In my last post, we talked about the different dimensions that define our universe and even parallel universes to which we may, someday, have access. I think to put all of this in a proper perspective is to understand our worldview on such a topic.

Which of the following statements would you consider true:
Science is Fact, or
Science is Truth?

The first is true. With what we can know, sense, test, measure, and interpret, science gives us facts for us to know. Yet, the issue is often not the fact itself but our interpretation of that fact. Our interpretation depends upon our worldview. That is, do we believe there is a God or not? Our worldview gives us a biased interpretation of the fact we observe. No one can have an unbiased worldview.

The second statement is false even though we try to justify that it is true. Why do I say that? Well, science is ever evolving and changing. We can only produce fact, or what seems factual, based on the sensitivity of the instruments we use to understand that fact. What we learn today is often something that could not have been known many years prior. Oftentimes we must modify what we thought of as a fact because our new way of measuring or detecting the phenomena around us has led us to new conclusions. So, science always points us toward truth but can never be truth in and of itself.

And what about Scripture? How does that fit into the two statements above? Well, if you ascribe to the dogma that there is no God, then you will likely believe that Scripture and Science cannot coexist together. Yet, if you ascribe to the belief that God does exist, then you likely believe that Scripture and Science will not contradict each other because Scripture is the ultimate source of truth. As I stated above, science points to truth but cannot be truth. Yet, Scripture is truth. Therefore, science points, supports, and acclaims what Scripture teaches.

So, one’s worldview is very important to understand. One needs to be aware of their own bias. Whether you believe in God or not, does not make you bias free in either case. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is biased. So, your biased worldview will dictate how you interpret what science is telling you. It’s never really about the fact, but the interpretation and application of what that fact means.

Also, what you believe about truth does not change or alter truth. Which bias is truth? Well, even if you believe in God, you can still miss the correct interpretation of the fact that has been discovered. In other words, if Scripture cannot support your interpretation, then maybe you need to look for a different interpretation. Now, the Bible isn’t a science textbook for sure, yet it contains all truth. Therefore, can the Bible support your interpretation or not?

Let’s look at our last post about the eleven different dimensions that science, according to M-Theory, tells us exist. Can the Bible support such as assertion? At face value, one may say no, that’s preposterous. But is it? Is it really?

Over the next several posts, I want us to explore what I said in my previous posts about these dimensions in more detail. Over the last one-hundred years or so physicists have attempted to unify the fundamental forces of nature (general relativity) and the atomic and subatomic forces of nature (quantum physics) in our universe into a cohesive whole by suggesting everything can be defined by “strings” (vibration frequencies) and branes (i.e., membranes connecting dimensions), and these two entities connecting to each other. Almost seventy years after Albert Einstein put his theory of relativity together in 1910, scientists began to come up with ways to combine his work and the work on the quantum scale into a generalized theory in an effort to come up with the so-called, “Theory of Everything.” Various versions were made over the next decade to try and achieve that. In 1995, Edward Witten, came up with what he called M-Theory which combined the five versions of string theory in existence at that time and quantum gravity into a model that could describe how we can understand our universe. In this model, he needed 11 different dimensions to make his theory tenable.

From a Scriptural perspective, I think the eleven dimensions can be divided into three categories: those defining our physical existence, those defining time, and those defining spiritual existence. Join me next time as we delve further into this line of thought.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The idea of various dimensions different and above (or below) our own is a concept that has existed for a long time and has given the science fiction genre loads of ideas for various stories, novels, and sagas that have entertained us for decades. Yet is that all it is, a way to provide stories for entertainment? Is there any reality to other dimensions? Can we really know the truth of their existence if we can’t actually observe them? I thought we’d explore this concept. I don’t claim to be an expert in this area, but I have always been intrigued by it. I will provide my interpretation of what many scientists say about dimensions and then discuss what spiritual and biblical interpretation can be gleaned from this. These are my thoughts and reasonings, so take them with a grain of salt. Yet, I think the biblical perspective can surprise you and help us all to realize that there really is nothing new under the sun (Ec 1:9).

