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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of the "First Heaven" is rooted in the biblical understanding of the heavens as a multi-layered creation. In the Scriptures, the term "heaven" can refer to different realms, and the "First Heaven" is often understood as the atmospheric heaven, the sky that is visible to the human eye. This is the realm where birds fly and clouds form, encompassing the earth's atmosphere.

Biblical References:

1.Genesis 1:6-8 : "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day." This passage describes the creation of the sky, which is often identified as the First Heaven. It is the firmament that divides the waters above from the waters below.

2.Jeremiah 4:25 : "I looked, and there was no man; all the birds of the air had fled." The phrase "birds of the air" refers to creatures that inhabit the First Heaven, indicating the sky or atmosphere where birds fly.

3.Deuteronomy 11:11 : "But the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven." Here, "rain from heaven" signifies precipitation that falls from the atmospheric heaven, the First Heaven, which nourishes the earth.

Theological Significance:

The First Heaven is significant in biblical theology as it represents God's provision and care for His creation. It is the realm where weather patterns occur, providing rain and sustenance for the earth. The First Heaven is a testament to God's creative power and His ongoing involvement in the natural world.

Symbolism and Imagery:

In biblical literature, the First Heaven is often used symbolically to represent God's blessings and the natural order. The sky is a canvas for divine signs and wonders, such as rainbows (Genesis 9:13) and the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21). It serves as a reminder of God's covenant with humanity and His control over creation.

Distinction from Other Heavens:

The First Heaven is distinct from the "Second Heaven," which is often understood as the celestial realm of the sun, moon, and stars, and the "Third Heaven," which is considered the dwelling place of God (2 Corinthians 12:2). The First Heaven is the most immediate and accessible to human experience, emphasizing the closeness of God's creation to mankind.

Practical Implications:

Understanding the First Heaven encourages believers to appreciate the natural world as a reflection of God's glory. It calls for stewardship of the environment, recognizing the sky and atmosphere as part of God's good creation. The First Heaven also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness in providing for the needs of His people through the natural order.

Topical Bible Verses

Revelation 21:1-27
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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Revelation 21:1-8
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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Revelation 21:1-4
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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Revelation 21:1-2
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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Revelation 21:1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
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2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Topicalbible.org

Greek

3131. manna -- manna
... 'As was thefirst Redeemer,' so ran the Midrash, 'so shall be the final Redeemer;
as thefirst Redeemer caused the manna to fall fromheaven, even so shall the...

509. anothen -- from above
... from above, from the beginning, again Definition: (a) from above, fromheaven,
(b) from... From ano; from above; by analogy, from thefirst; by implication, anew...

Library

TheFirst vision "InHeaven": Chapters 4-5
... TheFirst Vision "inHeaven": Chapters 4-5.... The following is the structure (in brief)
of H^1, thefirst Vision "inheaven," consisting of chapters iv. and v....

Thirty-First Day. Holiness andHeaven.
... Thirty-first Day. Holiness andHeaven. 'Seeing that all these things shall
be dissolved, what manner of men ought ye to be in all...

Psalm 97:1. 1-5.First Part. Christ Reigning inHeaven, and Coming...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 97:1. 1-5.First Part. Christ reigning
inheaven, and coming to judgment. 1 He reigns; the...

Psalm 107:1.First Part. Israel Led to Canaan, and Christians to...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 107:1.First Part. Israel led to Canaan,
and Christians toHeaven. 1 Give thanks to God; he...

On Luke. Chap. Ii. 7 and if You Please, we Say that the Word was...
... 7 And if you please, we say that the Word was thefirst-born of God, who came down
fromheaven to the blessed Mary, and was made afirst-born man in her womb...

Preface to theFirst Edition.
... PREFACE TO THEFIRST EDITION... Such is the subject of the present work""The Happiness
ofHeaven." For who is he that, believing in the existence of that blessed...

First Latin Form.
... had given him, and because he had seen the most holy body going up intoheaven.... And
so also the apostles quickly returned to where they had atfirst been, to...

First Commandment
... has thefirst place in our hearts"when the kingdom of God isfirst in everything...
false god come in and steal our love away from the God ofheaven, we shall...

First Greek Form.
... And on the evening of thefirst day of the week there was a sound out of theheaven,
so that theheaven became enlightened sevenfold more than all the days....

Revelation of Esdras.
... I was therefore taken up intoheaven, and I saw in thefirst heaven a great
army of angels; and they took me to the judgments. And...