What is the place of heaven? Heaven is often described as a "highest place", the holiest place, a Paradise, in contrast to hell or the Underworld or the "low places" and universally or conditionally accessible by earthly beings according to various standards of divinity, goodness, piety, faith, or other virtues or right beliefs or simply divine.

Is paradise the same as heaven? It is used instead of Heaven to describe the ultimate pleasurable place after death, accessible by those who pray, donate to charity, and believe in: Allah, the angels, his revealed books, his prophets and messengers, the Day of Judgement and divine decree (Qadr), and follow God's will in their life.

What does it mean to be in the realm of God? Kingdom of God, also called Kingdom Of Heaven, in Christianity, the spiritual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on Earth of God's will. The phrase occurs frequently in the New Testament, primarily used by Jesus Christ in the first three Gospels.

What are the heavenly places / heavenly realms?

The book of Ephesians mentions the "heavenly places" or "heavenly realms" several times (Ephesians 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). This is from the Greek word epouranios and here refers to "the sphere of spiritual activities." The spirit realm is a real place, and within the spirit realm are holy spiritual beings like the angels as well as evil spiritual beings like the demons.

For example, Ephesians 1:20 talks about Jesus being seated in the heavenly realms. God "raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." Later in Ephesians, however, Paul talks about evil spirits at work within the same realm: "For 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" (Ephesians 6:12).

Since we live on earth, as humans, we have limited knowledge and understanding of the spirit world. What we do know, we learn from the Bible. God Himself is spirit (John 4:24); He is not limited by time and space or physical matter. He is above it all.

God lives in heaven (Acts 7:55; Isaiah 63:15), which is its own unique place, different from the heavenly realms where all spirit beings may inhabit, and also different from the heavens (the sky or atmosphere mentioned in Genesis 1:1; Psalm 148:4). In heaven, God is seated on His throne (Matthew 23:22; Hebrews 4:16) surrounded by worshipping angels (Revelation 7:11; Psalm 99:1). He sometimes sends angels to appear on earth, even taking on the form of men, to share messages from Him with specific people (Genesis 18:2, 16–17; 19:1–2; Daniel 9:10–23).

Satan and his demons live in a different part of the heavenly realms. It's important to note that Satan and the evil spirits that follow him are no match for God and His angels; they are not God's equal opponents in any way but are created beings who have temporary power (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 22:31; Revelation 12:12). They are hard at work to destroy God's plans for individuals and the world (see John 10:10). There is a real spiritual battle going on in the spirit realm, and this battle impacts us here on earth. We see an illustration of this in Daniel 10 where we learn that Daniel's angelic messenger was detained by an evil spirit (verse 13). We also see the reality of spiritual warfare in passages like Ephesians 6:10–19, 2 Corinthians 10:3–6, and in the book of Revelation.

There are a few things to take away from all of this. First, the heavenly realms are real and have spiritual battles taking place. And second, we are not powerless in the fight. God gives us the weapons we need to fight: "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). He gives us the armor we need to stand strong: "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13).

As believers, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to put on our spiritual armor and engage in the battle (Ephesians 6:10—18). We need not fear because God already has the victory (1 John 4:4; John 16:33; Revelation 19—20). We should also remember that, as much as we feel anchored to our lives here on earth, there is an eternal life to come (2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 John 5:11).

Christians should be interested in the spirit world; it is just as real as the physical world. However, Christians should not be preoccupied with the spirit world. As humans, we are made up of our body, soul, and spirit—they are all equal components that make up who we are (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3 John 1:2; Psalm 16:9). It is important for us to tend to our spirits, just as we do our bodies and souls. When we are saved, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and our human spirits are born again (John 3:1–8; Ephesians 1:13–14; 1 Corinthians 6:19). It is the Holy Spirit who makes us into a new spiritual creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

As we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us, we become more and more like the God in whose image we were created—God Himself is spirit and we worship Him through the Spirit (John 4:24). We see God at work in the physical world (Psalm 8:3; 107:24), and it is by cooperating with Him in our spirits and through our actions that we are transformed and empowered to live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:14–16; Galatians 5:16, 25). We learn to recognize His voice that speaks to our spirits (John 10:27).

There are different components within the spirit world to consider, however. Not everything that is "spiritual" is of God. Satan and his demons also reside within the spirit realm where he "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy's attacks are on our bodies (Luke 9:42), souls (James 3:14–15), and spirits (Matthew 16:23; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5). Tapping into ANY spirit that is not the Holy Spirit opens one up for Satan's destruction. There are many people who consider themselves to be spiritual, but this is not the same as life in Christ, empowered by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:1–9). Spirituality apart from the one true God through Jesus Christ is, at best, a false spirituality bereft of true life. At worst it is a spirituality empowered by evil. Even the evil spirits can recognize the difference (Mark 3:11) and will not submit to a false version of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:13–16).

When we read the Bible, there's no denying that the spirit world is real and there is a battle going on at this very moment (Daniel 10:12–14; Ephesians 6:12; Jude 1:9). On one side is those who follow and serve God—His angels and believers. On the other side is the spiritual forces of darkness. This is why we, as believers in Jesus Christ, are commanded to be vigilant and alert, so that we will be able to recognize the attacks of Satan (1 Peter 5:8–9; 2 Corinthians 2:11). There is no need to fear, though, "for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). God has given us the tools and weapons we need to be victorious against any spiritual attacks of the enemy (Ephesians 6:10–18). And we do not fight alone. God Himself is with us, and He sends His angels to serve on our behalf as well (Hebrews 1:14). There is no question about the outcome of the war; Satan is a created being with no power over God. God has the ultimate victory (John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57; 1 Peter 1:3–9; Revelation 20:7–10). Until Jesus returns, we are called to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:10–11). We are also told to "submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

Yes, the spirit world is real, but our focus should be on glorifying and inviting the Holy Spirit in our lives rather than paying too much attention to demonic powers. Overemphasis on the powers of darkness is unhealthy and useless for our walk with God. Only God has total power and dominion in the spirit world, and through Him we can overcome any attack that Satan sends our way (1 Peter 5:11; Isaiah 54:17). We were once in darkness, so why would we look back into the darkness? "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (Ephesians 5:8–11). We thank God for bringing us into His marvelous light and empowering us to live in step with the Holy Spirit.