Tabernacle and Temple
- The tabernacle and later Solomon’s temple symbolize the meeting place of heaven and earth.
- God’s mission is to fill the earth with the presence of the heavenly temple.
Creation and Temple
- Genesis 1’s three-tiered universe aligns with the cosmic imagery in the design of Israel’s temple.
New Testament Perspective
- John 1:50–51: Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate reality, the gate between heaven and earth.
Rulers Above
Genesis 1:14–18
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.In Genesis 1, the “host of heaven” are set in the “sky dome” (Gen 1:14-18). These are the inhabitants of the divine throne room above the heavens.
This helps us understand why the biblical authors consistently used the language of stars to describe the spiritual beings. They are creatures that inhabit the heavenly realm and have authority under God.
The host of heaven as God’s heavenly throne room staff-team
Psalm 103:19–21
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command. Bless the Lord, all his armies, his servants who do his will.Psalm 103:19-21 - The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his hosts of heaven, you his servants who do his will.
1 Kings 22:19
Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and the whole heavenly army was standing by him at his right hand and at his left hand.1 Kings 22:19: Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
Psalm 148:1–3
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly armies. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
Luke 2:9
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.Luke 2:13
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:Luke 2:9, 13 - And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened… And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the host of the heavens praising God.
Observations on the phrase “host of heaven”: The lists of heavenly creatures in Psalms 103 and 148 are in the literary form of Hebrew parallelism, so that paired lines describe the same things from different points of view. The heavenly hosts are the sun, moon, and stars.
Notice how in Luke 2, the angel is associated with the light of God’s glory, and these two are associated with the host of heavens, who are depicted as God’s heavenly choir (as they are in Job 38:6-7 and Isaiah 6:1-3).
The “sons of God”
Job 38:4–7
Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?Job 38:4-5, 7 - Where were you when I laid the foundations of the land? Tell me if you have understanding. Who set its measurements, since you know. …when the stars of the morning sang together, and all the sons of God shouted aloud.
Psalm 89:5–8
Lord, the heavens praise your wonders—your faithfulness also—in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord? God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him. Lord God of Armies, who is strong like you, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you.Psalm 89:5–8 - The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of God is like the Lord, a God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all those who are around Him? O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
Observation: These are parallel lines in Hebrew, so that the stars and the sons of God are not separate entities, but the same creature described from two perspectives.
- Day 4: delegates “host of heaven” as authorities
- Stars as “signs” of spiritual beings: Job 38:4-7
- Stars are “in the sky-dome” and images of the divine council
- Psalm 82:1; 89:5-7; Isa 24:21-23; Ps 148:1-6
Throughout the story of Israel, the people continually worship the stars as deities.
Deuteronomy 4:19
When you look to the heavens and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the stars in the sky—do not be led astray to bow in worship to them and serve them. The Lord your God has provided them for all people everywhere under heaven.Deuteronomy 4:19 - And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
Amos 5:25–27
“House of Israel, was it sacrifices and grain offerings that you presented to me during the forty years in the wilderness? But you have taken up Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, images you have made for yourselves. So I will send you into exile beyond Damascus.” The Lord, the God of Armies, is his name. He has spoken.Amos
5:25–27 - “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.
Zephaniah 1:4–5
I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the residents of Jerusalem. I will cut off every vestige of Baal from this place, the names of the pagan priests along with the priests; those who bow in worship on the rooftops to the stars in the sky; those who bow and pledge loyalty to the Lord but also pledge loyalty to Milcom;Zephaniah 1:4–5 - I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom (Milcom is a form of the god Baal).
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Angels in the Biblical Story
Genesis 28:12
And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.
In Genesis 28:12, Jacob dreams of a stairway connecting heaven and earth, and he sees angels of God going up and down on it. The term “angels” here comes from the Greek word “angelos,” which means messenger. In Hebrew, the equivalent term is “malak,” also signifying a messenger, whether human or non-human.
Understanding the Term “Angel”
The term “angel” is derived from the Greek word “angelos,” but in Hebrew, it is “malak,” both meaning messenger. This title indicates function, not nature, as angels serve various roles in the divine hierarchy. In the biblical narrative, angels are messengers who can be human or non-human, performing specific functions assigned by God.
Angelic Appearances
- Angels, when they appear, do not necessarily have wings but often resemble humans. They can be mistaken for ordinary people, as seen in encounters with Abraham, Gideon, and in Sodom.
Functionality of Angels
- In Genesis 1:14, angels are associated with the lights in the expanse (raqia) of the sky, serving as signs, markers of time, and symbols. These symbols reflect the ultimate source of light, Elohim (God).
Psalm 103:19–21
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command. Bless the Lord, all his armies, his servants who do his will.Psalm 103 emphasizes the divine throne room, praising the Lord’s angels and armies who obediently execute His commands. The imagery includes heavenly beings standing before God’s throne, revealing a divine council with different roles.
1 Kings 22:19
Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and the whole heavenly army was standing by him at his right hand and at his left hand.Micaiah’s vision in 1 Kings 22 describes the Lord’s throne surrounded by the heavenly army, demonstrating a consultative interaction within the divine council. This council advises God on various matters, as seen in the discussion about Ahab’s fate.
Psalm 89:5–7
Lord, the heavens praise your wonders—your faithfulness also—in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord? God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him.Psalm 89 underscores the reverence for God in the assembly of the holy ones, highlighting the unique and incomparable nature of the Lord in the divine council.
Angels and Symbolism
- The lights in the sky (raqia) are called “rulers above” and are symbols representing the source of light, reflecting the uniqueness of God’s light.
Warning Against Worship
- Deuteronomy 4:19 cautions against worshiping the sun, moon, and stars, emphasizing their role as created entities provided by God, not objects of worship.
Bibliography
Heiser, Michael S. Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters. Edited by David Lambert. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015.
Heiser, Michael S. Angels: What the bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host. Bellingham, Wa: Lexham Press,2018.
Heiser, Michael S. The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible. First Edition. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015.
https://bibleproject.com/course/heaven-and-earth-genesis-1
https://bibleproject.com/classroom-alpha/education-videos/session-27-rulers-below/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/lilith/
James Joyce, Ulysses, chap. 14, “Oxen of the Sun.”