The Fall and Retrocausality

Then came the Fall, a catastrophic event that reverberates through history. It not only shaped the future but also illustrates the retrocausality emphasized by physicist Tim Andersen, a crucial aspect of quantum physics. This concept allows us to perceive the fallout from the Fall as a backward motion in time, albeit through a limited temporal lens. The punishment of death that God warned humanity about manifested in their realization of nakedness, in the spiritual death from the Spirit of Life departing, and in the inevitable physical demise they faced—“dust to dust.”

The disobedience led to a separation that caused all of creation to tremble and decay. A formidable divide arose between our four-dimensional understanding of the physical world and the fifth dimension, where God and spiritual entities continue to exist. This dimension, often referred to as heaven, is where God reigns. The Incarnated Lord instructs us to seek the realization of God's kingdom from that dimension within our constrained 4D experience.

The Beginning and the End

When will this realization occur? It has already begun. It transpired at the inception of creation and will culminate at the end. Jesus declared in Revelation that he is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end. This claim seems paradoxical if we view time as linear. However, if we regard it as a sphere, encompassing all without a definitive start or finish, then the Alpha and Omega can coexist eternally. Where does a free-floating sphere find its beginning or end?

In this perspective, the most pivotal event in human history is the incarnation, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, who emerged as a humble carpenter from a Mid-Eastern village. The resurrection is the climactic moment, as it signifies the reopening of the gateway to the fifth dimension.

The narrative surrounding Christ’s crucifixion includes the tearing of the temple curtain, which separated the Holy of Holies—accessible to the priest only once a year—from the rest of the temple. Could this act symbolize God's removal of the barrier between the unified creation and the punishing 4D world?

This event occurred about two millennia ago. While it may feel distant, the resurrection inaugurated the kingdom of heaven, central to Jesus’ teachings. He proclaimed that the kingdom is present, among us, yet also forthcoming—now and not yet. How can this be reconciled?

Pannenberg’s insights and Russell’s scientific explorations reveal two essential concepts: co-presence and prolepsis. Co-presence aligns closely with Andersen’s interpretation of time as an additional dimension. History is dynamic, malleable, and adaptable. Andersen elucidates how this extra time dimension resolves the grandfather paradox in time travel and quantum retrocausality:

> “Yet, because we are moving in a second time dimension, we are free to prevent B [killing your grandfather and preventing your own birth] and remove the retrocausal link from history since we are allowed to ‘change the past’ without paradox. This is because all of history is able to move and change in that second time dimension.”

(Update: Andersen's recent post on time, published just as this was being finalized, compares time to a chord rather than a note, aligning with this theological exploration.)

Russell connects co-presence with quantum entanglement:

> “The analogy is the following: 1) For quantum non-separability, different events in space retain their own spatial contexts. Similarly, for eternal co-presence, different moments in time retain their temporal contexts of pasts and futures. 2) For quantum non-separability, different events in space are entangled, reflecting an underlying non-separable ontology. Similarly, for eternal co-presence, different moments in time are ‘temporally entangled,’ brought into unity by the endless duration of eternity in which they are upheld ‘simultaneously’ but without temporal conflation.”

In simpler terms, Russell suggests that if science indicates that two particles can share the same state across vast distances, then two events can also exist in a shared temporality separated by eons.

The Future is Now

The theological notion of prolepsis ties into the idea of transcending past, present, and future. Russell interprets Pannenberg’s view in this manner:

> “Pannenberg defends the radical claim that the bodily resurrection of Jesus is proleptic in being an anticipation, appearance, and concrete manifestation within history of the reality of the transhistorical eschatological future.”

This concept requires further examination. The eschatological future refers to the New Creation, an anticipated event in Christian belief when, as Julian of Norwich expressed, “all shall be well.” It signifies a restoration of creation to its original state, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. Pannenberg posits that the resurrection is not merely a foreshadowing but a tangible manifestation of that future.

As the Fall reached backward in time to mar all creation, the resurrection simultaneously reaches backward, forward, and through our present moments, embodying hope and reality. Russell cites Pannenberg’s assertion:

> “In the ministry of Jesus the futurity of the Reign of God became a power determining the present . . .”

Reflect on Andersen's explanation of the dynamic nature of history through the extra time dimension. When history can shift in various directions, retrocausality is no longer an issue. The present is influenced by both a fluid past and an uncertain future. Through the resurrection, the kingdom of God emerges as a transformative force in the present.

In John's Revelation, the apostle envisioned heaven merging with earth:

> “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

This vision is striking, even if one might ponder what a New Creation without a sea might resemble, or if it must be entirely urban. Personally, I prefer rural landscapes over city life.

The essential theme is the convergence of heaven and earth, reminiscent of the Garden, the original paradise where the heavens and earth were one. The eschaton represents this reunification. The resurrected body of the humble craftsman from Nazareth serves as visible evidence of a profound truth. The event of complete re-creation is imminent, yet it is also very much present across all dimensions.

Adjusting to the Unusual

How strange it all is. This thought often crossed my mind as I contemplated the fifth dimension and the spiritual truths I glean from the Bible. It’s no surprise that many find the Christian narrative perplexing. Talking snakes? A single piece of fruit causing cosmic upheaval? God searching a garden for humans and crafting clothing from animal hides? A baby born into dire circumstances, later revealed to be both king and divine? A simple carpenter subjected to brutal execution, only to emerge from his tomb three days later, showcasing his wounds? And yet, billions affirm their belief in these events, ready to stake their lives on them?

These accounts stray far from our everyday experiences, and their peculiarity can be off-putting. However, seeking refuge in a “reasonable” interpretation of our world is not the answer. For if we delve into the realm of the bizarre, we must also consider science. Particles intertwined over vast distances? A universe composed solely of relationships between minuscule energy vibrations? Trillions of stars, galaxies, and black holes originating from an infinitesimal point? A mere 5% of the universe comprehensible to us? Entirely new universes emerging ceaselessly? And now the concept of a fifth dimension that challenges our conventional grasp of time?

If the notion of an extra dimension—or several—captures our interest, we must acclimatize ourselves to ideas like fluid history, time perceived as a chord or sphere, and energy emanating from a hidden realm at astonishing rates. We must view our three-dimensional world as part of a much larger cosmos. Embracing the 95% of the universe that currently eludes our understanding is essential.

Those who consider disparaging believers who take these narratives seriously should remember they reside in a delicate glass house. Let us approach these captivating questions with genuine curiosity and humility.