For reasons unknown, modern translators have replaced the A.V.'s "high places" with "heavenly places." Contrary to common belief (fostered in part by these modern Bibles), there are no spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Heavenly places are just what the name implies, places which are of a heavenly nature, whether in heaven, or on earth. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3): If spiritual forces of wickedness were floating and flying about in these heavenly places, that could hardly be a place of spiritual blessing. "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:20). Christ had already defeated Satan and his angelic cohorts. We can be certain there are no wicked spirits in the heavenly places where Christ is. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6): This, apparently is on earth, and may not necessarily be some particular place, but an environment in which there are spiritual blessings to be had, no matter where the place may be. If it is a place of spiritual blessings, it cannot be a place of spiritual wickedness. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10), These "principalities and powers" are thought to be angelic hosts or orders in the heavenly places, but I believe that there isn't much we can show or explain to the angels about the manifold wisdom of God that they don't know already. "Principalities and Powers" may be angelic, but more likely they are human and earthbound. In the following verse Paul draws a clear distinction between principalities, powers, and angels: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come" (Rom. 8:38). Principalities and powers are seen by many as orders of wicked angels, but then how would you explain Titus 3:1, where we are commanded to be subject to principalities and powers, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1). They cannot therefore be evil angelic beings, because Scripture would never require us to be subject to such. Principalities and Powers are the various governing and ruling bodies here on earth. We are to be subject to governments, not evil angelic beings.

HIGH PLACES

"Heavenly places," or the "heavenlies," is a child-like view of "high places," which modern interpreters and translators mistake for places high up in the sky. That is not where they are. In the Old Testament there are about 89 occurrences of "high places," and almost invariably, they refer to places of idol worship, and only occasionally to geographical elevations, but never to any place in the heavens, or any heavenly place on earth. "High places" can also refer to high places in a church denomination or in government. These people are often controlled by evil spiritual forces, and it is from these that have the most trouble. The spiritual wickedness is becoming increasingly greater in the world. When Paul says that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, he means that we do not wage the same kind of war that the world wages; we do not use weapons against the flesh, like swords and guns and tanks and planes. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:3-5);