In a spiritual context, the concept of the "spirits of malice of the Sub-Heavens" should be understood not as a description of demons dwelling in the space between the sky and the earth, but as a designation for spirits that have lost their true position in the heavenly order by being deprived of divine grace.

Celestial Fall and the Origins of Malice

In a spiritual context, the concept of the "spirits of malice of the Sub-Heavens" should be understood not as a description of demons dwelling in the space between the sky and the earth, but as a designation for spirits that have lost their true position in the heavenly order by being deprived of divine grace. Essentially, the term emphasizes that "sub-heavenly" (Greek: εν επουρανιοις) originally does not mean "located under the heavens," but "above the heavens," implying the highest, celestial realm to which the fallen forces can no longer belong. Thus, if true spiritual blessings belong to the heavens, those who have been cast down cannot possess their qualities—they lose their place and, consequently, become a source of malice and opposition. Viewed in this light, the struggle against the "spirits of malice" emerges as a conflict between the genuine heavenly blessings and the darkness that arose as a result of losing this sacred position.