PART ONE: PLACES AND INHABITANTS

The heavenly realms are mentioned numerous times in the Bible but what are they and what have they got to do with us?

According to the Bible the heavenly realms exist in the spiritual dimension and are inhabited by spiritual beings, including God himself. If you were to assume that the heavenly realms are a good place you’d be right (mostly!). They are a spiritual dimension of celestial beings who radiate light and are full of divine love for God and his ways.

However, it’s a mistake to think that, because they are called the ‘heavenly’ realms, they only concern the highest heavens – where everything is in harmony with God. On the contrary, the heavenly realms also include factions of rebellion, of demonic powers and even human spirits. Perhaps, for this reason, it’s more helpful to think of the heavenly realms as simply the spiritual dimensions – both high and low and everything in between!

A DIVINE CONTEXT

When referring to the heavenly realms the Bible often uses earthly language to convey spiritual truths. So when, for example, it speaks of ‘God’s throne’ it does not mean that God is a being like other beings sitting on a throne that is a bit higher and bigger than everyone else’s! When Scripture speaks of God’s throne it means the SOURCE of ALL power and authority – in fact we could even say God IS POWER and IS AUTHORITY.

Similarly it’s important to understand this principle when scripture uses terms like ‘high and low’ or ‘light and dark’ – they are simply terms to express spiritual relationships or dynamics within the context of an all powerful, all knowing and all present God.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEAVENLY REALMS

If you don’t believe that there is a spiritual dimension then the heavenly realms will not make any sense to you (in fact – nor will Christianity or most of the teachings of Christ). It’s an oxymoron to profess to be a Christian (in any meaningful sense) and not believe in the heavenly realms.

The Bible teaches that the heavenly realms are more important than the physical or earthly realms because they are eternal (1 John 2:17). The heavenly realms are the complex universe of the spiritual dimension(s). This spiritual universe has hierarchies of power, laws, armies, envoys, boundaries and citizens. To be ignorant of the heavenly realms is to be ignorant of the true realities and powers that govern life on earth (it’s source, purpose, and meaning).

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ (also known as the Kingdom of God), is a theme Jesus spoke about a great deal in his teaching, conversation and parables. The Kingdom of Heaven – simply put – is Gods rule and reign. Nothing happens in the Heavenly Realms unless God wills it or allows it. Jesus taught us that one characteristic of the Kingdom of Heaven (Gods rule and reign) is that it is already here on earth but also coming in fullness in the future – it is an increasing Kingdom (that’s why we pray, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10).

Conversely the Bible uses terms such as ‘the Dominion of Darkness’ to describe a state of entrapment, alienation and enmity with God and his will.

HEAVENLY REALMS AND THE MATERIAL WORLD

When spiritual realities affect the material world we call this the ‘manifestation’ of the spiritual (whether good or bad). This is not only dramatic ‘supernatural phenomenon’ like miracles, but also hidden influences of great spiritual power that change the course of whole nations over time.

God is everywhere by His Spirit (omnipresent) – in fact, the Bible teaches that he holds the physical universe together by his power (Colossians 1:17) – but He doesn’t manifest his power and presence unless He has a purpose to do so. And this is where it gets really exciting because the Gospel message teaches us that God has determined to show his manifest power on the earth through his Son, Jesus Christ and subsequently through the Holy Spirit and the community of believers…

In Ephesians we read regarding Gods manifest power:

“That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 1:20

And

”His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,“ Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬

Did you know? Here at SPIRIT LIFESTYLE we offer an extensive resource of hands-on Christian training on topics such as healing, prophecy and deliverance? It’s a ‘name your own amount’ subscription with a free week’s trial (cancel any time).

WHAT IS A REALM?

A ‘realm’ refers to a territory and peoples that serve a ruler who exerts their authority over certain lands or domains. As a citizen of a monarchy here in the UK I likely have an advantage in understanding what that means. The law abiding people of that land serve and support ‘the crown’ – represented by the monarch – (serve in government, pay taxes, support the rule of law and the army etc) in return for certain rights and protections (even when away from the country). These passages from Ephesians tell us that Christ sat down at the right hand of God the Father and was made the supreme ruler of the heavenly realms or the spiritual dimensions (Matthew 23:22). When we recognise Christ as our saviour and Lord, and obey his commands to love God and one another (John 14:15) then we also have rights and protections as citizens of his Kingdom too (and we’ll look at these in a future article…).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

However – it isn’t over yet, because the scripture also tells us that not everything in the heavenly realms are submitting to Christs rule and reign… well, not yet – but that time will come…

“With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” Ephesians 1:9-10

WHO LIVES IN THIS REALM?

