Over and Under

Sesame Street taught children principles such as “here and there” and “over and under.” The idea of location is very basic. So I caught an interesting concept when the letter to the Philippians referred to three locations: 1) in heaven, 2) on the earth, and 3) under the earth. In these three locations, every knee will one day bow and worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God, without exception (Philippians 3:10).

The teaching is repeated in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ where it too refers to “in heaven,” “on the earth,” and “under the earth” (Revelation 5:13). It speaks of every created thing in these three locations giving praise to God the Father and Jesus Christ.

These three locations seem to describe everything that exists.

1. Heaven is the place where God is. God is not contained by heaven, but it is a spiritual place that is “up” from earth and is a place for angels and those who have died in Christ. It was in heaven that the angel Satan sinned and took a third of the angels with him. Those angels are now called demons. Their eventual destination is hell and eternal judgment. But until that final judgment, Satan roams throughout the earth, seeking to take many people with him into rebellion and eternal separation from God.

Even in the time of Job, Satan was required to present himself before God. When God pointed out the righteous life of Job, Satan immediately accused Job of only being righteous while receiving the benefits of God’s hedge of protection around him and that Job would turn away from God if he lost those benefits. Job proved Satan wrong.

While Jesus walked on earth, he sent the disciples to proclaim the Gospel in the cities where Jesus was going. As the disciples exercised the authority Jesus gave them, they saw all kinds of miracles and healings. At this point, Jesus said, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning” (Luke 10:18).

2. People live on earth, and it is here where Satan roams like a lion seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). The earth is a part of God’s plan: He created it, he planted it, he instructed man to have dominion over it and to care for it. The earth is affected by sin, in fact, all creation groans under the burden created by sin. God’s plan for redemption through Jesus Christ is to buy back the rights of ownership from Satan. People can be redeemed, and the land can be freed from the curse, but these things apply only to those who live on the earth.

3. The location identified as under the earth is often attached to the grave, Satan, the demons and hell. As early as Genesis, this location is described as “down.”

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed… 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Here is the wonder of what Christ has done for the redeemed: He raised us from the domain of darkness and placed us above the angels in the heavens (Ephesisans 2:6).

…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven (Colossians 1:20). Note that only two of the three locations are mentioned here. “Under the earth” is not mentioned, and this means that Satan, his demons and all those who die having rejected Christ cannot and will not be redeemed. Those who teach otherwise teach heresy!