Heavenly Warfare

Paul uses the expression "heavenly places" several times in the book of Ephesians. We are told that God the Father "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). The reason we are blessed in the heavenly places is that we are united to Christ Jesus who is Himself seated in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20). Thus, just as Christ was raised from the dead and seated in the heavenlies, so we, who are united to Christ by faith, are also "seated...with Him in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 2:6). 

We are tempted to think that being in the heavenly places means being at rest and at ease. We are now seated "above it all" and our lives as Christians will be easy and free from conflict. However, in Ephesians 6:12, Paul tells us, "...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." The heavenly places are not a place of rest, at least not yet. The heavenly places are where we encounter spiritual forces of evil; the heavenly places are our field of combat.

Being raised up with Christ doesn't mean that our warfare is over. It means that we've been called up to the big leagues. Whereas before, our conflicts were merely earthly, "against flesh and blood," being seated in the heavenlies with Christ means that our warfare is with spiritual forces of darkness. Our fights are not easier as Christians but more difficult, which is why we put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). Jesus is currently ruling over the battle from His throne until His enemies are all placed under His feet (Hebrews 10:13), and we are called to join Him in the battle to spread His kingdom to the uttermost parts of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20).