t12papocrypha
Testament of Levi 3
Levi receives a vision of seven heavens arranged in descending holiness: the highest contains the Great Glory enthroned in the holy of holies, attended by angels of the presence who offer bloodless, sweet-smelling propitiation for the ignorances of the righteous; intermediate orders of thrones and dominions offer perpetual praise; lower regions house spirits of retribution and armies set for the day of judgment against the hosts of Beliar. The final note is sharp — at the Lord's gaze the entire frame of creation trembles, yet the sons of men remain unmoved, continuing in sin, provoking El Elyon, the Most High.
1
Hear, then, concerning the seven heavens. The lowest is for this cause more gloomy, in that it is near all the iniquities of men. The second hath fire, snow, ice, ready for the day of the ordinance of the Lord, in the righteous judgment of God: in it are all the spirits of the retributions for vengeance on the wicked. In the third are the hosts of the armies which are ordained for the day of judgment, to work vengeance on the spirits of deceit and of Beliar. And the heavens up to the fourth above these are holy, for in the highest of all dwelleth the Great Glory, in the holy of holies, far above all holiness. In the heaven next to it are the angels of the presence of the Lord, who minister and make propitiation to the Lord for all the ignorances of the righteous; and they offer to the Lord a reasonable sweet-smelling savour, and a bloodless offering. And in the heaven below this are the angels who bear the answers to the angels of the presence of the Lord. And in the heaven next to this are thrones, dominions, in which hymns are ever offered to God. Therefore, whenever the Lord looketh upon us, all of us are shaken; yea, the heavens, and the earth, and the abysses, are shaken at the presence of His majesty; but the sons of men, regarding not these things, sin, and provoke the Most High.
