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
In no other book in the Bible is the phrase ‘in heavenly places’ used. Yet, here in Ephesians, it is used five times. Translated from the Greek word epouranios, this term means the sphere of spiritual activities. Unique to this very special book, this term has rich lessons for us. Shall we briefly examine them?
The first use of this term is Ephesians 1:3: ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ’. Here we have the introduction to our spiritual blessings, and the sphere in which we obtain them. While we appreciate the temporal blessings that God grants to us, we are lifted above the temporal to appreciate the spiritual blessings, that which is available to us only through Christ. That is why these blessings are available only to Christians.
Today’s text is the second use of this great expression, and it brings us to the Father’s highest exaltation of the Son. Having finished the work of redemption, the Lord Jesus, ‘when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high’ – Hebrews 1:3.
The third use of this term is Ephesians 2:6: ‘And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’. Where in Ephesians 1:20 we find the exaltation of Christ, here in Ephesians 2:6 we see the exaltation of the saints. Because we are in Christ Jesus, we have been raised to a position so high that we cannot grasp it until we reach Heaven. And yet, this position gives us the privilege of enjoying heavenly places as we worship and serve our Lord according to His Word.
The fourth use of this term occurs in Ephesians 3:10: ‘To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God’. This verse brings us into the revelation of the heavenly realm and the extent to which we are able to grasp the mind of God. The manifold wisdom of God can be known by the Lord’s people, and only by the Lord’s people.
Finally, in Ephesians 6:12, we read, ‘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’. The words ‘high places’ are the same as ‘heavenly places’. This reminds us that the sphere into which our salvation brings us is not only inhabited by God and His angels but is also accessed by the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). The devil remains our bitter enemy and will do be as long as we are in this world. As a roaring lion, he seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8), destroying our testimony and depriving us of the joy of our salvation.
May God grant to us the spiritual eyesight to appreciate the heavenly places into which He has brought us. -Jim MacIntosh