, with new c. (†œFor as the new c. and the new land that I make will remain before me† ).
It is sometimes said in the Scriptures that the c. is the throne of God, or that God has the throne of him in c. (Isaiah 66:1; Matt 5:34). Jehovah is the “God of the c.” (Gen 24:7; Ezra 1:2). That is why when it is said that something comes from c., it is understood that it comes from God. That is what the Pharisees meant when they asked the Lord † œsign of c.† (Mar 8:11), The Lord Jesus spoke of himself saying that he had descended from c. (Joh 6:33-58). And after his death and resurrection he went up there (Acts 1:11; 1Pe 3:22), † œpassed over the c.† (Heb 4:14), where he remains † œuntil the times of restoration of all things † (Acts 3:21).
The Lord himself promised to lead his own to c. (Joh 14:2-4). There is the citizenship of all of them (Phil 3:20). Their names are written in the c. (Luke 10:20), where they have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing…in Christ” (Eph 1:3). The saints who have died are presented alive “before the throne of God” (Rev 7:9), without having to suffer the troubles of this earth (Rev 7:16-17).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
The essence of heaven, in the religious sense of reward, is the contemplation of God for all eternity. It is a concept that transcends that of glory, Olympus, paradise, Eden, cosmos, firmament, universe.
When we speak in Christian language of heaven, we refer to the state of the souls of the just who have received, at the moment of death, the gift of the loving encounter with God.
Those souls of the just, free from all guilt and penalty of sin, enter directly into the divine vision, into eternal bliss. Those who have some stain, pain or guilt, must first be purified in Purgatory. Those of those who have freely chosen to distance themselves from God because of the sin of death, are forever deprived of such happiness. So simple is the statement about the prize that those who have loved God will receive.
However, the explanation of what the sky is and of all the anthropomorphic expressions and conceptions that accompany this message of…