“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 KJV).

Why does Paul (here above) conclude his letter to the Ephesians with this description of an ongoing conflict between the members of “the church… the body of Christ” and “spiritual wickedness in high places”? The answer to this question may surprise you as it adds great importance to our heavenly eternal calling “in Christ.”

It is notable that Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is a book that consistently points us toward the “heavenly places.” Notice in the following verses how we are already equipped for our eternal purpose in heaven.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…” (Ephesians 1:3).

“Which [mighty power] 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).

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

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

The phrase “heavenly places” is found exclusively in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, appearing four times. The Greek one word for “heavenly places” is “epouranios,” meaning “above the sky,” thus it refers to the heavens beyond. On one occasion, it is rendered “high places,” as seen in our key text concerning the location of Satan’s band of fallen angels. These are they who guide the “spiritual wickedness” of “this world” from their “high places.”

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians lifts the minds and hearts of believers to lofty heights as it points toward the end of all the dispensational ages. As the book of Ephesians begins to wind down, a drastic shift to what some call a dark and depressing tone. Why does the Holy Spirit lead the Apostle Paul to end such a glorious letter about God’s workings in the “heavenly places” by then referring to Satan’s wicked activities in them through “the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This because we as believers need to know about the ongoing conflict of all ages… and that God’s plan to upend “the high places” of Satan’s current government in the “heavenly places.”

Bible commentators and readers have needlessly struggled with Ephesians’ so-called “out-of-place” reference to Satan’s behavior in the “heavenly places.” But, if they approached the Bible dispensationally, as Paul’s 2 Timothy 2:15 commands us, there would be no difficulty. Like so many other Bible concepts, it would be unbelievably clear. Remember, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We will see how dispensational Bible study enables us to understand Ephesians’ handling of the “heavenly places….”

We must recognize what’s going on from age to age; from that of the “time past” concerning historical and prophetic Israel… to the “but now” that we live in today under the Paul’s grace gospel… unto “the ages to come” when Christ’s reign will fill “all things, both which are in heaven and on earth” (cf. Eph. 1:10).

The Bible opens with, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth …” (Genesis 1:1). From “In the beginning” until the Apostle Paul’s ministry begins in Acts 9, Scripture mainly focuses upon God’s workings in the earthly realm, to bring His kingdom “on earth,” as promised to Abraham’s seed, the nation Israel. The so-called Lord’s prayer is really a Jewish prayer that Jesus gave to Israel… for Israel. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Now we consider some rare O.T. glimpses of God’s wrath concerning the heavenly realm.

“The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and His Kingdom Ruleth Over All” (Psa. 103:19).

“Then the earth shook and trembled (in time past); the foundations of the heaven moved and shook, because he (The Lord) was wroth (angry)…. He bowed (stretch opened) the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet” (2 Sam. 22:8, 10; cf. Psa. 18:7, 9).

This (above) is in the past tense and appears to refer to a judgment on earth that occurred between Gen. 1:1 and 2, after Lucifer’s fall and before Adam was created later in Genesis. But, below se see a judgment to come upon the evil “heavenly host” and also the “Idumea (Edomites, Esau’s idolatrous lineage)” who have intermingled with Israel.

“… all the (fallen angelic) host of heaven shall be dissolved (vanish), and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll (contracted, reduced): and all their host (the evil angels) shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from a fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea (Edomites, Esau’s lineage), and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood…” (Isa. 34:4-6).

This above appears to refer to Rev. 12:7-9 (below), when Satan and his angels will be cast down from the “heavenly places” in the Mid-Tribulation. This eviction of Satan and his angels from the “heavenly places,” that will purify the “heavenly places.”

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸ And prevailed not; Neither Was Their PLACE Found Any More In Heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out Into The Earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:7-9)