The corrupted “Heavenly places” is the source of the degradation that has occurred in man and on the earth since the original creation (Gen. 1:1) and that will yet occur. There is a time soon coming when God will cleanse the “heavenly places.” Consider here some O.T. verses that reveal God’s reaction to Satan’s evil work in and from the “heavenly places.”

“He (God) putteth no trust in his saints (the angels); yea, The Heavens Are Not Clean in his sight” (Job 15:15).

“Behold, even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars (the fallen angelic hosts) are Pot Pure in his (God’s) sight” (Job 25:5).

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the ‘host of the high ones that are on high’ (the “spiritual wickedness in high places,” Eph. 6:12), and the kings of the earth upon the earth” (Isa. 24:21).

God’s greatest work is that He sent His “only begotten Son” to redeem man and the whole creation from the “sin and death” that came by the hand of “the Evil One” and his minions.

Thus, we’ve seen, both God and Satan have been working in and from the ‘heavenly realm.’ With this background, we can again return to Ephesians 6:12 concerning the “heavenly places” noting how Satan’s minions govern “this world (Gk. aion, the age)” from “the high places,” from their seats of rank and authority in the “heavenly places.”

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (‘high evil princes’), against (their delegated) powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (earth), against spiritual wickedness in high places (in the heavens)” (Ephesians 6:12).

These five verses refer to the “heavenly places” as seen in Ephesians.

1. This affirms that God has already given us, “the Church … the Body of Christ,” complete spiritual resources to be fitted for our heavenly calling.

“(God) who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…” (Ephesians 1:3).

2. The second mention is how God the Father, because of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, has given Christ power over all creatures in creation – over heaven and on earth:

“(Power, v19) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,…” (Ephesians 1:20).

3. The third reference talks about how Father God, through Christ’s finished crosswork, has qualified us, “the body of Christ,” to share Christ’s authority in the “heavenly places:”

“And hath raised us up together (with Christ), and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:…” (Ephesians 2:6).

4. The fourth mention identifies us as the objects of the attention of the fallen angels who currently pollute the “heavenly places:” These angels will ultimately witness the “wisdom of God” as seen by His secret redemptive plan of “the Mystery of Christ” (Eph.3:4) that was carried out at the Cross and will be revealed “in that day” of “the dispensation of the fullness of times.”

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in ‘heavenly places’ might be known by the church the manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom of God,…” (Ephesians 3:10).

5. This 5^th and final reference reminds us that our battle is not between us and other people here on Earth, but rather a battle with the invisible evil angelic hosts functioning in the “heavenly places:”

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

The Current Arrangement: Note that the Angel Gabriel was hindered from coming to Daniel for 21 days. Here we have a glimpse into the spiritual world and the conflict concerning the destiny of the universe, all taking place behind the scenes. The holy angels such as Gabriel are performing God’s will, but they are resisted by other spiritual beings, Satan’s fallen angels, who only foster spiritually sourced wickedness during this age.

In Daniel 10 we get a glimpse how Satan’s evil angelic hierarchy still today rule over localities on the earth, as they govern them from the “heavenly places.” Gabriel says that he was sent from heaven in specific answer to Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel had left the third heaven to bring the answer as soon as Daniel started praying (Daniel 10:12). But, Gabriel, coming out of the third heaven, ran into trouble on the way as he was delayed 21 days only due to the evil angel “the prince (the angelic overseer) of the kingdom of Persia.” Gabriel called upon the Michael the Archangel (God’s highest angel) as they were engaged in an encounter with a series of demonic kings and princes, including those called “the prince or kings of Persia” (v13) and then with “the prince of Greece” (v20).

“And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. ¹¹ And he (Gabriel) said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. ¹² Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” (Daniel 10:10-14)

We should note that there is very little in the Old Testament about God’s activity in the heavenly realm of creation. The O.T. Scriptures are mainly about God forming the nation Israel and work to restore His authority in “the Earth.” “Now therefore, if ye (Israel) will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all The Earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5).

By contrast, when we come to the Apostle Paul’s ministry, the Bible switches from “the earth” to matters of the “heavenly places…,” which we are discussing in this study. After all, Paul was save by Jesus from heaven and was given a new heavenly gospel of a heavenly calling for the new creation “the body of Christ,” that is destined to dwell “eternal in the heaven” (cf. Philippians 3:20-21, 2Cor 5:1b), where they will also co-reign with Christ in the “heavenly places.”

Now, let me address the misguided claims of so-called Bible authorities, as critics, who complain about the King James’ italicized (inserted) words that are added to the Bible for clarity. We see it the phrase “heavenly places (KJV),” which is mocked because the original Greek does not have “places.” Thus, some translate it “the heavenlies.” But, actually, the word “places” is very much needed in order to construct a complete English thought of the translation. Therefore, the Authorized KJV translators rightly inserted “places.” If we remove “places,” we rob ourselves of an important link to the supporting verse seen below.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸And prevailed not; neither was their PLACE found any more in heaven. ⁹And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out (of his PLACE in heaven) into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:7-9)

The word “place” in verse 8 means a “position, or dwelling.” Satan and his fallen angels are currently functioning in their “places,” or positions of authority in “heavenly places” today, but they will be tossed out and onto the Earth halfway through the future seven-year Tribulation (Rev. 12:12-13, above). Recall the Old Testament verses about God and Satan both working in the “heavenly places”; God will ‘cleanse’ those heavenly regions of Satan and his evil minions as we see in Revelation 12.

Note here how that there are God ordained “stories (like floor levels in a building) in the heaven,” meaning levels of rank an authority “in heavenly places” to be occupied for ruling of “the heaven” and “the earth.

“It is he (the Lord) that buildeth his ‘stories’ (Heb. mala, levels of rank) in the heaven, and hath founded his troop (Israel, His ‘flock’) in the earth; he that calleth for the (judgment) waters (Heb. maim, flood) of the sea (of the rebels of humanity), and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” (Amos 9:6)

When the “heavenly places” are freed of the evil angelic hosts, Father God will install us “the Church the Body of Christ” into those “places” of power, rank and authority to govern in and from the “heavenly places.” After all, Christ had originally created these positions in the “heavenly places” for His universal rule over “the heaven and the earth.”

“¹⁶by him [Christ] were ‘all things’ (all these levels of power) created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all (these) things were created by him, and for him:…               ²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things (all ‘the positions of powers’) unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things (the powers) in earth [by using Israel], or things (powers) in heaven [by using us the Body of Christ].” (Col. 1:16, 20)

Note here in this parable (below) how Jesus promises that, after He goes to heaven and returns with the Kingdom at His 2^nd coming, certain ones of the faithful of Israel will have authority the reign over a number of cities on earth. Here the “nobleman” of the Parable represents Jesus, who gave His disciples His “gospel of the kingdom” to invest, to proclaim, as He did while on earth… to seek and save “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

“He (Jesus) said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country (Heaven) to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴But his citizens (Israel) hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, that when he (the nobleman – Jesus Christ) was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading (investing). ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. ¹⁷ And he (Jesus) said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, Have Thou Authority Over Ten Cities.” (Luke 19:12-17)

For Jews who are seen as having been faithful in His absence, at His 2nd coming, they will receive authority to reign to various degrees on earth in the Millennial Kingdom. This then agrees with what we read in Revelation 5:10 and 20:6.