In the realm of fantasy and science-fiction novels, the concept of parallel universes (a world conceived of as coexisting with and having certain similarities to the known world but different from it in some fundamental way) is quite common. C. S. Lewis wrote of the world of Narnia which co-existed with the London of the 1940s; Star Trek episodes often allude to alternate realities with different outcomes to the ‘standard’ world. The ‘metaverse’ is a phrase used to describe a series of digital spaces which can be traversed seamlessly; the idea of different universes is something we can imagine, even if scientific reality has yet to catch up with imagination!
The Bible speaks of two kingdoms and two worlds: the physical world we inhabit and can see, touch, hear and feel, and the spiritual world which is invisible to our physical senses but which, it declares, is as real; the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. (Eph 6:10-20, see also 2 Kings 6:16-17) Christians live with a foot in both camps, so to speak. We live on earth, but our citizenship is in heaven. (Phil 3:20) We face the temptations of the world (‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life’, as John puts it in 1 John 2:16), but the Spirit of God also lives within us to produce the life of God. (Romans 8:1-17)
The book of Revelation acts as the unveiling of this unseen universe, with John giving us many glimpses into what he saw in heaven (the common name given to this spiritual universe.) In Revelation 11:15-19, we see another such scene, with loud voices in heaven proclaiming, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev 11:15) A time will come, the Bible confidently declares, when the unseen universe will be visible to all, when Jesus will come again, not in obscurity but in power and visible to all. At this point, the confident declaration that ‘You have taken Your great power and begun to reign’ (Rev 11:17) will be heard, and true judgment and justice will be seen. The imagery of this scene, with its temple, ark of the covenant, flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm, contains elements with which we can all relate, but the truths of this invisible universe made visible are beyond our imagination or wildest dreams. Nonetheless, the Bible declares this universe to be real and true, and the response of the twenty-four elders (symbolising the whole church) remains valid: they fell on their faces and worshipped God. (Rev 11:16) This, too, should be our response as we consider the sovereignty of God and the reality of His kingdom and rule and reign.
