Are There Black Holes?

Acts 1:11
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

A couple of our radio listeners have written to ask us whether there really are black holes in space.

A black hole is described as an object in space so massive that its own gravity has caused it to collapse in on itself until it is immeasurably small. This increases its gravity to the point where the gravity even pulls light into its center. At this point, the object has effectively disappeared from the known universe, and even the normal laws of space and time don’t operate. However, it’s still there, its incredible gravity sucking in everything in space that gets too close, including light.

But the question is, is there any such thing as a black hole? The idea of black holes grew out of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Obviously, no one has ever seen a black hole. But scientists who are looking for them believe they would cause some effects in space around them that could be seen. Scientists have been searching for evidence of a huge star gravitationally collapsing in on itself. They know that gravitational collapse does happen. But they don’t know if a super giant star could collapse in this way, or if it would result in a black hole.

So far, black holes are simply theory. Not all scientists are convinced that every prediction made by Einstein’s theory of relativity is accurate. But whether or not there are black holes, we do know that one day the entire universe as we know it shall end when our Lord returns to begin the new heavens and new earth.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, prepare me now through Your Word so that I will be ready for You when You return for me. Amen.

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