Michael Guillén (a scientist with a PhD in physics, math, and astronomy from Cornell, taught physics at Harvard) published an intriguing, thought-provoking opinion piece here entitled Is heaven real? Science may reveal where God’s eternal kingdom exists.

“Our best astronomical observations — and Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity — indicate that time stops at the Cosmic Horizon. At that special distance, way “up” there in deep, deep, deep space, there is no past, present or future. There’s only timelessness . . . Unlike time, however, space does exist at and beyond the Cosmic Horizon. Which means the hidden universe beyond the Cosmic Horizon is habitable, albeit only by light and light-like entities . . . According to modern cosmology, the Cosmic Horizon is lined with the very oldest celestial objects in the observable universe. That means whatever exists beyond the Cosmic Horizon predates these oldest objects . . . predates the so-called big bang . . . predates the beginning of the observable universe.”