The Physics of Heaven
Quantum mechanics implies that all matter in the universe is made of energy. Could the electromagnetic spectrum hold clues about the Biblical heaven?
God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments."
- Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV)
We truly live in a musical universe. Like the strings on a musical instrument, God's word, His imagination and belief, created a universe made of vibrating waves of energy.
"And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light."
- Genesis 1:3 (ESV)
When God created light, this also meant He was creating galaxies, stars, planets and the heavens, as physics teaches us that matter is made of small vibrating waves of energy. Visible light (between 400nm & 700nm) is an extremely small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. This means that over 99% of this spectrum is invisible, and from our rudimental perspective, unmeasurable as it stretches the boundaries of human comprehension.
You might be asking; what does the electromagnetic spectrum have to do with heaven?
At first, this spectrum graphic appears to display the color boundaries of human eyesight. When considering that all matter is made from energy, the electromagnetic spectrum also includes multiple boundaries in relation to the smallest particles in the subatomic realm. These boundaries divide everything we physically detect in our universe, as well as the unseen dimensions that we can't detect, or even imagine.
The first question for now is… What is heaven? Sages, scholars and theologians have been theorizing about heaven since antiquity. Popular culture often trivializes the concept of heaven with a cartoon scenario of a god floating on a cloud somewhere with other spirit beings loitering around waiting for our eventual judgement.
Biblical references to heaven are normally in a plural form as the “heavens”.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
The apostle Paul actually refers to three heavens.
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.
Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows.”
- 2 Corithians 12:2 (NIV)
Most scholars normally agree that the first Biblical heaven is our immediate atmosphere. The second is the cosmos (stars, planets, galaxies). And the third is the angelic Biblical spiritual realm referred to in quantum theory as the unseen multidimensional universe.
"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so,
would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" - John 14:2 (ESV)
The mathematical concepts created by quantum theory are very similar to the descriptions of God and the vast spiritual world mentioned in the Bible. As mentioned earlier, evidence from the scientific field of quantum mechanics has mathematically exposed that the universe, including heaven, are made of light energy. This fact is mentioned in the Bible.
"And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb."
- Revelation 21:23 (ESV)
As time passes, more physicists continue to discover that the Bible has been teaching us about the quantum realm for the last two thousand years. All matter, including planets, the elements, molecules and sub-atomic particles consist of extremely small vibrating waves of energy that physicists now call string theory.
"Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!"
- Psalm 33:2 (ESV)
The most recent version of string theory, called M-Theory, prescribes for a universe with eleven dimensions. After accounting for a dimension that represents time, we can compare our three dimensional (3D) perspective to a ten dimensional (10D) bulk universe.
So, the next question is... Where are these seven unseen dimensions?
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The full ranges of electromagnetic waves that span our three-dimensional universe are known as the electromagnetic spectrum. This includes visible light as well as the rest of the electromagnetic energy ranging from the extreme high frequency gamma rays to low frequency radio waves.
Within the narrow visible range that humans can see, the shortest waves are violet (which border UV) and the longest are red (which border IR). Everything else between gamma rays on the high frequency end, and long radio waves on the opposite end, are not visible to humans, but are still detectable. We can use them to measure our 3D universe.
Quantum theory has mathematically revealed that higher-dimensional space does exist. The world we are living in has only three dimensions: length, width, and height. Our 3D universe is vast, but not infinite. Mathematically, our universe is probably shaped like a sphere that consists of approximately 170 billion galaxies with billions of stars in each. Mankind observes and measures the 3D universe through the electromagnetic spectrum. From our viewpoint, this spectrum is limited to our 3D universe.
The mysterious undetectable high frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum that exists beyond high energy gamma rays is continuing to bring the greatest intrigue. Quantum mechanics has just begun to expose this amazing region since it represents the boundary between our 3D universe and the unseen (10D) bulk universe.
During the first half of the 20th century, astronomers and physicists still assumed that our 3D universe represented the entire realm of creation. When string theory finally emerged, it mathematically suggested that there is a much larger "bulk universe" that contains our 3D world. String theory is now widely accepted by theoretical physicists.
Disclaimer on Heaven
I’m not claiming that this webpage is providing a proven description of heaven. The true mystery of God and the vast scope of the universe is far beyond human comprehension. But I can claim that modern quantum theory is mathematically exposing defined aspects of the universe that shed light on the reality of the Biblical heavens. It’s in the math!!! And the math doesn't lie.
This is why so many quantum physicists, who are expert mathematicians, are finding faith in God and the Bible. There is very compelling mathematical evidence in all the various quantum theories of divine intelligent design with the universe and its creation.
“The universe could have been chaotic, random and ugly
and yet we have this gorgeous synthesis at the origin of the universe itself, giving birth to the galaxies, the planets, DNA, life...
The harmony I see could not have been an accident.” – Albert Einstein
As this website mentions several times, there is no obvious physical proof for the existence of God or heaven. God planned it this way, as the Free Will page details.
We are made in God's image and designed to live forever. Because of this, our lives gain a greater purpose and are meant to be a test of faith.
So Where is Heaven?
String theory has been developing for several decades, with a goal to become "the theory of everything", that is, to unify all four fundamental forces - gravitation, electromagnetism, along with the strong and weak nuclear forces. As previously mentioned, the prominent version of string theory is called M-theory. This theory unified five opposing versions of string theory by mathematically calculating a bulk universe with 10 dimensions of space with an 11th to account for time. This astonishing revelation started a cosmic revolution in the field of quantum mechanics.
