7 Heavens

[Stella]

Not sure where to jump in.

Judaism

According to Jewish teachings in the Talmud, the universe is made of seven heavens (Shamayim) as below:

Vilon (וילון), Also see (Isa 40:22)also called "arafel" see Even-Shushan dictionary
Raki'a (רקיע), Also see (Gen 1:17)
Shehaqim (שחקים), See (Ps 78:23, Midr. Teh. to Ps. xix. 7)
Zebul (זבול), See (Isa 63:15, I Kings 8:13)
Ma'on (מעון), See (Deut 26:15, Ps 42:9)
Machon (מכון), See (1 Kings 7:30, Deut 28:12)
Araboth (ערבות), The seventh Heaven where ofanim, the seraphim, and the hayyoth and the throne of the Lord are located.

The Jewish Merkavah and Heichalot 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.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Heavens

[Stella]

Islam

The word "heaven" is used in the English translation of the Arabic word سماء (Samaa'a). The plural is سماوت (Samaawat), cognate of Hebrew שמים (Shamaim), which translates as "sky" in Modern Arabic.
General Belief

The seven heavens are the seven layered realms of the spiritual upper world where generally angels and other spiritual beings such as Paradise and Hell and the souls of the prophets exist. The seven heavens are part of Al-Ghayb (Arabic: الغيب‎ The Unseen), the occult or unseen universe in Islamic cosmology as opposed to Al-Shahadah (Arabic: الشهادة‎ The Seen), the universe we know. Some scholars have said that the original meaning of the Arabic word سماوت is the hypothetical multiverse or "worlds of space and time" and not "sky" as is used in Modern Arabic.

Sunni sources record Muhammad visited each of the seven heavens on his Mi'raj. There he met Adam, Īsā and Yahya, Yusuf, Idris (considered by most scholars to be Enoch), Harun, Musa and Ibrāhīm in the first to the seventh heaven in the mentioned order. He made the travels to ultimately meet God and The Divine Throne above the heavens.

The Qur'an mentions the existence of seven heavens:

See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and made the moon a light in their midst, and made the Sun a Lamp?(71:15-16)

Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is able to do all things. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving; Who has created the seven heavens one above another; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.(67:1-3)

Names of Seven Heavens

According to Shi'ite sources, a hadith from Imam Ali mentions the name of the seven heavens as mentioned below:

Rafi' (رفیع), the lowest heaven (السماء الدنیا)
Qaydum (قیدوم)
Marum (ماروم)
Arfalun (أرفلون‏)
Hay'oun (هيعون‏)
Arous (عروس)
Ajma' (عجماء)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Heavens

[Stella]

Hinduism

Hinduism also has the concept of seven heavens. According to the Puranas and the Atharvaveda there are fourteen worlds. There are the seven higher ones (the heavens), called the Vyahritis (Sanskrit: व्याहृति)

Bhoor-Loka (भूर्लोक i.e. the Earth)
Bhuvar-Loka (भुवर्लोक)
Svar-Loka (स्वर्लोक)
Mahar-Loka (महर्लोक)
Jana-Loka (जनलोक)
Tapa-Loka (तपलोक)
Satya-loka (सत्यलोक)

The god Brahma lives in the seventh heaven, Satya Loka.

The names of the seven lower ones (the underworlds) called the Patalas (Sanskrit: पाताल) are: Atala (अतल), Vitala (वितल), Sutala (सुतल), Rasaatala (रसातल), Talataala (तलातल), Mahaatala (महातल), Paataala (पाताल) and Naraka (नरक i.e. Hell)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Heavens

[Dillon]

The expression - I am in 7th heaven is originally a Hebrew expression.


2 Corinthians 12:2 New International Version
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.


Why did Paul need to quantitate? Christian commentary suggest that heaven 1 was breathable atmosphere, the 2nd heaven is space, leaving 3rd heaven and just heaven. If the 3rd heaven is just heaven, then why didn't Paul just say heaven as apposed to 3rd heaven?

D