Have you noticed there have emerged many reports on legacy and social media that deal with some perception of an otherworldly realm? There is a fascination with an apparent unseen world that features good and bad supernatural characters that mingle with the affairs of mankind.
Sometimes it’s hard to take these accounts seriously because they seem designed to entertain or frighten us, and their effect trivializes the invisible world that exists all around us.
However, if we accept the existence of an unseen spiritual realm, we mortals may see that world as quite intimidating. A healthy respect for this very real realm around us can be beneficial in understanding the past, present and future of God’s creation. The Bible has much to teach about this spirit world and its interaction with the material world.
The absolute beginning of all that exists, corporeal and spirit, is described in the Bible – the gospel of John – chapter 1 and verses 1 to 3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him [the Word], and without Him nothing was made that was made…”
Two beings (God, with the Word) existed as “One” – through the Word everyone and everything was made. The first to come into existence were angelic beings who were present when the earth was created, as we find in the 38th chapter of Job, verses 1 to 7 – in the Moffatt Translation of the Bible:
“Then the Eternal answered out of a storm, saying, ‘Who darkens my design with a cloud of thoughtless words?
“When I founded the earth, were you there then? Answer me that, if you have wit to know. Who measured out the earth – do you know that?
What were its pedestals placed on? Who laid the cornerstone when the morning stars were singing, and all the angels chanted in their joy?”
The Word created spirit-composed angels who were considered “sons of God” – angels and ranks of angels up to what might be called “super-angels.” Ezekiel, chapter 28 and verses 12 to 16 describe how glorious one of the top ranks of angels was created to:
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering…The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.
“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of the fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created.”
Then came the physical creation, which could be worked and shaped and beautified. All the angels, including this “super-angel”, sang and expressed themselves joyfully at the formation of the earth. Planet Earth may have been a particular source of elation to the angelic world because of what it meant to them: a home, a job and all the satisfaction and perks that come with successful completion of the project before them.
But something went terribly wrong, and the consequences have been felt in the spirit world and in the physical world ever since. Look at what happened to the “super-angel” mentioned earlier – Isaiah 14:12-14:
“How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven (presumably from earth), I will exalt my throne (apparently he ruled over others) above the stars of God (his peers or other angels); I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”
This Lucifer was one “upwardly mobile” individual…he wanted to overthrow God and take over all of creation that existed to that time. Not only was “iniquity found in Lucifer” so that this shining “day star” became the “prince of darkness,” but he influenced many other angels to leave their created state of sinlessness, as we can see in II Peter 2:4.
In Revelation 12:3-4, we see how depraved Lucifer and his angelic followers have become:
“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven [angels] and threw them to the earth…verse 9…
“So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
And that is how the spirit world exists on this earth around us today! That invisible realm has existed longer than we have and is far more lasting and real than we are.
The bad news is one-third of the angels are now evil beings referred to as the Devil and demons that are totally dedicated to the destruction of mankind – of you and of me.
The good news is two-thirds of the angels stayed with the program and remain holy angels, serving their Creator in aiding us to achieve our purpose in joining the family of God.
The entire world has been led to believe that this angelic/demonic realm does not exist, or if it does, it is not to be taken seriously. Even Christians might be deceived into trivializing the spirit world…and that to our own peril…it is these unseen spiritual forces that we must deal with if we are to survive this life and be allowed to carry on into the next.
It may seem to us that our world is populated with people who live their lives as they were fated to, and disasters and human suffering are naturally occurring. We might see recent epidemic or pandemic diseases as unfortunate circumstances that require better science with belief and compliance.
We could view wars and all their direct and indirect casualties as merely a clash of political, cultural or religious ideologies. Perhaps we see earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, hurricanes, tornados as just the price we pay for living in dangerous areas of a volatile planet, that perhaps humanity is adversely affecting.
However, the spirit world is very much at work in the terrible things that happen in our physical realm.
Dominating the earth at this time is a diabolical realm of disobedient fallen angels whose mission is to destroy: their leader is the Devil and among his many descriptions in scripture, he is identified as “Satan” or “Adversary,” “the god of this world,” “the father of murderers,” “a restless lion seeking whom he may devour” and the “prince of the power of the air who now works in the human children of disobedience.”
Matthew 4, verses 8 to 10 tell us he has control over the affairs of this world:
“Again the devil took Him up to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give to You if You will fall down and worship me.’”
Jesus Christ did not dispute that the devil had the power to give the kingdoms of the world and all their glory to his followers. In fact, until the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, Satan will have that power as the horrific events chronicled in the book of Revelation graphically describe.
