[by Dean Smith] Physicist Itzhak Bars of the University of Southern California (USC) has an interesting theory. He believes there is another dimension of time (other than the one that keeps track of how old we are) and is conducting research to prove his theory.

In his article, Are we missing a dimension of time?, Telegraph reporter Roger Highfield quotes Bars who says, “There isn’t just one dimension of time. There are two. One whole dimension of time and another of space have until now gone entirely unnoticed by us.”

“Time is no longer a simple line from the past to the future, in a four dimensional world consisting of three dimensions of space and one of time. Instead, the physicist envisage the passage of history as curves embedded in six dimensions, with four of space and two of time,” Highfield adds.

Commenting on its physicist’s theory, USC stated:

“Einstein’s theory of gravity and quantum theory don’t fit together. Some piece is missing in the picture puzzle of physical reality. Bars thinks one of the missing pieces is a hidden dimension of time… With two times, Bars believes, many of the mysteries of today’s laws of physics may disappear Of course, it’s not as simple as that. An extra dimension of time is not enough. You also need an additional dimension of space.”

For years, some scientists have included an additional dimension of space in their research (increasing it from three to four) because it helps “reconcile theories of electromagnetism and gravity.” [The three dimensions of space are up/down, forward/back and sideways.]

But by adding a second time dimension, Bars is considered a bit of a heretic among physicists who point out his theory — if true — could lead to time travel.

God standard time

Bars may have an unusual ally in his struggle. Through Scripture, we discover God not only exists in a different realm, but there are hints He exists in a different time dimension as well.

In a curious passage, the Apostle Peter says:

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8 NASV)

Peter suggests the principle of time governing the spiritual realm differs from ours. First he says one day in the spiritual realm is like a thousand years on earth leaving the impression heaven is not affected by passing time. Most have no problem envisioning that.

However, Peter doesn’t stop there and throws a second idea into the equation stating a thousand years in the spiritual realm is like a day to humans.  Phased together, these two concepts intimate God exists in a timeless dimension — where past, present and future merge and linear time (moving from past to future) does not exist.

Other timeless examples

This sense of a different time dimension also shows up in a prophetic word given Jeremiah:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4 NASV)

In God’s time frame, Jeremiah existed before he was physically born and was not only known by God, but even consecrated to service.

The same idea pops up in the writings of the apostle Paul when he says before Jacob and Esau were even born it was determined Esau would serve Jacob and God loved Jacob and hated Esau (Romans 9:11-13)

Of course, both these passages could refer to a prophetic foreknowledge, but perhaps they are references to a different time dimension in the spiritual realm.

Disrupting the spiritual-time continuum?

If the spiritual realm is timeless, how does our time-bound dimension interact with it?

My first recollection of the space-time continuum comes from the movie “Back to the Future.” A young man named Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, travels back in time, changing history, thereby disrupting the space-time continuum and threatening his own existence.

Though the concept of disrupting time is generally relegated to science fiction, on a couple of occasions Jesus not only suggested God exists in a different time dimension, but hints at the possibility of disrupting the “spiritual-time continuum.”

In Mathew 18:18, Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (NASV) [1]

If we read this verse carefully, it says what we bind in the present on earth has been previously bound (in the past) in heaven – a present act initiating a past event in the spiritual realm.

Though there are many ways to interpret this verse, one is binding and loosing on earth affects the past of heaven (at least from our time-bound perspective).

Simply, if the spiritual dimension is timeless, the rules change in our interaction with both the heavenly and even demonic realm.

Jesus made a similar statement when He gave Peter the keys to the kingdom: “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Mathew 16:19 NASV)

The Lord also used the same tense when speaking on forgiveness saying whose sins we forgive, will have previously been forgiven (John 20:23).

It’s difficult to understand the implications, but the significance may lie in the area of spiritual warfare. It is possible our prayers may actually change or bind previous activities of the satanic realm. When we forgive someone who has offended us, the forgiveness extends back in time — perhaps making it appear like the offending incident never took place.

The mysteries of the heavenly realm

There are many ways of interpreting these verses and I have provided one perspective and make no claims it is the right one. The truth is, we will never fully appreciate the mysteries of God’s spiritual realm until we get there.

[1] Your Bible — depending on the year and version — may translate this verse differently. Some, including my 20 year old NASV, read, “whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” which removes any time conflict. But the more recent online version of the NASV incorporates the past tense as noted.

Feature image: Photo: Tim Ellis/Foter/CC-BY-NC