The verse Ephesians 6:12 states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, as well as against the rulers and authorities.”
Heavenly realms
Do bad spirits exist in heaven? This stanza appears to imply as much, though. However, we must comprehend Paul’s meaning when he refers to the “heavenly realms,” or “heavenly places,” as some translations put it.
This phrase occurs four other times in Ephesians:
• 1:3: “Glory be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has bestowed upon us every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenly realms.” • 1:20 – “… which he exerted in Christ when he ascended to the heavenly realms and seated him at his right hand.” • 2:6: “And God made us sit with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, and he raised us up with Christ.” • 3:10: “His intention was that the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms should now be made aware of the manifold wisdom of God through the church.”
Dwelling with Christ
According to Ephesians 1:3, the heavenly realms are where God has blessed us—that is, Christians—in Christ, and Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God has elevated us to be with Christ now while we continue to spend our lives in this world. Stated differently, the heavenly places represent the spiritual domain where followers of Christ currently reside. According to Ephesians 1:20, Christ was likewise risen from the dead and is currently governing in the heavenly realms, “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.”
Ephesians 1:20–21, 3:10–6:12 all attest to the same thing: there are demonic spiritual forces in the highest realms.
What then is happening in Ephesians 6:12? The letter’s fresh and abrupt portion begins with Ephesians 6:10. Just now, Paul was outlining how Christians’ lives in the domains of marriage, employment, and family should be shaped by the gospel.
However, in Ephesians 6:11, Paul speaks of “stand[ing] against the devil’s schemes” and emphasizes the importance of donning the “full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17). The idea is that the devil will target us most in our daily lives, particularly in the domains of marriage, employment, and family. The devil will use “flaming arrows” against us as we attempt to carry out the gospel in these areas (Ephesians 6:16). We fight the “spiritual forces of evil” because of this (Ephesians 6:12).
Christ has more power
The good news is that God has provided us with armor to wear so that we can stand firm (Ephesians 6:10, 13, 14–17; the gospel itself is the armor listed in verses 14–17), and that Christ has been raised above all such powers (Ephesians 1:20–22). Therefore, He has complete power and authority over them.
Paul’s use of “heavenly places” in Ephesians is distinct from “heaven.”
See our article What is the third heaven? for additional information about heaven.
