Beschreibung:
Paula Gooder considers the ways in which the Bible sees heaven and earth connecting, and explores all the major strands of belief about life after death, including the role of paradise, and what happens between death and resurrection. She shows how the biblical writers see heaven and earth as closely connected, so that what happens in heaven affects events on earth and vice versa.
Acknowledgements viiAbbreviations viiiIntroduction ix1 In the beginning . . . : heaven and earth 12 On the wings of the cherubim: God as king 123 Chariots of fire: God's throne-chariot 224 In the presence of God: cherubim, seraphim and the heavenly creatures 325 From heaven to earth: angelic messengers 456 Heaven opened: communication between heaven and earth 597 Caught up into heaven: ascending into heaven 688 You shall rise: life, death and resurrection 799 Between death and resurrection: what happens while we wait for the end? 91Epilogue: . . . so what? 101Notes 107Select bibliography 129Index of biblical and ancient texts 138Index of modern authors 141Index of subjects 143