Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. I know not, Theophila, what answer you will give to the first question, in consequence of your meditations on all the verses which I have set before you: my opinion being that they refer to another earth than this, I hope you will allow me to say that it seems that this visible earth is not the only one spoken of in the Sacred History. Now, on account of the relation which heaven, the heavens and their contents bear to the earth, and also on account of their great importance for us, permit me to invite you to examine whether what is said of them, in the following verses, can be applied to the celestial bodies that are visible to us; and reconciled with our general notions concerning heaven: which are, if I am not mistaken, that it is a most beautiful spot, country, or kingdom, existing somewhere in the immensity of space; whereto the souls of the righteous go after their natural death, and where, after their re-union with their bodies, they will continue for ever and ever happy and praising God the Almighty. Of Heaven, and the Heavens; and of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Genesis, 7. 11. And the windows of heaven were opened. 8. 2. And the windows of heaven were Gen. stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. 19. 24. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 27. 39. Thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. 28. 17. This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 37. 9. The sun and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. Exod. 16. 4. I will rain bread from heaven for you. 20. 22. Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Lev. 26. 19. I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass. Numb. 24. 17. Deut. Deut. There shall come a star out of Jacob. 4. 11. The mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 32. Ask from one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing. 36. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee. 9. 1. Hear, O Israel, thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven. Deut. 11. 21. That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. 28. 12. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand. 23. And the heaven that is over thy head shall be brass. 32. 1. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak. 33. 28. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Joshua, 10. 12. Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. Judges, 5. 4. The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 20. They fought from heaven, the stars in their course fought against Sisera. 2 Sam. 22. 8. The foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 2 Kings, 1. 10. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, if I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty and there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings, 2. 11. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 1 Chro. 16. 31. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, the Lord reigneth. 2 Chro. 7. 1. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burntoffering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 14. 12. So man lieth down, and riseth not till the heavens be no more. Job, 15. 15. He putteth no trust in his saints: yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 20. 27. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 25. 5. Behold, even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 26. 11. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his reproof. 13. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens. 35. 11. And maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven. 38. 7. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Psalm 11. 4. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven. 19. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work. 4. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun; 5. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 33. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 50. 4. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 6. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge him self. 57. 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. 68. 8. The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God. 73. 9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 78. 23. Though he had commanded the clouds |