The Heavenly realms are populated by angels (arch angels, cherubim and the seraphim and other beings) who serve the Lord God as servants: warriors, ministers, consultants, messengers and worshippers. But it is also populated by the fallen angels and all spiritual beings that are rebellious towards Gods authority – the demonic (both great and small), the dark powers of the world and all spiritual forces of evil. So we could say that the heavenly realms are populated by the good, the bad, the ugly!

There is another class of beings that populate the heavenly realms and that is the created beings who have a spirit – that’s you and me – human beings! Whether you are a believer or not, every human has a spirit and that spirit is subject to what is happening in the heavenly realms (for better or for worse). The Bible even talks of those humans who have died as still living in the heavenly realms (for example, ‘the great cloud of witnesses’ Hebrews 12:1). There are also many accounts in the Bible of people having dreams and visions of being in the heavenly realms (‘in the spirit’) and seeing what is taking place there.

Places and structures are mentioned in the heavenly realms such as ‘the courts of heaven‘ (Psalm 82:1) where strategic decisions are made and angelic messengers are dispatched on assignment (2 Chronicles 18). We also read of spiritual realities of earthly structures such as the tabernacle and the heavenly city (Hebrews 8:5, Revelation 21).

So the heavenly realms are rich and complex spiritual dimensions that are both a place of Gods rule and reign but also places of dissent and rebellion.

A HIERARCHY OF SPIRITUAL POWERS

There is a hierarchy of spiritual powers in the heavenly realms. Colossians 1 refers to these as thrones, powers, rulers and authorities. The Bible teaches that God is enthroned in the highest heavens but in Christ he has created these powers to serve his sovereign purposes in the created order:

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” Colossians. 1:16-17

However, possessed by a lust for power and glory these powers have rebelled against God (under Satan’s leadership) and are allowed (for a season) to operate in the lower heavens and earthly realms often behind human beliefs systems, cultural institutions, and governmental structures (what Paul calls – ‘the elementary things of the world’ Galatians’ 4:3 and ‘the elemental spiritual forces of this world’ Colossians 2:20).

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

This is why Jesus refers to Satan as ‘the prince of the air’ because he, along with a third of the angels, have been cast down from the highest heavens (Revelation 12:9) and have been empowered by the worship and allegiance of men to have power on the earth. The Bible calls this idol worship and it takes many forms – from ancient animism to modern Godless ideologies:

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” Romans 1:22

Angels on assignment may operate in the earthly realms (the lower heavens – sometimes called the first and second heavens) but the demonic is strictly excluded from the highest heaven.*

THE BATTLE OF THE AGES

Many religions maintain that the Highest Heaven is distant and inaccessible – certainly way too Holy for the vast majority of the unclean masses. But Jesus changed all that. When Jesus taught about the Kingdom of heaven he was referring to the realm of Gods rule and blessing – the highest heavens. He taught that he had come from that realm and that all he was and did revealed what his Heavenly Father and his Kingdom was like:

“If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:7

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36

His kingdom is merciful and forgiving to the contrite and repentant, it is healing and reconciliation to the poor and the humble, it is close to the broken hearted and the lowly. He taught that anybody who trusted and believed in him (as the Christ the Son of God) would enter that realm or kingdom and belong to it by virtue of being united with him:

”And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,“ Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬

And what’s more – God would make his home in the heart of that person by his Spirit and transform them inside out:

“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23

Jesus taught more about the Kingdom of heaven than anything else and that the highest heavenly realms are not a vague far away place of clouds and angels playing harps but a present reality of joy, love and peace that can be experienced in everyday life. However, the heavenly realms are also a place of strategy and warfare; a realm of valour, battle, heroism, betrayal and loyalty.

and we’ll talk about that next time…

* though there are some notable exceptions in the Bible – for example, the book of Job tells us that Satan himself was allowed to have an audience with God, though his usual habitat was – “roaming throughout the earth going back and forth on it” Job 1:7. (However, on reflection, this audience is not explicitly stated as being in the highest heavens).

Other resources related to this article…