Job 14:12 - what are the heavens here?

[mevosper]

[Job 14:12 KJV] 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

 

From what I understand, there are three heavens. The heaven above our physical head, where the birds fly. The heaven where the stars reside. The heaven where God lives. 

Are the heavens in Job 14:12 where the birds fly or the stars reside?

[Esther4:14]

There are many interesting things I think of when I think about this question.  The first thing that comes to mind is that Job is not generally appreciated for its prophetic application so I would assume that the heavens described here is just a way to describe the sky above from a perspective of humility in regard to the things that can't be understood in the sky above. Therefore, it is simply called, "the Heavens." 

However, there is little background information on the book of Job, and there is speculation over when it was written.  Personally, I think it was either written by King Solomon or someone very familiar with King Solomon's writings because it reads like a string of Proverbs glued together in a narrative.  Therefore, it is possible that there could have been other prophecies at the time that resemble, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days: 'The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Matthew 24:29) considering Martha was familiar with the resurrection (John 11:24).  This was the next thing I thought of when I read this verse is that this is something prophetic slipped into a fictional narrative of Job about this prophetic event that Jesus says will happen in the future, which is interesting. 

But, besides that I don't think he is distinguishing a specific heaven, however, they are distinguished. 

 

[FreeinChrist]

If I understand they are both to be destroyed by fire just look at Peter comments in II Peter 3:.7 and.     Revelation 21:1.  The heavens are God's but we must remember that satan rebel there.

Edited September 17, 2015 by 19Duggarfan

[Ezra]

[Job 14:12 KJV] 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

From what I understand, there are three heavens. The heaven above our physical head, where the birds fly. The heaven where the stars reside. The heaven where God lives. 

Are the heavens in Job 14:12 where the birds fly or the stars reside?

Correct.  God s Heaven is as eternal as God.

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, mevosper. 

[Job 14:12 KJV] 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

 

From what I understand, there are three heavens. The heaven above our physical head, where the birds fly. The heaven where the stars reside. The heaven where God lives. 

Are the heavens in Job 14:12 where the birds fly or the stars reside?

The Hebrew word is “shaamayim” and it is where the birds fly AND where the lights appear. HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean where the stars are. It’s where we SEE the lights from the stars. (Gen. 1)

Your understanding of the three heavens is based on faulty human conclusions, like those of Dr. C.I. Scofield in the Scofield Reference Bible (KJV). That’s a spatial understanding of “three heavens.” The better view is PETER’S words:

2 Peter 3:3-13

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old (1st heaven), and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now (2nd heaven), by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth (3rd heaven), wherein dwelleth righteousness.
KJV

This is a chronological view. Of course, this requires one to believe in Noach’s flood and the Creation as revealed by God in His Word, Gen. 1-9.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Retrobyter
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