171. There is no way to describe briefly how things look to angels in the heavens. To a considerable extent, they look like the things we see on earth, but they are more perfect in form and also more abundant.

We may conclude that there are things like this in the heavens because of what the prophets saw - for example what Ezekiel saw of the new temple and the new earth as described in chapters 40-48 [of his book], what Daniel describes in his chapters 7-12, what John saw as described from the first through the last chapter of Revelation, along with other visions presented in both the historical and the prophetic books of the Word. They saw things like this when heaven was opened to them, and heaven is said to be opened when our inner sight, the sight of our spirit, is opened. For the things that exist in heaven cannot be seen with our physical eyes, but only with the eyes of our spirit; and when it pleases the Lord, these are opened. At such times we are led out of the natural light that our physical senses are in and raised into the spiritual light in which we dwell because of our spirit. This is the light in which I have seen the things that exist in the heavens.

The ephah has special significance because it is used in connection with preparing food in the tabernacle, and is discussed at more length separately. These measurements all relate to a person's desire for good, since they are measurements of food and that is what food represents. An omer represents sufficiency, enough good feeling for a person to continue his spiritual life; an ephah relates more to the internal good desires the Lord implants in us that can be brought to the surface later; and a homer represents completeness, or being filled with a desire for good. The Bible uses a dizzying array of unfamiliar measurement, leaving translators a choice between being accurate and confusing or inaccurate and clear. Since they all have spiritual meanings, though, it's worth trying to keep them straight. In terms of dry goods -- grain and other foodstuffs -- the basic measurement in the Old Testament is the "omer," which is enough for one person for a day. Ten omers made an "ephah," and 10 ephahs made a "homer," which is in some cases also called a "cor.