He can temporarily reward his followers with what this world has to offer, but he also exerts control over human beings today through the ability to inflict suffering and death. Revelation 12:11-12 indicate his nefarious purposes toward all of mankind:
“And they (God’s people) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (the only power the Devil has over us).
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them (the angelic realm)! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Satan has been cast down to this earth and so have his followers: 1/3 of fallen angels now called demons. They are confined to this planet with us and the fact is that these evil spirit beings do make contact with human beings, and they will try to communicate or show themselves through people.
They perform strange workings with no apparent scientific explanation. Obsessive fascination with these supernatural or paranormal acts can be an open invitation for demons to visit until familiarity with them becomes possession. Demons can influence the affairs of this world, through visiting and possessing human beings.
Revelation 16, verses 13 and 14 evidence this dynamic:
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty.”
The evil and cruelty of the devil and the demons that follow him can only be described as diabolical. Their influence and work consist of carefully laid out deception planned long ago. They are totally committed to the annihilation of God, the occupants of heaven and the residents of the earth.
To Christians the devil and demons are out to inflict a “double whammy” – deceive us into abandoning worship of the true God during our lives so that we leave this mortal existence in opposition to God – a state of spiritual destruction that will mean death for eternity!
This spirit world is very real and our ongoing battle with them is well-described in Ephesians 6:11-12 – in the Phillips translation:
“Put on God’s complete armor so that you can successfully resist the devil’s craftiness. For our fight is not against a physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual.
“We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil…”
The other side of the spirit world is comprised of two-thirds of the angels that are still loyal and obedient to their Creator. They are fully supportive of God and His purposes. They are intensely interested in God’s plan for humanity – I Peter 1:10-12:
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently…to verse 12…
“To them it was revealed, not to themselves, but to us, that they were ministering spirits, which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the holy spirit sent from heaven – things which angels desire to look into…”
Angels are attentive to our salvation and the gospel message about another world that will replace the present evil one. Not only are they keenly interested, but they are actively involved with God’s purposes for human beings. They are in fact dispatched to this earth from their heavenly abode as messengers to, ministering spirits for, and protectors of God’s people.
So, let’s look at what angels are and what their role is in the spirit world and how that realm affects physical human beings through interaction with them.
First, the Bible contains many stories about angels that were actively involved with the lives of such servants of God as Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Elijah and Daniel.
There is a marvelous story that highlights angelic presence in the book of Second Kings. The king of Syria was warring with Israel, and it seemed Israel always knew what he intended to do.
When it was determined that the prophet Elisha was getting advance notice of these plans and tipping off Israelite forces, they wanted to capture Elisha to prevent this from happening further.
In II Kings, chapter 6 and verse 13, we find this:
“And it was told him (the king of Syria), saying, ‘Surely he – Elisha – is in Dothan.’ Therefore, he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
“And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas my master! What shall we do?’ So, he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’
And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots all around Elisha.”
What if, for a moment our eyes could be “opened” like those of Elisha’s servant? What would we see? Would it be angels around us ensuring that we are shielded and protected from premature death, accident or just the spiritual evil that the devil and the demons want to inflict upon us?
Psalm 91:9 shows this is likely:
“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone…”
Angels share a special affection with God Almighty for each and every one of us from the time we are little children – Matthew 18:1:
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become (in your adult state) as little children, you will be no means enter the kingdom of heaven…verse 10…
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
There is no reason to become obsessed with what is occurring in the spirit world and there is no basis for us to fear the spirit world either. As Elisha said, and as we believe to be true, “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Historically, the angelic hosts of heaven loyal to God were intimately involved in the many battles Israel and Judah fought and the many events that transpired throughout their turbulent history from the time the Israelites left Egypt to the time Jerusalem was destroyed circa 586 B.C.
It is an interesting study to see the influence of God’s Angel (capitalized, inferring the Lord of the Old Testament, who was the Word of God and became Jesus Christ) and the angels (not capitalized, referring to ministering spirits, messengers and protectors) in the affairs of God’s nation.
Notice the emotion expressed by angelic residents of the spirit world in the prophetic book of Zechariah, chapter 1, verses 12 to 17:
“Then the Angel of Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?’ And the Lord answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. So, the angel who spoke with me said to me, ‘Proclaim, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.”
The Bible records the prediction of a time of unprecedented tribulation to come in the end time…a period the prophet Jeremiah called “Jacob’s trouble.” Even then, God’s angelic forces will be at work to help. In Daniel 12:1 we read:
“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered.”
