Man Captures Unearthly Moment 'Gates Of Heaven Open' While Sky Was Still Pitch Black
A dad was stunned to see 'biblical' scenes in the sky as a bright light shone down in the pitch black - just minutes after a SpaceX rocket launched less than 150 miles away.
Tavaras Brinson, 38, was on his way home on Friday Morning last week (6 May) when he saw a white ray of light piercing through the parting clouds.
He believes the moment was a 'religious experience', saying he was convinced it was 'God coming back', and posted the video on Facebook - where it has been viewed 1.2 million times.
Brinson said he feels 'blessed' to have recorded it on camera, with footage showing the light beaming down over Bradenton, Florida, illuminating the black sky.
The construction worker from Ellenton, Florida, said: "It was like the gates of heaven were opening.
"It was dark and then all of a sudden a bright hole opened up in the sky. I watched it open. It was amazing, I thought it was God coming back.
"I believe in God, and I do believe this was a religious experience. I've never seen anything like this, ever. I feel blessed.
"When I looked, I thought I had to capture a video of this. We were there for a good 30-40 minutes and it was still there. It wasn't a star, it was abnormal.
"People were saying it was a rocket launch, but I don't know. I've seen rocket launches before and they didn't look like that. It was biblical."
Aerospace company SpaceX confirmed it launched rocket Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 5.42am that morning, just nine minutes after Brinson's sighting 150 miles away.
Some Facebook users pointed out the possible connection, but dad-of-three Brinson insists he's seen rocket launches before 'and they didn't look like that'.
One person commented: "I think it's the SpaceX launch. There was an article stating it would create the jellyfish effect."
Another agreed: "It was a launch."
Many other Facebook users, meanwhile, described the gap in the clouds as a 'portal to heaven', saying it was all down to the handiwork of 'God'.
One said: "That looks like a portal to heaven."
Brinson replied: "Yeah, that was my first thought. That's why I said it was beautiful."
Someone else said: "And people keep talking about God not being real."
One of Brinson's family members in the UK also said: "Omg it's like it's a portal opening up the heavens you haven't seen nothing until you on this side of the world nephew. All I can say is honey keep your eyes open more is coming your way I've seen it."
Another wrote: "Look at God's handy work. Only the father can do that, no man on earth can do. Look at God, he is truly the man. If you don't have him, you haven't got nothing at all."
SpaceX's 6 May launch contained 52 satellites to support the firm's Starlink Mission, which aims to provide internet coverage across the world.
Jess Hardiman