1.  The name used to describe a place—often considered to be outside normal time and space—where God or the gods live. Also said to be the home of various angels when they are not directly helping out in the physical universe. In some religions, heaven is also the place where the spirits or souls of people (and in some beliefs, animals) go after death. Some religions limit this to the souls of people who are either “good” or have followed certain guidelines of the religion.

Originally, the word referred to the sky and areas above the atmosphere where “heavenly bodies” and “heavenly phenomena” appeared. This eventually evolved to the current meaning.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe in heaven. Apocalyptic accounts of heaven range from one heaven to ten, but most agree on seven, probably because of the seven visible planets. The tradition of seven heavens probably originated in Mesopotamia 7,000 years ago. FIRST HEAVEN: The first heaven ...

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