Heavenly Places .pdf

Heavenly Places
Only in the book of the Ephesians is the phrase in heavenly places is mentioned
(The Diaglott: puts it “in the heavenlies”), and each time the context gives us a clue of what
the phrase means and what lessons Paul wants us to take from it.
Verse

Conclusion

Lesson

Eph 1:3
“Blessed be that God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual
Blessing in the heavenlies, by Christ (Diaglott)

Every spiritual blessing is
made possible by Christ:

The believer should
remember how
important Christ is.

Eph 1:20-21
“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised
him from the dead, and set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all
principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not
only in this world, but also in that which is to
come”

God exalted Christ to be
higher than everything:

The believer should have
nothing more important
than their allegiance to
Christ.

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

Our hope is to share the
exultation of Christ:

The believer must strive
to develop his thinking
now to be like Christ.

Eph 3:9-10
“ And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God,
who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the
intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by
the church the manifold wisdom of God,”

The great commission to
preach the gospel, and
now the rulers of the
Gentiles (principalities
and power in heavenly
places) would need to
hear the gospel.

The believer needs to
preach to those around
him, no matter what
their position.

Eph 6:12
“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.”

People were changing the
Truth, and saying that the
Gentiles shouldn’t be part
of God’s plan. That
included people in
authority.

The believer needs to
hold firm to the truth of
the Gospel’s universal
hope.

So we see that the phrase “in heavenly places” is not talking about literal heaven going, but of the
exalted position we have in Christ. We are not taken to the heaven literally, but figuratively: we have
been given the amazing blessing and opportunity to share in Christ’s exalted status. Christ is currently
higher than any power on this earth. He’s offered salvation to all who believe, are baptised and remain
faithful. There is nothing that this world can offer that is more important than him, and we are
thankful that God has brought him to His right hand. We show that thanksgiving by our actions and
our words. Do our actions and words show that we have been called to the heavenlies in Christ Jesus?
(The information above is summarised from Ryan Mutter’s book, The Ecclesia at Ephesus, pages 122127)