Irenaeus: Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

9. Now this world is encompassed by seven heavens, ^{Edition note 1} in which dwell powers and angels and and angels and archangels, doing service to God, the Almighty and Maker of all things: not as though He was in need, but that they may not be idle and unprofitable and ineffectual. ^{Edition note 2} Wherefore also the Spirit of God is manifold in (His) indwelling, ^{Edition note 3} and in seven forms of service ^{Edition note 4} is He reckoned by the prophet Isaiah, as resting on the Son of God, that is the Word, in His coming as man.

The Spirit of God, he says, shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, (the Spirit of knowledge) ^{Edition note 5} and of godliness; the Spirit of the fear of God shall fill him. Now the heaven which is first from above, ^{Edition note 6} and encompasses the rest, is (that of) wisdom; and the second from it, of understanding; and the third, of counsel; and the fourth, reckoned from above, (is that) of might; and the fifth, of knowledge; and the sixth, of godliness; and the seventh, this firmament of ours, is full of the fear of that Spirit which gives light to the heavens.

For, as the pattern (of this), Moses received the seven-branched candlestick, ^{Edition note 7} that shined continually in the holy place; for as a pattern of the heavens he received this service, according to that which the Word spake unto him: Thou shalt make (it) according to all the pattern of the things which thou hast seen in the mount. ^{Edition note 8}