Changes

Beyond these spheres (and outside [[time]] itself) are:

Beyond these spheres (and outside [[time]] itself) are:

* The motionless Heaven (or Empyrean)

* The motionless Heaven (or [[Empyrean]])

* [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]’s throne

* [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]’s throne

* nine angelic circles

* nine angelic circles

Dante passes the examination, and then meets and speaks to [[Adam]].

Dante passes the examination, and then meets and speaks to [[Adam]].

The ninth sphere is the Primum Mobile ('first mover'), whose rotation governs the movements of all the other heavens inside it. There is no [[time]] outside the Primum Mobile, which is where [[God]] lives. Dante sees God as an infinitely small, infinitely bright point of light, surrounded by nine circles of lights representing the nine [[angel]]ic orders. After Dante ascends beyond the Primum Mobile into the Empyrean (the outermost part of Heaven, which is beyond time), he sees God again, this time as a vast, shining circle with the saints arrayed around it and angels flitting to and fro.

The ninth sphere is the Primum Mobile ('first mover'), whose rotation governs the movements of all the other heavens inside it. There is no [[time]] outside the Primum Mobile, which is where [[God]] lives. Dante sees God as an infinitely small, infinitely bright point of light, surrounded by nine circles of lights representing the nine [[angel]]ic orders. After Dante ascends beyond the Primum Mobile into the [[Empyrean]] (the outermost part of Heaven, which is beyond time), he sees God again, this time as a vast, shining circle with the saints arrayed around it and angels flitting to and fro.

In the Empyrean, Beatrice joins the other saints and [[St Bernard]] takes over as Dante's guide for the final stage of his journey.

In the Empyrean, Beatrice joins the other saints and [[St Bernard]] takes over as Dante's guide for the final stage of his journey.