Heaven and Hell (43 page)

“No, it is finite, but I am telling you that it has no end as you know it. Escape from it is, for all intents and purposes, impossible.”

Chris had to think about that one. His mind went back to what little he actually knew about physics and astronomy. His wife had been the family authority in that field of study. “Then are you saying that it’s like traveling around the Earth? That it’s curved, and if you go far enough, you end up back where you started from?”

“That is essentially correct,” replied Johann.

“So, where is Hell?” Chris asked again.

“It is not within the universe at all,” said Johann, rising to his feet. He walked to an empty area of the room before turning toward Chris. “Listen and understand; in life, you experienced four dimensions. Three of them were directions, up and down, left and right, backward and forward. The fourth dimension is a temporal one; you call it time. It brought order to your existence on Earth, allowing your experiences of life to occur in a set order. Yet, there are more dimensions than these; and with them, more realities.”

He waved his hand through the air before him. Immediately, a three dimensional image took shape, a myriad of colorful spheres floating in midair. One of the spheres was far larger than its neighbors. He pointed toward the large sphere, upon whose black face was imprinted an image of what appeared to be stars.

“The entire physical universe is curved into a sphere along a fifth dimension that you can not perceive. It is the curving along this fifth dimension that closes the universe in upon itself, and gives rise to the phenomenon we all refer to as gravity. Here I portray the entire universe as what appears to be a simple sphere, with stars and galaxies floating upon its surface. From this vantage point, you cannot see all of the dimensions of our universe, at least not at first glance. In life, we humans are not so sophisticated as to perceive so many aspects of the cosmos. For centuries this deficiency kept humanity from discerning the true nature of creation, but I hope you are getting the general picture.”

Chris rose to his feet but didn’t respond. He was awestruck by the cosmic display before him. He approached it cautiously.

“Yet in your time, physicists are beginning to understand that there are many additional dimensions that they cannot detect directly. Many believe, incorrectly, that these are micro-dimensions, too small to be detected. Yet I tell you that these dimensions are vast, forming entirely different realities beyond the universe you knew. They are the underpinnings of the cosmos.”

Johann directed Chris’s attention to one of the smaller, brighter spheres. “Heaven, for example, lies upon a set of dimensions beyond the five that bind the natural universe together. It is not physically connected to the universe you knew at all; it is entirely beyond it, but is just as real—as you and I can attest. However, the laws that govern it are somewhat different, something I believe you are coming to realize.”

Chris stopped just beyond the cosmic display, scanning the vast collection of spheres carefully. At first the large sphere representing the natural universe looked like a darkened glass globe with what appeared to be faintly glowing white dots engraved on its surface. Yet as he looked still closer, the surface of the sphere took on an additional dimension. The entire vista seemed to grow, becoming a vast three dimensional expanse of galaxies, and within those galaxies, a myriad of stars. Never had he seen such a spectacle. He wasn’t just seeing in three dimensions, but four. The vista totally engulfed him. The experience stretched his mind’s capability of comprehension. He drew back, and the sphere took on its original appearance.

“Wow!”

Johann smiled slightly, “I thought you might be impressed. You have just set foot into a new realm of consciousness; you’ve viewed more dimensions of space than you ever could have with your natural senses. God’s perspective of the universe is grander still. He sees the entire universe in its true perspective, something we could never do. That is why I wish you would take your problem to Him.”

“And Hell, where is it in the scheme of things?” asked Chris, who apparently had not heard or had refused to hear Johann’s suggestion.

Johann shook his head in disapproval and pointed toward a small dark sphere, vastly smaller than the star-studded sphere he had previously investigated. “Yes, this is it.”

Again, Chris focused his attention on the sphere. It seemed to grow larger as he gazed at it. At first it appeared void, but after a few seconds, a single faint luminary appeared within. It grew larger and brighter, until he could perceive it for what it was, a dim red star, and circling it, a small lonely world—the realm of Hell.

