History Main / RaysFromHeaven

* Used during "Over the Rainbow" in ''Theatre/TheWizardOfOz'', where a shot of these rays through the thick clouds is inserted in the middle of the song to emphasise the sky idea and the height of Dorothy's happiness.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In the "Mabel's Guide to Dating" short, heavenly rays appear behind Soos when it's revealed [[BrokeTheRatingsScale he somehow got a twelve out of five on Mabel's dating survey]].

** Again from the Bible, [[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adam_and_Eve_Driven_out_of_Eden.png the moment when Adam and Eve are cast out of Eden]], with sunbeams from behind a tree near the angel showing the beauty and righteousness from which Adam and Eve have fallen.
** [[http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/the-new-jerusalem.jpg The New Jerusalem]], where many rays through the high clouds pour glory on the city.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crepuscular_rays Crepuscular rays]] are a natural phenomenon in which [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Angel%27s-stairs.jpg/640px-Angel%27s-stairs.jpg sunlight appears to burst through clouds in distinct beams]]. They are known by many names, often religious ones like the "fingers of God", "Jesus rays", or "Jacob's Ladder" in reference to Jacob's famous dream from [[Literature/BookOfGenesis Genesis 28:12]], where he dreamed of a stairway to Heaven.

** [[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Creation_of_Light.png The biblical creation of light]], where the sun is revealed from behind the clouds for the first time, illuminating God's handiwork.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crepuscular_rays Crepuscular rays]] are a natural phenomenon in which [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Angel%27s-stairs.jpg/640px-Angel%27s-stairs.jpg sunlight appears to burst through clouds in distinct beams]]. They are known by many names, often religious ones like the "fingers of God", or "Jacob's Ladder" in reference to Jacob's famous dream from [[Literature/BookOfGenesis Genesis 28:12]], where he dreamed of a stairway to Heaven.

NaturalSpotlight is a related trope for when the rays highlight an object specifically, rather than just being symbolic. Subtrope to EmpathicEnvironment. Contrast with GrayRainOfDepression and BattleInTheRain.

* Engraver and painter Gustave Doré used it in several book illustrations:

* Engraver and painter Gustave Doré used it in several book illustrations, including:
** [[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Creation_of_Light.png The biblical creation of light]], where the sun is revealed from behind the clouds for the first time, illuminating God's handiwork,
** Again from the Bible, [[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adam_and_Eve_Driven_out_of_Eden.png the moment when Adam and Eve are cast out of Eden]], with sunbeams from behind a tree near the angel showing the beauty and righteousness from which Adam and Eve have fallen,
** [[http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/the-new-jerusalem.jpg The New Jerusalem]], where many rays through the high clouds pour glory on the city,
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paradise_Lost_12.jpg Satan on his way down from Heaven]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'', where his dark body contrasts with the stars and clouds and sunbeams of Heaven, and

!! Examples:

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Artwork]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* The black and white ComicBook/ChickTracts are full of rays like these indicating Heaven and God's glory, as they are easy to understand when drawn simply in a small box.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

* In ''{{Disney/Fantasia}} 2000'', crepuscular rays can be seen at both the beginning and the end of the "Pomp And Circumstance March" segment. (There is also a rainbow at the end.)

* ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'': One of these [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFmlvXx2aJs hits Jake]] as he & Elwood are standing at the back of a church and he has an epiphany - "The band!"

* At the climax of ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E06TheVampiresOfVenice The Vampires of Venice]]", the clouds are roiling and storming and getting darker every minute as the end of humanity draws near. When the Doctor shuts off the storm controller to save the world once again, the clouds dissipate and sunbeams burst through as people celebrate.

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]
* Parodied in an old ''ComicStrip/BeetleBailey'' strip. Two soldiers find the [[GoodShepherd chaplain]] sleeping in the forest with a ray of light shining on him. One soldier dismisses it as a coincidence. Then he's asked to explain why the violent and profane Sergeant Snorkel is in the exact opposite position.[[note]]That is, sleeping in a brightly lit spot with a shadow on him.[[/note]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* At the end of ''Theatre/{{Elisabeth}}'' as performed by Pia Douwes and Uwe Kröger, these rays shine down on Elisabeth and Death when he comes for her after her assassination. This shows how, in death, she has the freedom she had always longed for; she has hope; she can go up to the sky.
* ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'' has the song "Stärker als wir sind", or "Stronger Than We Are", which is a prayer. At its climax with virtually all named characters singing the prayer together, rays shine out from behind the stage, glorifying the moment and adding to the religious theme.
[[/folder]]

* The Soviet war cartoon "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taA1cr85-L8 Fascist Jackboot Shall Not Tread on Our Motherland]]" ends with three planes flying into a beam of light shining through parting clouds, accompanied by a song talking about glory to be won in the battles to come. It helps show how the planes are for a just cause and it hopes to inspire you to join.

* Late in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series (book 12 to be precise), the [[SatanicArchetype Dark One]] has covered the entire world with rolling storm clouds that yield no rain. At the end of the same book, [[spoiler:[[MessianicArchetype Rand]] finally punches through his DespairEventHorizon and becomes TheMessiah proper]]. Thereafter, the omnipresent cloud cover breaks and light shines down wherever he is. It actually becomes a liability, as he can't stay in one place long without his enemies seeking him.

** Played straight in the [[DuelingMovies dueling movie]] [[Film/ThisIsTheEnd This Is The End]] where the rays of light is the ascension unto Heaven during the Rapture.

* Late in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series (book 12 to be precise), the [[SatanicArchetype Dark One]] has covered the entire world with rolling storm clouds that yield no rain. At the end of the same book, [[MessianicArchetype Rand]] finally punches through his DespairEventHorizon and becomes TheMessiah proper. Thereafter, the omnipresent cloud cover breaks and light shines down wherever he is. It actually becomes a liability, as he can't stay in one place long without his enemies seeking him.

* ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' episode 2 "Fire Starter". Mamimi follows the robot Kanti to some burnt out ruins. He climbs to the top and them takes off into the sky, to Mamimi's delight. Rays of sunlight stream down through the clouds as he assumes a pose of prayer.

In fiction, this shows glory at the AwesomeMomentOfCrowning, beauty in ThePromisedLand, and hope shining during the DarkestHour. This is a very common device in religious artwork since it can show the glory of a god or a heaven without having to draw them, which might be forbidden, impossible, or simply hard to pull off. It can overlap with CueTheSun or cause a NaturalSpotlight.

Subtrope to EmpathicEnvironment. Contrast with GrayRainOfDepression and BattleInTheRain.