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heaven
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Angel showing John the heavenly Jerusalem, manuscript illumination from the Revelation to John, c. 1020; in the Staatsbibliothek in Bamberg, Germany. Ancient Egyptian illustration from the Book of the Dead showing Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, with gods seated above and hieroglyphic text throughout. Ba Xian (The Eight Immortals), Chinese painting of the 18th century; in the Guimet Museum, Paris. “The Angel Shows John the Heavenly Jerusalem,” from the Apocalypse of St. John, c. 1020; in the Staatsbibliothek Bamberg, Germany (MS. 140).
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“The Angel Shows John the Heavenly Jerusalem,” from the Apocalypse of St. John, c. 1020; in the Staatsbibliothek Bamberg, Germany (MS. 140).
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Angel showing John the heavenly Jerusalem, manuscript illumination from the Revelation to John, c. 1020; in the Staatsbibliothek in Bamberg, Germany.
Angel showing John the heavenly Jerusalem, manuscript illumination from the Revelation to John, c. 1020; in the Staatsbibliothek in Bamberg, Germany.

heaven

religion
Written by
Carol Zaleski
Professor of Religion, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. Author of Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times and The Life of the World to...
Carol Zaleski
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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heaven, in many religions, the abode of God or the gods, as well as of angels, deified humans, the blessed dead, and other celestial beings. It is often conceived as an expanse that overarches the earth, stretching overhead like a canopy, dome, or vault and encompassing the sky and upper atmosphere; the Sun, Moon, and stars; and the transcendent realm beyond. In most cultures, heaven is synonymous with order: it contains the blueprints for creation,...

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