He focused his attention toward the ruddy orb that appeared barren and lifeless, a vast desert frequently interrupted by glowing red seas. In fact, the night hemisphere appeared dominated by a great sea of fire. A chill ran up his spine as, in his mind, he pictured Serena thrashing about amid the terrible ocean of pain. A moment later he turned away. “It’s a whole universe unto itself,” he gasped. “It’s dreadful.”

“I believe you are beginning to understand,” said Johann. “Do you recall the parable of Lazarus and the rich man?”

Chris nodded. “Yes, I think so. Jesus told that parable. Lazarus was a leper, a poor man who begged for food, just beyond the door of the rich man’s house. In life, the rich man hardly noticed him. Yet when they died, Lazarus was made clean and went to Heaven, while the rich man was sentenced to the fires of Hell.”

“Basically,” Johann said. “Actually, Lazarus was with Father Abraham in Abraham’s Bosom, the forerunner of the Heaven you’ve come to know and love.”

“Abraham’s Bosom?” queried Chris.

Johann paused, searching for the words to explain the difference. “The people of your century might refer to Abraham’s Bosom as Heaven’s waiting room. Before the coming of the Lamb of God, man could not step into the presence of the Father as we can today. Man was still unclean. Still, there were those humans who sought to follow God’s commands as best they could. They made sacrifices in the temple, gave to the poor, held God in reverence. For their sake, God spared them from the wrath of satan and the agonies of Hell. He created a resting place for them, beyond the glory of His presence, beyond the veil of the holy of holies. There they would await the coming of the Messiah, who would, through His perfect sacrifice, grant them entrance into the presence of the Father, into Heaven. This waiting place has long since faded from existence, for it no longer serves a purpose.”

Chris nodded. At this point, he wished that he had studied the Bible more thoroughly during his lifetime. There had been so many opportunities. But he never seemed to have the time. He should have made time. If he had, he might not have found himself in the situation he was in now.

“But allow me to return to the original topic,” said Johann. “The parable of Lazarus and the rich man unfolds great wisdom about what is important and not important in life. But that is not my point in bringing it to your attention. I wanted to focus on a single issue of the parable. Not so much its moral but an aspect of Abraham’s Bosom and Hell that Jesus brings to light.

“In the parable, the rich man who was sentenced to Hell could see Lazarus afar off. He begged for a favor from Father Abraham. If Lazarus could but put a drop of water upon his tongue, he would be grateful. Yet Abraham told him about a wide gulf that separated them, a gulf that none could cross. To cross the entire length of the known universe would be by far a simpler task, for then you would only be dealing with distance. The gulf between Abraham’s Bosom and Hell or Heaven and Hell, for that matter, is not one only of distance but of totally different dimensions that do not so much as intersect.”

Johann directed Chris’s attention to the bright sphere that was Heaven. “Here in Heaven, we come and go as we please, covering vast distances in an instant of time. Yet, it is this same barrier spoken of in the parable that prevents us from visiting Earth or traveling to Hell.”

“But there’s something I don’t get,” replied Chris. “If Hell and Abraham’s Bosom were on two different dimensions of existence, how could the rich man have even seen Lazarus if he was in Hell and Lazarus was in Abraham’s Bosom?”

“Good question,” Johann said. “I can only assume that it was because these planes of existence were so close to one another. Close in one respect, yet a universe apart in another. Jesus preached to the children of Abraham in the Bosom, allowed those who would follow Him to cross over into Heaven. Then He bridged the narrow gap into Hell itself to preach there. Satan tried to entrap Him as he had all other humans who entered into his realm.

“You see, he was not about to surrender the souls he had held captive for so very long. Indeed he felt confident that he could hold captive the most precious human soul of them all, but he was sadly mistaken. The Bible tells us that Jesus took from satan the keys to Hell and set the captives free, and that is exactly what happened. Within two days, he had emptied Hell of nearly a third of its tormented souls.”

