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In Ephesians 6:12
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.
What does the heavenly realms mean? Is it heaven? If it means in the heaven? Why is evil spiritual force in the heaven?
Notice that Jesus' position in the heavenly places is "far above all principality and power and might and dominion" that are located in the heavenly places. (Eph 1:21)
We see that Christians are seated in heavenly places right now in Christ. (Eph 3:6)This tells me that heavenly places are here on earth. The prophets foretell Christ establishing his kingdom here on earth, not somewhere out in the galaxies, nebulas, or any other outer space ideas we may imagine.
When heaven intersected with earth at the cross, our access to God was granted in the heavenly places in Christ.
The Greek word (adjective) translated, "heavenly realms" is ἐπουράνιος (epouranios) in Eph 6:12 occurs 19 times in the NT, but is used as an ajectival substantive (ie, without the noun) five times only and all in Ephesians. BDAG lists the following meanings:
(a) of God, Matt 18:35
(b) of Christ, 1 Cor 15:48
(c) of ... heavenly Jerusalem, Heb 12:22; heavenly kingdom, 2 Tim 4:18; heavenly Father, Heb 11:16, etc
(d) as a substantive of things: sitting in heaven Eph 1:20, 2:6; powers of heaven of angelic beings Eph 3:10. "heavenly" can be the dwelling place of evil spirits Eph 6:12 - contrast with Eph 1:3 = "blessed in heavenly realms".
Thus, we have several verses in the same book of Ephesians:
All these are clearly discussing an unseen "locale" for various spiritual forces, the detail of which is not revealed and not important. It is simply the "place" where all spiritual battles occur, and thus does not mean heaven itself which is discussed elsewhere such as Heb 8:5, 9:23, 11:16 and 12:22.
Thus, the safest way to understand this adjectival substantive (unique to Ephesians), "heavenly realms" ἐπουράνιος (epouranios) is simply the "place" where spiritual battles occur.
What does the heavenly realm mean?
In Ephesians 6:12
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.
What do the heavenly realms mean? Is means heaven
Heavenly realms, heavenly places other translations, it does literally mean heaven.
OTHER TRANSLATION
Ephesians 6:12 NET
12 For our struggle[a] is not against flesh and blood,[b] but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness,[c] against the spiritual forces[d] of evil in the **heavens.[**e]
Ephesians 6:12 CSB
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
WAR IN HEAVEN.
About forty years after Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle John saw in his vision a war that will break out in heaven sometime in the future. In this war, he depicts Michael and his angels against Satan and his angels, Satan and his angels did not prevail and were hurled out of heaven. [Read Rev. 12:7-9]
Revelation 12:7-9 Christian Standard Bible
The Dragon Thrown Out of Heaven
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.
GREAT JOY IN HEAVEN
Revelation 12:10 Christian Standard Bible
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down.
SATAN IN THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD.
And Jehovah said to Satan: “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is a good, faithful man. He respects God and refuses to do evil.”
Satan’s Accusation of Job
Job 1:6-8 ASV
6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that [a]Satan also came among them. 7 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? [b]for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.
