Revelation
By Topics
Who are Heaven and Earth Dwellers?
Spiritual concepts expressed in human language
By Nab B., May 6, 2022
"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev 12:12)
There's a clear distinction between "Those who dwell in heaven" (spirit-born), and "Those who dwell on the earth" (soulish and carnal). Once you recognize it, the Revelation of Jesus Christ will become clearer to you.
"Rejoice, ye heavens...dwellers"
Why do they rejoice? Because the "accuser" is unable to accuse those who dwell in the spiritual realm of heaven. They have overcome the accuser, that is sin by the "blood of the Lamb." (Rev 12:11)
Heaven dwellers depict all true believers born of the spirit who have become sons of God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
"Woe to the Inhabiters of the Earth and Sea"
Why do they suffer woe? Because of the "accuser's" great wrath will come to them if they choose to stay in the lower spiritual realm called "earth and sea". The accuser was permitted to attack soulish and carnal believers (earth-dwellers), as well as soulish and carnal unbelievers (the sea), as seen in Rev 12:9:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
"Earth dwellers" are not the unbelieving people of the world (sea dwellers). They are soulish and carnal in their understanding. Not desiring to become heaven dwellers, they remain earthly and susceptible to the works of sin and death in their lives.
Now, the two groups (heaven dwellers + earth dwellers) are described in various ways in the scriptures:
The Wheat and the Tares
The Rich Man and Lazarus (see my article on Rich Man and Lazarus)
The narrow way and the broadway
The sons of Light and sons of Darkness
The five discreet and five foolish virgins
Those on Christ's right and left hand
Etc.
As to those who dwell in the "sea", these depict the world in general that is alienated and hostile to God where believers have lived once. (Col 1:21)