And look at the special work of angels with those “sealed” in Israel in the end days described in Revelation 7.
“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, and the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’
“And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed…”
There is indeed a special feeling among the angels for the nation of Israel which was the people of God, and the Israel of God that will exist in future. Angels are committed to helping Israel to fulfill the great purpose for which they were called – a showcase nation to the rest of mankind.
Second, the angels of God have been intimately involved with God’s Church since its inception. The book of Acts describes a very active spirit world. Peter was freed from prison by an angel of the Lord in Acts 5, and again in Acts 12 starting in verse 1:
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of the John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also…verse 5…
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and light shone into the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said, ‘Gird yourself and tie on your sandals’; and so he did. And he said to him, ‘Put on your garment and follow me.’ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought that he was seeing a vision…to verse 11…
“And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.’”
Peter through experience, was acutely aware of the spirit world, but because of the great persecution and losing his friend James, his faith was shaken for a few moments. Yes, he was sleepy, but the fact is, he did not expect God’s help after some time in prison.
He, and the rest of the Church who had been praying for him, had their confidence restored when they realized that an angel had been dispatched by God to deliver him from Herod’s evil.
The work and influence of angels over time within God’s Church is detailed in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation. Begin reading in chapter 1 and verse 1:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John…verse 10…
“I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’
“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands, One like the Son of Man…verse 20…
“’The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels [messengers] of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.’”
These angels interact with each of the seven churches by delivering insightful, corrective and encouraging messages…messages that we can find meaning in today!
The spirit world around us is indeed very active. It is bound to become more active as we approach the end of the age of this present evil world. In the Christian era something that has happened and is still happening within the Church of God, as described in I Timothy 4, verses 1 and 2 – Phillips Translation:
“God’s spirit specifically tells us that in the latter days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of demons, teachings by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are as dead as seared flesh.”
There is an evil side of the spirit world that wants us to believe it is enlightened with deep secrets of living that entirely contradict the way of life we have been shown and now live.
There is also a godly side of the spirit world that is truly enlightened with God’s truth and has always lived in accordance with the way of life God Himself lives. Though we cannot see or sense that spirit world, which is all around us, can we discern the opposing sides of that realm? Here are some characteristics that may help us in discerning the influence of the spirit world:
Are the words we hear or the deeds we see totally reflective of truth or are lies evident? We know that Satan is a liar and a deceiver, and so are his followers (demons and humans they work through). We know that God’s angels are messengers of truth consistent with the unbroken word of God. The difference between God’s holy angels and Satan and his demons is living in absolute obedience the Creator or living in complete disobedience to the Maker.
Watch for justification of immorality (sinning) or incomplete and inaccurate use of the Bible (false doctrine). Remember Satan and demons have the ability to influence and possess willing human beings who may seem righteous and religious, but we have to try the spirits guiding them (First John 4, verse 1).
Where do those influenced by the spirit world “hang-out?” Are their works at night or do they spend their time in dark places as if to hide or cover to avoid transparency or revelation? Satan is the “prince of darkness” and his subjects are part of a dark kingdom that performs works of darkness. God’s holy angels are still called stars that illuminate and deal in truth with transparency.
Watch for where and when words and works are issued (in dark places or times) to avoid revealing or discovery…remember we read earlier that we wrestle against the rulers of darkness of this age (Ephesians 6, verse 12)
How does the spirit world express itself: is it through influencing or occupying human minds to communicate ideas and commit works? Satan and demons broadcast and pique the interest of persons by supernatural trickery possible within their realm. God’s angels give messages and perform deeds in person and verbally as you will notice through every appearance they make in the Bible.
Watch for mind tricks, even seeming unusual works, and strange insights from those who seem to know things with no means of knowing except supernatural influence. Satan and his demons work a lot through mediums who live sin-laden lives but may inexplicably be able to give details about the future or items they should naturally have no knowledge of – Isaiah 8, verse 19 to 20.
How do we discern the type of spirits we inevitably come into contact with merely by living in the physical world which exists alongside the invisible spiritual realm? It’s quite simple really: the forces of good, angels, deal in obedience, light and truth…the forces of evil deal in disobedience, darkness and lies.
The spirit world is very real, more real than even our temporal world and our individual existence. That realm is nothing to be overly infatuated with, nor is it to be feared.
As times get more and more perilous and we are confronted by people and events with the obvious destructive effects wrought by spiritual wickedness in high places:
- Remember to discern and test for obedience, light and truth;
- Remember that God has given His angels charge over each of us and our nations and the church;
- Remember that those who are with us are more than those who are against us.