First of all, what is a dimension? It is simply a stage of reality where one higher dimension includes all the reality of the previous dimension but adds another. According to string theory, a scientific framework to try and unify the fundamental forces of nature (general relativity) and the atomic and subatomic forces of nature (quantum physics) in our universe into a cohesive whole by suggesting everything can be defined by “strings” (vibration frequencies) and branes (i.e., membranes which connect dimensions) which connect with each other. Five versions of string theory have been developed, each requiring 10 dimensions to explain our universe. Then, another version was discovered which unites all five of these versions and quantum gravity into a cohesive whole, called M-theory, which requires 11 dimensions to explain our universe. So, that produces eleven stages of reality. Some may describe these slightly differently than I do here. Describing them can become very complicated so I have tried to simply as much as possible. Each higher-level dimension adds an additional reality to the previous dimension:

As we discuss and understand these dimensions, it will, hopefully, become clear how one cannot go back in time and change things but can go forward in time to multivariate experiences because the past is composed of decisions already made and the future is a possibility of various events based upon decisions made. The present is the fulcrum between the two.

Also, I want to address the question of how does our understanding of these dimensions lead to anything biblical? Well, first we need to understand that science points to truth but is not truth itself. After all, science can change as we test new theories and have better and more specialized equipment to measure and view things not previously possible. So, science keeps evolving and giving us new information which helps to refine what truth looks like but never defines truth itself. It supports truth. Truth has no bias. We can’t say the same thing about science.

So, with that introduction, let’s dive into the 12 dimensions which, supposedly, defines our universe—or our universes as the case may be.

0 Dimension
We are taught this represents a point. That means it has a location but does not have length or height or width. Yet, it seems to have extreme potential connected with the infinite. Some believe this was the genesis of the Big Bang which brought all our known world into existence. So, it seems to have some kind of mystery surrounding it. Although being something so primitive, so simplistic, it has infinite implications. Could anything about this be biblical? Well, spiritually, one could think of this as one’s soul. It has a location within us but has eternal significance. It is important. We couldn’t survive without it. It is part of our makeup that has been gifted to us by our Creator. It dwells within the physical but survives beyond the physical into the eternal. Its property of location survives. It’s just that its location changes when the physical is no longer relevant for it.

1st Dimension
We are taught this represents a line. It has length, but that is all. It does not have width or height. What would that represent spiritually? It represents our existence. We exist because we are. A line also starts with a point and ends with a point. Our soul has a location within us and is moved to another location once our physical existence is no more. The final point of this line depends upon the life of our existence.

2nd Dimension
Width is now added to length. This forms a plane. We call this the plane of existence. This could be represented by our spirit. Our spirit adds dimension to our existence and to our soul. Both are in existence with and without the physical. It is connected to the soul, and as the soul changes location, so does our spirit as well when the physical ceases to exist.

3rd Dimension
Height is added to the mix. We exist in three planes: length, width, and height. So, this adds in our physical existence. Our body cannot operate in any dimension less than three dimensions. So, we have moved from soul, to spirit, to physical being. These are three separate entities that are entwined into one being. These three represent, and complement, our existence.

4th Dimension
Time is now added to the previous three. Time marches on in a linear fashion. This is the dimension in which we live. Our aging is proof of this fact. We live in a three-dimensional world that moves through time which cannot be stopped or reversed. So, our physical being is altered by time, but not our soul or spirit.

5th Dimension
Now, what about the 5th dimension? This goes beyond our current experience. In this dimension, it is thought that time becomes fluid. Some have referred to this as time travel. Just like if you get in your car and travel from New York to Phoenix, you can also drive back to New York. So, in this dimension, it would allow one to travel forward or backward in time without restriction. Yet, as we will see, some of the higher dimensions may put restrictions on this concept. Yet, this dimension holds the realization of fluid time in which the other higher dimensions can operate in and manipulate further. What about biblically? Well, perhaps this is the basis for how many prophets saw and reported on visions which God allowed them to see. Since our future is the result of many individual decisions we make, how could these prophetic visions be accurate? Well, God operates in a higher dimension, so he is the one guiding these prophetic visions of the future. That is the only way these prophets’ visions can remain accurate across all future timelines. Perhaps that is also why they are often provided somewhat in vague detail so that they incorporate many decisional scenarios that mankind can make.

