The Realms of the Spirit Pt. 4

Foundational Scripture

• Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV): Christ is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation.
  • All things created by Him: heaven, earth, visible, invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities. All creation is through Him and for Him. He is, before all, all things hold together in Him.

The Seen and Unseen Realms

• Two realms: Seen (physical) and Unseen (spiritual).
• The unseen realm is larger, more influential, and foundational.
• We wrongly overemphasize the seen realm.
• What happens in the seen is a manifestation of what has already occurred in the unseen.

Pregnancy Analogy

• Pregnancy illustrates unseen → seen manifestation.
• First trimester: hidden, unseen growth.
• Later: visible bump, contractions, birth pains.
• Jesus uses the same metaphor: “birth pains” (Matthew 24:8; Mark 13:8).
  • Wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes = signs of coming kingdom/judgment.
  • Not the end, but increasing signs of transition.

Israel’s Deliverance from Egypt

• Ten plagues: seen events, but reflections of unseen battles.
• Natural manifestations of supernatural war.
• Internal spiritual battle continued in their hearts: bondage to fear.
• Led to the eventual new generation who possessed the Promised Land.
• Three layers of battle: spiritual, soulical, physical.

The “Already–Not Yet” Kingdom

• Believers live in “inaugurated eschatology.”
• Christ’s kingdom is already established in the unseen realm.
• It will be fully realized in the seen realm at consummation.

The Enemy’s Identity

• Scripture does not give Satan a personal “name”; rather, descriptive titles.
• Ha-Satan = “the adversary” or “the accuser.” It’s a job description, not a proper name.
• Lucifer: comes from Latin mistranslation (Isaiah’s “morning star”). Means “bright one/lucid.”
• The Devil (Diabolos in Greek) = “the slanderer.” Often used interchangeably with Satan in NT.

Inauguration of the Kingdom

• Jesus’ ministry advances into enemy territory. Progression of “invasion”:
  • Gadarenes → Caesarea Philippi → Mt. Hermon → regions tied to giants/Nephilim & Rephaim.
• Psalm 22:12: “Bulls of Bashan”—reference to demonic principalities.
  • King Og of Bashan: bed 13 feet long, linked to Rephaim.

Gadarenes Event (Luke 8:26–33)

• Territory = Gentile, Roman outpost (Golan Heights, Decapolis).
• Demoniac possessed by Legion.
• Jesus expels demons into pigs.
• Significant: Gentiles raising pigs = unclean practice.

Key Events in Enemy Territory

• Peter’s Confession at Caesarea Philippi, near “Gates of Hell” (Luke 9:20).
• Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–36):
  • Moses & Elijah (Law & Prophets) appear.
  • Affirmation that all points to Christ.
• Commissioning of the 70 (Luke 10):
  • Heal the sick, declare kingdom (Luke 10:9).
  • Demons subject to His name (Luke 10:17).
  • Jesus: “I saw Satan fall like lightning” (Luke 10:18).
  • Authority given to disciples over serpents and scorpions.
  • True rejoicing = salvation, names in heaven (Luke 10:20).

Gentile Regions and Jesus’ Authority

• Jews call Him Rabbi, Son of Man.
• Demonic beings in Gentile territory call Him “Son of God, Most High.”
• Message: Jesus = Lord not just of Jews, but of all nations.
• Cosmic geography: points back to Babel (Genesis 10).
• Sending of 70/72 disciples = deliberate echo of 70 nations of Babel.
  • Jesus signals that He is reclaiming the nations.
  • Satan is seen falling; the Revelation 12 motif parallels this.

Cosmic Geography and Authority Shift

• Satan originally = accuser, ruler of death.
• Owned mankind because of sin and death.
• With Christ’s resurrection, the prosecutor’s case was removed.
• Satan = prosecutor without a case.
• Believers’ destiny changes—no longer under the lordship of death.

Satan’s Movement Through Realms

I. Five “I Wills” (Isaiah 14:13–14)

1. “I will ascend into Heaven” → seeks God’s throne.
2. “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” → rule over angels.
3. “I will sit on the mount of assembly in the sides of the north” → rule over mankind on earth.
4. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds” → supreme god of the universe.
5. “I will be like the Most High” (El Elyon) → power lust, God-replacement desire.

II. Five Falls of Satan

1. First Falling (from Third Heaven):
   • Isaiah 14:12–15: “How you have fallen, O Day Star…”
   • Still has access to the “air” realm.
   • Eph 2:2: prince of the power of the air.
   • Example: temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:5–6).
2. Second Fall (Defeated by Christ in Death & Resurrection).
   • Gen 3:15: Seed of woman will crush serpent’s head.
   • Rom 16:20: “God of peace will soon crush Satan.”
   • ALREADY—Spiritually, Jesus has defeated Satan.
   • NOT YET—Physical realm awaits consummation.
   • Culminates in the millennial reign, then the new heavens and earth.
3. Third Fall (Tribulation):
   • Satan was cast down from 2nd/1st heaven to earth.
   • Rev 12:9: dragon cast down, angels with him.
   • Rev 12:12: “woe to earth, Satan knows his time is short.”
4. Fourth Fall (Millennial Binding):
   • Satan was chained in the abyss for 1000 years.
   • Revelation 20:1–3: an angel with a chain locks him in a pit.
5. Fifth (Final) Fall (Lake of Fire):
   • Revelation 20:10: Satan, beast, false prophet cast into the lake of fire, eternal torment.
   • Philippians 2:10: every knee shall bow first.
   • 1 Cor 6:3: believers to judge angels.

Major Theological Themes

• Spiritual warfare precedes and influences physical events.
• Jesus’ ministry = confrontation in enemy territory, signaling kingdom invasion.
• The response from the Kingdom of Darkness was to crucify Jesus, but this was used by God to become the greatest victory and win!
• Titles/names of Satan reflect roles and functions, not personal identity.
• The battle is eschatological: already won in heaven, awaiting full manifestation on earth.
• Final outcome: Satan is judged eternally, Eden is restored, and glory fills the earth.