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Verse:When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? —Psalm 8:3, 4
German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) once said, “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and reverence, the more often and more steadily one reflects on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”45 Human admiration and curiosity have led astronomers and space scientists to look as far as possible into the wonders of God’s universe.
But so far, professional astronauts have reached the moon and no further. In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly into outer space. Inspired by that event, Dennis Tito (b. 1940) dreamed of going to space.
Finally, on April 28, 2001, he joined the Soyuz TM-32 mission and spent seven days, twenty-two hours, and four minutes in space and orbited the earth 128 times. So, Dennis Tito, a billionaire, became the first space tourist, funding his own trip into space. But how much did this adventure cost him? Just for his ticket, he paid no less than $20 million. And remember, he never left the earth’s orbit! At the Second Coming, God’s faithful children from all ages and from all places around the world will be taken through the starry skies to heaven (John 14:1–3). We are told that this space voyage from earth to heaven will take “seven days.”46 Some people speculate that a week is needed so that those who never kept a Sabbath could do so before entering the heavenly realms.
In their imagination, that Sabbath would be kept on another planet. But nowhere in the Bible or in the writings of Ellen White is this ever suggested.
All she says is simply that the ascension to heaven will take seven days. And how much do we have to pay for the trip through space? Nothing at all —God has already paid for it! When flying into space, astronauts are confined to their small spaceships, along with just a few colleagues. In contrast, the saints will be taken to heaven by God’s transportation. They will enjoy the company of all the redeemed from the earth, along with the holy angels and Jesus Christ Himself. No human endeavor or accomplishment can compare to this supreme reward. By God’s grace, you and I will be there!