Unseen Realities: A Biblical Survey of the Spirit Realm
Introduction May 1, 2024


SHOULD WE STUDY THE UNSEEN REALM?

Is spirit realm study a mere curiosity or a waste of time?

Misconceptions and objections about the study of spiritual entities

· A fear of the unfamiliar and unknown causes avoidance of this issue.

· Study of the supernatural may lead to fanaticism and an unhealthy, misdirected preoccupation with the spirit world.

· It could open the door to the demonic and leave one susceptible to deception.

· It distracts believers from the true essence and work of the kingdom.

“The simple answer is that, If God moved the biblical writers to take care when talking about the unseen realm, then it matters.” Michael Heiser



REASONS WHY BELIEVERS SHOULD STUDY THE UNSEEN REALM

· Because misinformation is prevalent, we need a biblical, spiritual worldview.
oFalse and pagan ideologies abound, such as: superstitions, pagan folklore, ancestral spirits, spiritism, ghosts, and unscriptural depictions of angels.

oWithout a scriptural worldview, the supernatural realm can be trivialized and ignored.

oThe enemy desires to assign this realm to myths and fantasy.


· We need a biblical framework for understanding spiritual beings in terms of their person, functions, authority, rank, interaction with humanity, and operations as observed in scripture.


· Like us, angelic beings bear the image and glory of their Creator.

“As humans image God on earth, the heavenly host images God in the spiritual, non-terrestrial world [realm]. We are connected by design.” Heiser


· Celestial beings, including angels, are central to the biblical narrative in both the Old and New Testaments.
oThe term “angel(s)” appears 285 times in scripture (108 times in the Old Testament and 177 times in the New Testament). The word appears in 35 books of the Bible, 17 Old Testament books, and 18 New Testament books. This does not account for other words in the Bible referring to celestial beings such as: “sons of God” (Job 38:7; Daniel 3:35); “saints” or “holy ones” (Deuteronomy 33:2; Zechariah 14:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:13: 2 Thessalonians 1:7); “heavenly hosts” (Joshua 5:14-15; 1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 103:20-21; 148:2; Luke 2:13; James 5:4).


· Angels are highly honored and privileged based upon their close proximity to God’s throne, the stewardship and participation of his divine decrees, actions, and heavenly resources.


· Good theology about celestial beings safeguards us in the event of erroneous teaching or a supernatural encounter.


· Knowledge of God’s heavenly hosts enables us to think more clearly about our status, purpose, and destiny.


· We learn about the nature of God by the way angels encounter, interact, and respond to Him in scripture.


· It helps us better understand the nature of spiritual warfare.


· It grants further insight into praying, fasting, witnessing, and living as a Christian.



SCRIPTURE REVEALS DIVERSITY WITHIN THE CHARACTERISTICS, DESIGN, FUNCTION, AND PURPOSE OF HEAVENLY BEINGS

· Elohim
oIn the Old Testament, this term is used thousands of times for God Himself.

oIt is also used to describe the following:
§other divine beings, such as the divine council (Psalm 138:1; Job 38:7)
§spiritual beings judged by God (Psalm 82:1, 6)
§gods and goddesses of surrounding nations (Judges 11:24; I Kings 11:33)
§territorial, demonic spirits (Deuteronomy 32:17)
§spirits of deceased people (1 Samuel 28:13)

oElohim is a term for classification and differentiation.
§This term refers to any member of the spirit realm, not embodied in the physical dimension.
§A being belonging to the realm of the spirit


· We make an important distinction regarding Yahweh, Creator of Heaven, and Earth.
oHe is all powerful. (Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Psalm 72:18; 115:3)

oHe is completely sovereign. (Psalm 95:3; Daniel 4:35; I Kings 22:19)

oHe is the designer, originator, and creator of all spirit beings, regardless of their rank and privilege. (Psalm 148:1-5; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 38:7)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For byhim all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

oHe alone receives and deserves worship.



SPIRIT BEINGS OF THE SCRIPTURE

· Cherubim – “Approachers” – Keruvim “one who blesses”
oProclaimers and protectors of God’s glorious presence, transcendence, and holiness (Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 1:1, 28; 10;4, 18-22)


· 4 Living Creatures of Revelation (Revelation 4:6-9; 5:6-14; 6:1-8)


· Seraphim - “burning ones” – “fiery ones”
oWorshipping beings who proclaim the Lord’s beauty and holiness (Isaiah 6)

oLike cherubim, they attend the very throne room of God.


· Archangels
oThe word archangel occurs in only two verses of the Bible:
§“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
§“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” 1Thessalonians 4:16

oMichael is the only named archangel in Scripture. Lucifer is perhaps a fallen archangel.

· Angels


· Watchers/Members of the Divine Council (Psalm 82; 89: 6-7)


· Fallen Angels


· Demons