Spiritual Wickedness In High Places - Part I
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
In this post, we will start a message titled "Spiritual Wickedness In High Places." We will look at satan and the fallen angels and their influence over the earth.
1. There Are Three Heavens
A. The Third Heaven: The apostle Paul told us in II Corinthians 12 that he was caught up to the third heaven. In II Corinthians 12:2-4 it says "2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." In this passage we see that the third heaven is paradise where Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the holy angels of God are.
B. The First Heaven: The first heaven is described in Genesis 1 as the open firmament of heaven. In Genesis 1:20 it says "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." In this passage the birds that we see flying high in the sky are in the first heaven.
C. The Second Heaven: The second heaven is between the first and third heaven and it is described in Job 1 and Revelation 12. In Revelation 12:7 it says "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." Michael, in this passage, is the archangel as mentioned in Jude 1:9, and the dragon is the devil and satan as mentioned in Revelation 12:9. Also, in Job 1:6-7 it says "6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
In future posts I will share more about this topic.
