Expert: Kaylan - 4/15/2005

Question
Hi,

Someone recently told me that "Heaven" never appears in the Old Testament. Is this correct?

Many thanks,

Steve
nighttrain@nyc.rr.com

Answer
This is a good source for your answer:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07170a.htm

Excerpt:

In the Holy Bible the term heaven denotes, in the first place, the blue firmament, or the region of the clouds that pass along the sky. Gen., i, 20, speaks of the birds "under the firmament of heaven". In other passages it denotes the region of the stars that shine in the sky. Furthermore heaven is spoken of as the dwelling of God; for, although God is omnipresent, He manifests Himself in a special manner in the light and grandeur of the firmament. Heaven also is the abode of the angels; for they are constantly with God and see His face. With God in heaven are likewise the souls of the just (II Cor. 5:1; Matt., v, 3, 12). In Eph., iv, 8 sq., we are told that Christ conducted to heaven the patriarchs who had been in limbo (limbus patrum). Thus the term heaven has come to designate both the happiness and the abode of just in the next life. The present article treats as heaven in this sense only. In Holy Scripture it is called:

   * the kingdom of heaven (Matt., v, 3),
   * the kingdom of God (Mark, ix, 46),
   * the kingdom of the Father (Matt., xiii, 43),
   * the kingdom of Christ (Luke, xxii, 30),
   * the house of the Father (John, xiv, 2),
   * city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebr., xii),
   * the holy place (Hebr., ix, 12; D. V. holies),
   * paradise (II Cor., xii, 4),
   * life (Matt., vii, 14),
   * life everlasting (Matt., xix, 16),
   * the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21),
   * crown of life (James, i, 12),
   * crown of justice (II Timothy iv, 8),
   * crown of glory (I Peter, v, 4),
   * incorrupt crown (I Cor., ix, 25),
   * great reward (Matthew 5:12),
   * inheritance of Christ (Eph., i, 18),
   * eternal inheritance (Hebr., ix, 15).

+++

http://www.scborromeo.org/glad/glad.htm

Questions about heaven:

http://www.scborromeo.org/glad/c7.htm

Let me know if you need anything more on this :)

Kaylan
"Jesus, I trust in You." - Divine Mercy Prayer
www.marian.org
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