Understanding the Spirit Realm

What is the spirit realm? We all have varying ideas and concepts of this invisible place, but what does the bible have to say about it?

[Colossians 1:16] For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (NKJV)

This scripture acknowledges that there are things made that are invisible to us, in heaven and also on earth. And that if all things were created through Him, then He evidently has sovereignty over all things.

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[Ephesians 6:12] 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. (ESV)

This verse talks about cosmic powers. The word cosmic literally means: of or relating to the universe or cosmos, especially as distinct from the earth. Other synonyms are infinite, limitless and boundless.

From these two scriptures we are beginning to see a picture of something that is vast, large, immeasurable and completely invisible. This is in fact the spirit realm.

How big is the spirit realm? For every square inch of our universe there is an equal square inch of the spirit realm, and more. There are parts of the spirit realm that exist beyond our universe.

What we know as our universe is only a small part of a whole realm of existence. In other words, our universe is only a puzzle piece to an entire jigsaw puzzle.

Let’s get a little more specific on how the spirit realm looks. Just as we see the earth having mountains and valleys, large cities and open farmlands – we also see regions of the spirit realm with similar features.

In demonic parts of the spirit realm we have seen places called “The Valley of Despair” and in heavenly parts of the spirit realm we have seen places called “The City of Angels”. There are landscapes in the spirit realm that mimic what we have on earth. But to be more accurate, the earth was formed based upon the landscapes of the spirit realm since it was the spirit realm that existed first.

So let’s rewind back to the beginning. In [Genesis 1:1] it says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

This tells us that God created the heavens first and then the earth. The heavens exist in the spirit realm. “The heavens” are still yet only a small part of what comprises the entire spirit realm.

There are spiritual places located in the heavenly realms, on the earth, under the earth and under the sea.

[Revelation 5:3] But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. (NIV)

[Isaiah 27:1] In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword - his fierce, great and powerful sword - Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea. (NIV)

[1 Samuel 5:3] When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! … (NIV)

Dagon was the name of a Philistine idol. It was literally half fish and half man. In today’s language this name can stand for “mermaid spirit”.

We have established that there exists spiritual rulers, domains, powers, principalities and authorities in heavenly places, upon the earth, under the earth and in the sea. We must also realize that God Himself is a Spirit, and since He was never created but always was it implies that He Himself is a spiritual realm all to Himself.

Let’s use our universe as an example to illustrate the depth of the spirit realm. Earlier we said that for every square inch of our universe there exists an equal and even greater measure of the spirit realm.

Let’s use the fastest travel time possible in our example: light. Nothing travels faster than light. In fact, light speed is 186,000 mi/s. That is 670,000,000 mph.

It would still take you 2 seconds to travel from the earth to the moon. 8 minutes between the earth and the sun. 5 hours to get from earth to Pluto. 4 years to get to the closest star. 2 million years to get to the next galaxy. And there are millions of galaxies with greater distances between each of them, only within our observable universe.

This gives us a picture of just how much space is occupied by the spirit realm, and is no surprise that entire vast kingdoms can exist that have many legions of demons that could take residence and possession over a single human being.

It is no surprise then that entire regions of captivity that expand as far as the eye can see would be set up for as little as one soul.

We have seen many spirits operate through the sun, moon, stars, planets and constellations. It is quite literal that there are large principalities and dominions in heavenly regions (outer space) and in different parts of the universe. This is not merely metaphorical, these places are tangible and real.

Why is the spirit realm so important to us? [John 4:24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (NKJV)

Everything about our faith is spiritual. Anything that is spiritual operates in the spirit realm. God requires worship of Him to be done in spirit, not in natural flesh.

[2 Corinthians 10:3-5] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (NKJV)

[Ephesians 6:12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

We have no power in our flesh to fight anything in the spirit realm. And likewise, we cannot defend ourselves from spiritual attacks by anything of the flesh.

Our spirit is what is communicating with God, and our spirit is what we are equipping with the armor of God and the tools and weapons that God has given us. This entire battle we are engaged in is strictly spirit-led and is almost exclusively fought in the spirit realm.

It truly has things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard of. This is part of the revelation that God is giving His people in this hour; He is exposing parts of the spirit realm and revealing hidden things that will aid us in combating the powers of darkness.