We may never know why the Bible describes the dimension of “up to heaven” (58 verses) and “down to hell” (17 verses), but here is one possible explanation that has been rattling around in my brain for many years. It is based on one of the most powerful verses in the Apostle Paul’s most powerful book, which gives a hint of a multidimensional world beyond our senses.
Higher dimensions in the Bible
For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 WEB)
Four dimensions described in Ephesians 3:18
- Breadth
- Strong’s Greek 4114: Breadth. From platus; width.
- Length
- Strong’s Greek 3372: Length. Probably akin to megas; length length.
- Height
- Strong’s Greek 5311: Height, heaven; dignity, eminence. From a derivative of huper; elevation, i.e. altitude, the sky, or dignity.
- Depth
- Strong’s Greek 899: From the same as bathus; profundity, i.e. extent; mystery.
It is possible the Apostle Paul was just referring to the profundity and mystery of God’s love. But it is also possible he was referring to another dimension that we cannot see, which would seem mysterious to us. Remember, Paul was caught up into heaven and “heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words.” (2 Corinthians 12:4)
We see an example of this around us every day. One of the first questions young schoolchildren ask when seeing a globe for the first time is, “Why don’t people in southern hemisphere fall off the earth?” The answer is up and down are different directions depending on where you are. We take this for granted in 3 dimensions. But what about more dimensions, such as modern string theories of the universe, which have up to 11 dimensions?
Let’s consider a simple example of 4 dimensions. Here is a rudimentary attempt at showing a 4th-dimensional space containing 3-dimensional objects. It is trying to show a 4-dimensional sphere with 3-dimensional objects stretched out on its surface. As you can see, every single object in the universe would have the same 4-dimensional up and down directions. Hell could be inside this sphere and heaven could be outside this sphere.
Please see this excellent introductory article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-dimensional_space, which suggests reading this fascinating book:
Dimensional analogy was used by Edwin Abbott Abbott in the book Flatland, which narrates a story about a square that lives in a two-dimensional world, like the surface of a piece of paper. From the perspective of this square, a three-dimensional being has seemingly god-like powers, such as ability to remove objects from a safe without breaking it open (by moving them across the third dimension), to see everything that from the two-dimensional perspective is enclosed behind walls, and to remain completely invisible by standing a few inches away in the third dimension. –Four-dimensional space (Wikipedia)
Higher dimensions of the resurrection
This same concept could be corroborated by a similar understanding of one of the most exciting verses in one of the most exciting chapters of the Gospel according to the Apostle John.
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. Where I go, you know, and you know the way. ” (John 14:1-4 WEB)
What if Jesus was speaking the literal truth in addition to the figurative truth that he explained a couple of sentences later. What if Jesus is just around a 4th-dimension corner we can’t see yet?
I’ve been playing around with this theory as well. A 4th dimension that exists concurrently with our own 3rd dimension would explain so much such as dinosaurs and the age of the Earth (time dilation), how God knows everything that has happened, is happening and will happen, how the battle in the spiritual realm is happening without our knowledge and so much more. Anything is possible to our omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Father. So, a 4th, 5th or even 8th dimension would be entirely within the scope of His powers.
I always believed that heaven was up and hell was down I am now learning of the hollow earth could there be any truth in this version