For centuries, heaven has been described through faith, scripture, and personal belief rather than coordinates or measurements. That idea has been challenged again after a former Harvard physics lecturer argued that modern cosmology may point to where heaven is located — not as a metaphor, but as a specific boundary of the universe. The claim, outlined by Dr Michael Guillen in an opinion essay for Fox News, has renewed debate at the intersection of science, belief, and interpretation.
Dr Guillen, who holds doctoral degrees in physics, mathematics, and astronomy and previously taught at Harvard University, begins his argument with a well-established scientific concept: the universe is expanding. This idea dates back to astronomer Edwin Hubble’s 1929 discovery that galaxies are moving away from each other, with more distant galaxies receding faster than those closer to Earth. NASA later named the Hubble Space Telescope in recognition of this work.
According to Guillen’s explanation of Hubble’s findings, there is a consistent pattern to this expansion. As distance increases, so does the speed at which galaxies move away. At an extreme distance, Guillen notes, a galaxy would appear to recede at the speed of light, which is roughly 186,000 miles per second.
Drawing on Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, Guillen argues that physical objects cannot reach or exceed the speed of light. As a result, the cosmic horizon is permanently inaccessible to humans, regardless of technological advancement. In his view, even the most advanced spacecraft could never cross this boundary.
Guillen connects this scientific boundary with descriptions of heaven found in the Christian Bible. He points to references that describe heaven as being “above” Earth and unreachable during human life. He also refers to a three-tier structure mentioned in scripture: Earth’s atmosphere as the lowest heaven, outer space as the middle heaven, and the highest heaven as the dwelling place of God.
According to Guillen’s interpretation, the cosmic horizon aligns with this highest level. He argues that beyond this boundary lies a realm where time no longer functions as it does in the observable universe, existing instead as a timeless state. He suggests that this region could only be inhabited by non-material, light-like beings.
Mainstream astronomers strongly disagree with these conclusions. In standard cosmology, the cosmic horizon is considered an observational limit rather than a physical location. Many scientists point out that time does not literally stop at this boundary and that the horizon depends on the observer’s position in the universe.
Critics argue that Guillen’s claims move beyond empirical science and into personal belief. While the cosmic horizon is a real concept, there is no scientific evidence supporting the existence of a hidden, habitable realm beyond it.
Dr Guillen, who holds doctoral degrees in physics, mathematics, and astronomy and previously taught at Harvard University, begins his argument with a well-established scientific concept: the universe is expanding. This idea dates back to astronomer Edwin Hubble’s 1929 discovery that galaxies are moving away from each other, with more distant galaxies receding faster than those closer to Earth. NASA later named the Hubble Space Telescope in recognition of this work.
According to Guillen’s explanation of Hubble’s findings, there is a consistent pattern to this expansion. As distance increases, so does the speed at which galaxies move away. At an extreme distance, Guillen notes, a galaxy would appear to recede at the speed of light, which is roughly 186,000 miles per second.
The cosmic horizon and its limits
Guillen places this point at a distance of about 273 billion trillion miles from Earth. In cosmology, this boundary is known as the cosmic horizon — the farthest limit of what humans can observe. Beyond this edge, light has not had enough time to reach Earth since the universe began.Drawing on Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, Guillen argues that physical objects cannot reach or exceed the speed of light. As a result, the cosmic horizon is permanently inaccessible to humans, regardless of technological advancement. In his view, even the most advanced spacecraft could never cross this boundary.
Guillen connects this scientific boundary with descriptions of heaven found in the Christian Bible. He points to references that describe heaven as being “above” Earth and unreachable during human life. He also refers to a three-tier structure mentioned in scripture: Earth’s atmosphere as the lowest heaven, outer space as the middle heaven, and the highest heaven as the dwelling place of God.
According to Guillen’s interpretation, the cosmic horizon aligns with this highest level. He argues that beyond this boundary lies a realm where time no longer functions as it does in the observable universe, existing instead as a timeless state. He suggests that this region could only be inhabited by non-material, light-like beings.
Why humans cannot reach it
Guillen further states that while space may exist beyond the cosmic horizon, time as humans understand it does not. This, he argues, fits religious descriptions of heaven as eternal and outside earthly constraints. He also notes that the cosmic horizon is lined with the oldest observable objects in the universe, which he believes implies that whatever exists beyond it predates even the earliest stages of cosmic history.Mainstream astronomers strongly disagree with these conclusions. In standard cosmology, the cosmic horizon is considered an observational limit rather than a physical location. Many scientists point out that time does not literally stop at this boundary and that the horizon depends on the observer’s position in the universe.
Critics argue that Guillen’s claims move beyond empirical science and into personal belief. While the cosmic horizon is a real concept, there is no scientific evidence supporting the existence of a hidden, habitable realm beyond it.
