The Christmas Tree

[Amelia]

The Christmas Tree cluster

The cluster is about 2,600 light years away from our Earth. It was discovered in 1784.

[phkrause]

Awesome!! God's universe is just awesome. Thanks for the image.

pk

[Amelia]

One thing that always puts me in awe of Gods creations, are the distances involved. This cluster is 2,600 light years from Earth. A light year is equal to just under ten trillion kilometres. And 1.60934k is equal to 1 mile. I can't even begin to figure that out. I don't have a calculator big enough. LOL OH BRAVUS??????????

[melvin mccarty]

I been thinkin.........speed of light is way too slow for intergalactic travel! Jesus appeared after his resurrection to have a more or less normal human body yet he just rose up and vanished. Imagine a body capable of airless existence and impervious to heat and cold! I can't.......mel

[Tom Wetmore]

I think heaven is simply on another dimensional plane outside of our 3+1 dimensions. So God being with us, Jesus ascending and/or returning, or angels moving between heaven and earth are accomplished by inter-dimensional travel.

[melvin mccarty]

Probably that is true although I do not comprehend what that means...mel

[melvin mccarty]

Would "Heaven" then be that plane rather than a place within our universe? That could mean there are other "universes". How would that concept relate to the book of Revelation I wonder....mel

[Tom Wetmore]

I think that the universe is more than we are able to perceive with our human perceptual limitations within the 3 physical spacial dimensions plus time. So I wouldn't say that heaven is outside of our universe, necessarily, or that this would mean other universes, although those could be true. But i think dimensions beyond our perceptual ability, could negate the concept of a need to travel (a space/time event) from earth to heaven. Either by means of a Wormhole or by an inter-dimensional means of transference or "portal" unknown to us, the heavenly dimension becomes perceptual to us and we are "in" that which is already here and around us, just not perceivable within human limitations. It is like the entry into Narnia through some mysterious portal(s).

Although perhaps a crude illustration, consider your altered perception if you are blind and the amazing change sight brings to what you can perceive, or being in total darkness in a cave and what light can do to what you are able to experience and perceive. You can perceive by touch and sound, etc., that there is much to that environment but when the light/sight is available, it is as if a whole new world opens up before you, all without the need of physical travel or any change of the substance of anything that is already present. The change is more within you and how you are able to process the data already around you. Jesus bringing light into the world and giving sight to the blind takes on a whole new meaning perhaps.

String Theory in quantum physics postulates that there are at least 10 more dimensions within, or I guess you might say intertwined with, the spacial dimensions and time that we perceive. I very quickly get into the deep weeds well over my head on this, but I find it a fascinating idea to consider and explain that which is beyond us. (Bravus, help us out here...)

[melvin mccarty]

Perhaps like instead of having to travel many light-years through inhospitable space one merely opens a door into another room and walks through?...mel

[nuff sed]

I have had similar thought on that subject. When Jesus prayed in The Garden the angel was there with food, instantly.

[Neil D]

Perhaps like instead of having to travel many light-years through inhospitable space one merely opens a door into another room and walks through?...mel

Or like literally destroying you in one place to recreate you in another...?

[Tom Wetmore]

Like the Star Trek Transporter, only better!

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard divine dimensions outside of our perceptual range... The phrase often used in Scripture for being able to perceive angels or other divine providence is "eyes were opened". It wasn't that the people in question were walking around with their eyes closed, it was a divine activation of the ability to perceive what was right there already. Sometimes it was insight, sometimes it was out of sight. Kind of like inspiration - I would like to call it insperception.