"If quantum mechanics hasn't profoundly shocked you,
you haven't understood it yet." -Neils Bohr
So, why do we only see three dimensions? The reason we cannot see extra dimensions is because our 3D world is a sub-universe called a "braneworld", which confines all matter and electromagnetic waves (photons). It is impossible for photons of energy to escape our 3D braneworld. This mathematically implies that the boundary between heaven and the material 3D universe that we see, is found in the high-frequency membrane in the top end of the electromagnetic spectrum. These frequencies are so high that we have no physical way to detect or measure their existence. But we can account for this with math!
Although we cannot measure super high-frequency electromagnetic waves on the top of the energy spectrum, quantum physicists are certain that, if these high-frequency energy waves (like a membrane) were not present, the universe would simply vanish.
Every atom in the universe, even space itself, depends on these high frequencies to exist. This is the boundary, found in the tiny strings (string theory) that create all visible matter at the smallest subatomic level. This is what the Bible describes in the book of Genesis as God separated light from darkness creating all matter by waves of light energy.
Heaven exists beyond the thin membrane of high-end frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum and the small strings that create matter. The reality of heaven is comparable to a two-way mirror. This explains why angelic beings can influence the physical world, and why we can't physically detect high-frequency heaven from our low-frequency existence.
"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God,
so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." - Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)
The electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, and X-ray) are the major means we use to see or detect our own 3D universe. Since electromagnetic waves of energy are confined in our braneworld, the existence of gravity is one aspect of our 3D universe that tells us that the unseen multidimensional heavens are real.
© Faith and Physics 2020
Similar to a 2D TV universe unable to detect the 3D house it sits in, our 3D universe is unable to detect the 11D heavens. Unseen dimensions and the Biblical heaven exist in the far high frequency energy range of the Electromagnetic Spectrum, as our senses only detect an extremely narrow range of energy spectrum.
Unlike the stereotypical image above, God is obviously not an old man with a white beard. The Bible says that God is light perfected, symbolically in truth and love, and as the creator of the light and dark energy that governs our physical universe. This reality is described by Moses in the book of Exodus where it describes God's immeasurable glory existing in the undetectable multidimensional universe.
"Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you,
and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence.
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
- Exodus 33:18-20 (NIV)
God is the spiritual, all-knowing matrix and the conscious being that exists across the vast multi-dimensional universe. God's faith created the universe, spanning time and space as the discovery of quantum entanglement reveals. Human intellect is a gift from being made in God's multidimensional image. Humans hold value because their soul exists after their body dies. Because of this, God has eternal plans for those who have faith in His glory,
"As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth." - Ephesians 1:10 (ESV)
M-theory mathematically theorizes that heaven is a series of two-dimensional branes. Though this may sound rather dull or limiting, it is quite the opposite.
Compared to our single three-dimensional perspective that could be compared to a square box, heaven, with its series of 2D branes, will be much more expansive. One must think of heaven as a multi-layered, high-frequency "energy-verse" that is nearly infinite.
The layered structure of each heavenly brane (like a sliced loaf of bread) is mathematically conjectured by string physicists to have a unique set of properties. When combined, these various branes create a universe with an astonishing mosaic of space, time and matter far beyond the experience we can imagine from our simple 3D perspective.
The prospect of this multidimensional heavenly realm should excite and inspire all human beings. In chapter 4 the apostle John describes his revelation of the throne of heaven:
"From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder,
and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire,
which are the seven spirits of God,
and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal."
- Revelation 4:5-6 (ESV)
Below is a figurative diagram of the bulk universe based on M-theory. What this diagram cannot display is that the much larger bulk universe transcends our physical 3D universe. Though it's not realistic to comprehend, one must stretch their imagination to even try to imagine ten dimensions of space. Here is a link to an article that makes a decent attempt.
© Faith and Physics 2020
Notice that our 3D universe has no edge as it is shaped like a bubble. No matter where we go, we will always appear to be in the middle of outer space as distant stars and galaxies will appear to be moving away from us. The measurable frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum are also trapped inside our 3D bubble universe. This is the primary reason we can't see or detect the vast 10D bulk universe.
Gravity: The Constant Reminder of Heaven
The sensation of Gravity should remind us just how close we actually are to heaven and the unseen bulk universe, as large objects create gravity wells that constantly pull matter towards the high-frequency membrane boundary.
The highest frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum is where this critical edge (or membrane exists). This is the boundary beyond physical detection or measurement. From our 3D perspective, this boundary currently exists in the realm of mathematical theory in quantum mechanics.
Counter to conventional thinking, time is not a consistent linear event. Einstein's theory of General Relativity revealed this phenomenon. This is caused by gravity as it bends time due to the pressure between our 3D universe and the 10D bulk universe.
Gravity wells warp spacetime. The larger (or more dense) any object is, the deeper the gravity well will be and the more time will slow down. The gravitation with a black hole is so incredibly strong that light cannot escape and time will eventually come to a complete stop at the location of its event horizon. It is quite possible that black holes also contain an opening between the membrane of our 3D universe and the bulk universe.
Let us use our own sun and the planets in our solar system as an example by comparing them to a bowling ball and a bunch of marbles. If we set a bowling ball on a mattress, the depression created will cause any marbles that we roll across the mattress to fall into this depression. This is how our sun holds the planets in orbit.
God's word created the universe out of light, as His observations transformed light into matter. It is His ultimate faith that the universe takes form.
"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
- Colossians 1:17 (ESV)
For information on how near death experiences offer evidence of heaven and the unseen multidimensional universe, you can go to the NDEs webpage. The spiritual forces that are described in the Bible can be found on the spiritual warfare webpage.
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