6th Dimension
Once we reach the 6th dimension, we discover that there are other worlds—other Earths—that exists. They are formed due to the different decisions that individuals make which put them on a different course for their future. One can travel between these parallel worlds, but only at the same time stamp within each world. While the 5th dimension allows one to travel through time in their own universe, one is restricted in the 6th dimension to travel between parallel worlds only at an identical time in each parallel world. Perhaps this would explain why time travel in the past is not possible but in the future it is. Since our past is made from decisions already experienced, our past cannot be altered. Yet, our future is composed of countless choices that individuals can make and, thereby, alter the course of their future and even the course of mankind itself depending upon the importance of that decision. Therefore, there are endless futures available with the present being the fulcrum between the unchanging past and the endless possible futures. Perhaps this represents our free will—our ability to choose our decisions which sets us down on one of many paths that are open to us.

7th Dimension
Now, we come to the 7th dimension. This dimension allows parallel worlds to exist that are on different timelines from our own world. So, what worlds, or dimensions, would have an alternate timeline than ours here on the Earth? Perhaps this dimension would explain Sheol. Sheol was created in three parts (righteous Sheol, unrighteous Sheol, and Tartarus) with each created at a different time with one part already ceasing to exist (righteous Sheol). These are spiritual worlds that are beyond us in our present physical state. Yet, they are real from a spiritual perspective. Before Christ came, everyone went to Sheol when they died. Tartarus was a place built within Sheol for the angels who disobeyed God and took human wives producing the Nephilim (Gn 6; 2Pt 2:4). At some point after Christ’s crucifixion, he brought those in righteous Sheol to Paradise (Ps 68:18), the 8th dimension, which is discussed next.

8th Dimension
In the 8th dimension, there are parallel worlds operating on physics principles different from here on this Earth creating different natural laws and experiences: maybe silicon-based life forms, worlds where other species are the dominant lifeform, or where time dilation fields exist, or other phenomena we have never experienced in our reality, just to name a few. Travel between any and all worlds are allowed, but only at a designated time. Some have designated this dimension as the multiverse. From a biblical perspective, this would allow the spiritual reality and our reality to bleed into each other. However, we need to understand that those in higher dimensions can travel to lower dimensions, but typically not vice versa without the assistance from someone living in a higher dimension. Perhaps this dimension also represents Eden, or Paradise because it operates on different physics principles than here on this Earth. This would be higher than Sheol because Christ brought the righteous from Sheol to Eden, or Paradise (Ps 68:18; Ep 4:8), so that we can now be with Christ once we die (2Co 5:8).

9th Dimension
The 9th dimension is like the 8th dimension except time is no longer a restriction. One can travel between any and all parallel worlds and at any time in either parallel world. Some have called this dimension the super multiverse. From a biblical perspective, this is the angelic realm and would explain the visitation of angels as God’s heavenly messengers to specific individuals on Earth.

10th Dimension
In the 10th dimension, not only can one travel between any and all worlds, but at any time between any world thereby understanding the past, present, and future of all worlds simultaneously. From a biblical perspective, it shows how God or other spiritual beings can tell humans about their future because, for them, it has already occurred. It supports the Christophanies presented in the Old Testament and allows the visions God gave the Apostle John about future events. This is also likely the dimension in which God’s council operates as they are above all and everyone except God himself (Ps 89:7) as well as the special angels like cherubim, seraphim, and living creatures who operate in the presence of God (Ek 1, 10; Is 6; Rv 4).

11th Dimension
It seems the 11th dimension is the dimension from which all the other dimensions originated. This would likely also be the dimension in which God himself dwells and operates as he is above all and all things originate with him. Perhaps this is the realm where God would appear as one and all lower dimensions show him to be three-in-one as lower dimensions cannot completely display him as he exists in this highest dimension. The lower dimensions do not dilute his character or his power, just how he is revealed to them.

We could likely go on and on about this topic, but I hope this gives you a least a taste of how science and the Bible can go hand in hand. As stated earlier, science points to truth, but never is truth. Yet, the Bible is the source of all truth. And I think using scripture and our imagination, we can see how the topic of dimensions can also be supported from a biblical perspective, just maybe not in the same way that some scientists may describe them. After all, they have not been to these dimensions either, so our spiritual interpretation can be just as valid as their non-spiritual interpretation. That’s my view anyway.

I hope this has helped you see a vision of the Bible in a unique way to show you that God is never ignorant about what science tells us. After all, he was there when it all unfolded because he made it so. Our findings never surprise him.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens