The ascent through the heavens
William R. Murdock / George W. MacRae (composite) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1And the holy Spirit who was speaking with him caught him up high to the third heaven. He saw an old man who took up a rod with the right hand and was sitting upon a throne, and he was glorious, with light surrounding him.
2Paul saw the throne of the old man and the angels who were around the throne. And the angels said to one another, Where does this one come from? Then the angels brought him forth and asked, From whom comes this soul?
3They examined him to see if he was unrighteous. The Spirit which was with Paul said, Do you wish to keep him from his ascent? But Paul listened, and he gave testimony.
4And he was set up to go to the fourth heaven. And in the fourth heaven, he saw the toll-keepers of the fourth heaven. And he saw a soul being beaten that had committed wickedness, and angels were lashing it and questioning, How could you commit such things? And the soul said, I did not know.
5Paul went up to the fifth heaven. And there I saw a great angel in the fifth heaven, holding an iron rod in his hand. There were three other angels with him, and I gazed into their faces. They were quarrelling with each other. Then in the sixth heaven, there was a great light shining, brighter than the heavens.
6I went up to the sixth heaven. And the seventh, where I saw an old man, white as snow, his clothing white as snow. His throne was sevenfold brighter than the sun. The old man said, Where are you going? I am Paul, your fellow servant, sent up by the holy Spirit. The old man said, How will you escape me? Look down at the things below.
7Paul looked down and saw the things in the fourth heaven, and beneath them, the rulers of the world. Then the holy Spirit said to him, Paul, give him the sign that you have, and he will let you pass. Paul gave him the sign, and the seventh heaven opened, and the old man wept.
8Then I went up to the eighth heaven and praised God. Then I came up to the ninth heaven and saw splendours and joy without measure. Then I came up to the tenth heaven, and there I greeted my fellow spirits.