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Objection 1: It would seem that that fire will cleanse also the
higher heavens. For it is written (Ps. 101:26,27):
"The heavens are the works of Thy hands: they shall perish but Thou
remainest." Now the higher heavens also are the work of God's
hands. Therefore they also shall perish in the final burning of the
world.
Objection 2: Further, it is written (2 Pt. 3:12): "The
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with the burning heat of fire." Now the heavens that are distinct
from the elements are the higher heavens, wherein the stars are fixed.
Therefore it would seem that they also will be cleansed by that fire.
Objection 3: Further, the purpose of that fire will be to remove
from bodies their indisposition to the perfection of glory. Now in the
higher heaven we find this indisposition both as regards guilt, since
the devil sinned there, and as regards natural deficiency, since a
gloss on Rm. 8:22, "We know that every creature groaneth and is
in labor even until now," says: "All the elements fulfill their
duty with labor: even as it is not without labor that the sun and moon
travel their appointed course." Therefore the higher heavens also
will be cleansed by that fire.
On the contrary, "The heavenly bodies are not receptive of
impressions from without" [Sent. Philosop. ex Arist. collect.
lit. c.---Among the works of Bede].
Further, a gloss on 2 Thess. 1:8, "In a flame of fire giving
vengeance," says: "There will be in the world a fire that shall
precede Him, and shall rise in the air to the same height as did the
waters of the deluge." But the waters of the deluge did not rise to
the height of the higher heavens but only 15 cubits higher than the
mountain summits (Gn. 7:20). Therefore the higher heavens will
not be cleansed by that fire.
I answer that, The cleansing of the world will be for the purpose of
removing from bodies the disposition contrary to the perfection of
glory, and this perfection is the final consummation of the universe:
and this disposition is to be found in all bodies, but differently in
different bodies. For in some this indisposition regards something
inherent to their substance: as in these lower bodies which by being
mixed together fall away from their own purity. In others this
indisposition does not regard something inherent to their substance; as
in the heavenly bodies, wherein nothing is to be found contrary to the
final perfection of the universe, except movement which is the way to
perfection, and this not any kind of movement, but only local
movement, which changes nothing intrinsic to a thing, such as its
substance, quantity, or quality, but only its place which is
extrinsic to it. Consequently there is no need to take anything away
from the substance of the higher heavens, but only to set its movement
at rest. Now local movement is brought to rest not by the action of a
counter agent, but by the mover ceasing to move; and therefore the
heavenly bodies will not be cleansed, neither by fire nor by the action
of any creature, but in lieu of being cleansed they will be set at rest
by God's will alone.
Reply to Objection 1: As Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xx,
18,24): "Those words of the psalm refer to the aerial heavens
which will be cleansed by the fire of the final conflagration." Or we
may reply that if they refer also to the higher heavens, these are said
to perish as regards their movement whereby now they are moved without
cessation.
Reply to Objection 2: Peter explains himself to which heavens he
refers. For before the words quoted, he had said (2 Pt.
3:5-7): "The heavens . . . first, and the earth . . .
through water . . . perished . . . which . . . now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire unto the day of
judgment." Therefore the heavens to be cleansed are those which
before were cleansed by the waters of the deluge, namely the aerial
heavens.
Reply to Objection 3: This labor and service of the creature, that
Ambrose ascribes to the heavenly bodies, is nothing else than the
successive movements whereby they are subject to time, and the lack of
that final consummation which they will attain in the end. Nor did the
empyrean heaven contract any stain from the sin of the demons, because
they were expelled from that heaven as soon as they sinned.
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