We generally live in a three-dimensional world. In some areas, that is reduced to two. For instance, printed material is on a flat surface, yet from that flat surface, we are able, through our imagination, to conjure up images that words in a book are telling us. We mentally move between two and three dimensions. When we see a movie on a flat screen, whilst it is two dimensions, we can imagine it in three dimensions; and with 3D glasses, we create the impression of three dimensions. So, it is with photos and many other things where, without thinking, we move between the two. Architects look at two dimensional plans and can, in ‘the spirit of their mind,’ visualize a three-dimensional building.

The Bible however, talks about a fourth dimension without using the words fourth dimension. It can occasionally be seen by those living in three dimensions of time, space, and matter. The fourth dimension is the realm of the ‘spiritual dimension.’ Christians have the fourth dimension with in them … within their “spirit of man.”

²⁷ The spirit of man is the candle [light] of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly [the soul]. Proverbs 20:27 (KJV)

This is illustrated in the lives of many of the Patriarchs and Prophets. For instance, in the very opening chapters of Genesis, we see that Adam walked in the presence of God, saw God and talked with Him; that is, until sin drove a wedge between God and humanity effectively cutting off that daily vision into the fourth dimension from regular human contact. Abraham spoke to God and heard His voice. Angels appeared in the form of men and met with him. They had no difficulty in moving between the three-dimensional world into a fourth dimensional unseen world. Moses, on the mountain, was able to see the rear of God as He walked by. Daniel met with an Angel, by the river bank. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego met with one who looked like the Son of God while in the fiery furnace, and even Nebuchadnezzar saw Him. Elisha could see the armies of God in the heavens and asked for the servant’s eyes to be opened so that he could also see. His servant’s eyes were then opened, showing that it is possible to petition God to see beyond the natural. Jesus also moved between the third and fourth dimension after His resurrection. He was seen in the flesh and yet was able to come through a wall.

What are the qualities of the bodies of those who live in the fourth dimension? They seem to have no limitations. Matter doesn’t hold them back nor does gravity seem to hold them down, (nor does the Sin-nature hold the believer captive.) The disciples saw Jesus ascended into the clouds. Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire.

The Apostle Paul also tells us that He knew a man, which is thought to be himself, who was taken up into the paradise and saw things too wonderful to be described. Such was the experience that he wasn’t even sure if he was physically in the body or in the spirit.

The fourth dimension is real.

The Bible tells us that we are ‘surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses’ and while we might not see them, they are none the less very real. They are there, cheering us on, encouraging us to run our race well. They have already passed fully into the fourth dimension of the spiritual realm.

The Bible tells us that the things that are unseen are eternal (2Cor. 4:18) like God who is spirit (John 4:4) and the human “spirit of man” (Zech. 12:1) but the things that are seen are temporal. The Earth and all that is in it is perishing. Heaven and Earth will pass away and a new Heaven and Earth will unfold. What an exciting day it will be when we can see as we are seen and know as we are known.