“A third,” gasped Chris, “why not all of them?”

“It certainly was not a lack of effort or ability on the part of our Lord. Some just wouldn’t accept Him. Despite their suffering, they could not comprehend His message. In your century, you have a saying, ‘Hell didn’t frighten them, and Heaven didn’t appeal to them.’ Understand, my brother, Heaven is not for everyone, though everyone is free to enter in.”

“And they just decided to remain there, in torment?”

“Essentially,” Johann said. “Of course, satan tried to sway them too. He promised that if they would stay that he would turn over a new leaf. He promised them that their days of torment were over. He promised that Hell would become a great bastion of sin, where they could practice any manner of vice that pleased them.”

“For many, it was an offer too good to pass up, yet it was a lie. The moment that Jesus departed with those who would follow Him, the gates slammed shut once more. Much to their horror, those who remained behind were once more thrown into their chains to resume their eternal torment. They had missed their only opportunity of escape. Since then, the gates of Hell have been closed. Once you are there; there you remain. You are separated from the rest of creation by a dimensional barrier.”

“But an angel took my wife there,” objected Chris. “I saw it in the book. You can get there from here; this dimensional thing doesn’t have to be a problem.”

“Yes, but now you’re talking about angels, not us. An angel, with a far greater knowledge of celestial and interdimensional mechanics than we humans, might accomplish such a feat. I, however, am probably many centuries from realizing such a level of sophistication. Angels travel back and forth from Heaven to Hell and from Heaven to Earth on a regular basis. That is why the Bible speaks of humans entertaining angels unaware. But where does it speak of men and women on Earth entertaining loved ones who have passed on to their reward in Heaven? It does not because it does not happen.”

“Fine,” Chris said, “but I’m more concerned with my wife, not the coming and going of angels. There has to be a way out of Hell for her.”

Johann stared at Chris incredulously. “You haven’t been listening. You hear and comprehend only that which you want to hear. There is no way out of Hell for those sentenced there. Even if you could reach her, snatch her away from that horrible realm, you could not bring her back here.”

“Why not?” Chris asked.

“Because the space time that governs that place is tenuous. If you took her beyond that realm, her reality would fade. Her physical form would vanish, and she would dissolve to become nothing more than a disembodied spirit. It is this fact that confines the physical form of satan and his minions to their eternal prison. As it confines them, it confines your wife. You might be able to see what is happening to her, be a witness to her suffering, but, as in the parable, you will be unable to reach out to her.”

“I will never accept that, Professor Kepler,” said Chris. His voice and expression no longer held that sense of desperation, but of determination. “Look, how many of the souls sentenced to Hell ever manage to escape their torment, even for a short time?”

“None that I have seen,” replied Johann, “Their sufferings go on endlessly. There is not so much as a moment’s respite.” It was only then that he realized he had said too much.

“None that you have seen?” queried Chris, who immediately caught the slip. “This vision you’ve produced, the one that shows the nature of the whole universe, can give us that close of a view?”

“No, not nearly,” came the hesitating reply.

“Then you’ve looked into the black books too, haven’t you?”

The celestial image before them vanished as Johann abruptly turned away. “Yes, I have.”

Chris advanced through the now empty space where the image of creation had existed a few seconds earlier. “Why, professor? Was it scientific curiosity, or just a desire to witness tragedy?”

Johann turned around slowly. The tables had been turned on him. Chris almost expected to have kindled Johann’s anger with his bold remark. In life, this man had been known to have a temper. Instead, the man’s eyes were full of sadness. “You judge me too harshly, young man. That was not my motivation at all. My motivation was to learn all that I could about God’s universe. I wished to continue the quest that I had begun in life.

“At first, I consulted God himself. He told me something of His creation, but He did not reveal everything, far from it. He gave me the intellectual tools; the mathematical foundations I needed to uncover most of the universal secrets myself. In doing so, He gave me what I desired—a scientific challenge.”