The SEEN REALM is what we humans are able to see in this physical world and the dimension in which we live (Gen. 2:1). It includes the physical universe, the sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, the clouds, and the planets, including the planet earth.
The UNSEEN REALM includes the dimensions above, below, and around us that we cannot see. It is where the angels live and operate. Satan was called the prince of the power of the “air” (Greek = aer. Spiritual realm) before his judgment in AD 70 (Eph. 2:2). God’s angels have appeared to humans from time to time as God has directed. The UNSEEN REALM is invisibly located both near us and far from us.
At the Parousia in AD 66 Christ descended from heaven with the saints who had been reigning with Him from the 1st resurrection with the most glorious part of the UNSEEN REALM where the New Jerusalem city of God is located (Rev. 6:9-11, 20:4-6, 21:2-3). The Old Testament faithful believers and first century saints were corporately called the Bride of Christ (all believers after this AD 70 heavenly marriage are the spiritual descendants). Jesus told His apostles that He was going away to prepare a place for them. This place is in the New Jerusalem city, which is the home of Christ and His bride.
“2 In My Father’s house are MANY MANSIONS; if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. 3And if I go and PREPARE A PLACE for you, I WILL COME AGAIN and RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; that WHERE I AM, there YOU MAY BE ALSO.” (John 14:2-3).
When the Lord returned at His second coming Parousia in AD 66 with the heavenly NEW JERUSALEM CITY He raised His deceased saints, and raptured His then remaining living saints, and they each received their new individual, immortal spiritual bodies God had reserved for them (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 2 Cor. 5:1-4). They met Him in the air (Greek = aer. Spiritual realm) and are FOREVER IN HIS PRESENCE in the heavenly realm New Jerusalem (1 Thess. 4:16-17). The angel told John that this was the location of the bride, the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9-11).
“2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God, PREPARED AS A BRIDE adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, and they shall be His people. GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM and be their God.’” (Rev. 21:2-3).
The UNSEEN REALM includes the INVISIBLE HEAVENS (Psalm 68:33; Heb. 7:26; 2 Chron. 2:6; 2 Chron. 6:18). When Jesus ascended 40 days after His resurrection He took the paradise section from Hades to the third heaven (Luke 16:22-26; Eph.4:8-9). Paul was later caught up into paradise now in its place in the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2-4).
Christ has passed through the heavens up to the Father in the highest heaven in the UNSEEN REALM. (Heb.4:14). “16For by Him (Christ) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and INVISIBLE, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Col. l:16).
After AD 70, God brought changes in the UNSEEN WORLD. The angels operate under different rules than they did before AD 70, under the eternal New Heavens and Earth cosmological order based on the blood of Christ. The holy angels still live in the UNSEEN realm and work invisibly among us. As for us humans after AD 70, all faithful believers (Christians) dwell in the earthly seen realm of the eternal New Covenant spiritual Kingdom (in the church), which has been reunited with the unseen heavenly realm of the Kingdom (where God, the angels and all the departed faithful believers dwell) (Eph. 1:10).
The New Testament Canon of Scriptures has been bound by Peter and approved by God; all believers have the Holy Spirit permanently indwelling them. Christ has completed everything and has fulfilled all prophecies and Scriptural requirements for every faithful believer forever into history. There is no condemning judgment awaiting any faithful believer.
The most unpleasant and darkest part of the UNSEEN REALM is where the Lake of Fire (aka: Gehenna) is located. This is where all of the unredeemed, wicked, unbelievers are located after they die in this life (Rev. 20:15).
Before Adam sinned, there was no waiting place created for a soul to go to for if a person ever physically died. After Adam sinned God established Hades (Heb: Sheol) in the UNSEEN REALM as the temporary place for the departed souls who died. This included Paradise or the “Comfort” side of Hades/Sheol for the faithful believers; and the Death or Torments side of Hades/Sheol for the unbelievers (Luke 16:22-23, 26; Phil. 2:10; Rev. 5:3, 13).
In the Great White Throne judgments at Christ’s Parousia, ending in AD 70, Death (The Death angel) and the Hades angel (along with the Torment compartment of Hades) were cast into the final judgment abode of the Lake of Fire (aka Greek = Gehenna) in the UNSEEN REALM, where all the souls of the dead unredeemed unbelievers were also cast, sentenced under the “wages of their sins” to eternal conscious condemnation (Rev. 20:10-15). The Lake of Fire is located in the darkest part of the UNSEEN REALM. The Lake of Fire was not utilized until the judgments in AD 70 (Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Jude 1:13).
Satan now operates in whatever restricted sense he may have from his eternal punishment under realm abode in the Lake of Fire and brimstone. He is tormented day and night forever and ever. Satan and his demons now have a sphere of influence that is heavily restricted by God.
Satan can no longer accuse the faithful believer before the throne of God. He is restricted from deceiving the nations to war (Rev.20). His world in the UNSEEN REALM has been drastically changed forever after AD 70. Satan is a defeated enemy. He is a condemned enemy. He is still only a fallen angel, and one who is condemned into the under realm horrors of the Lake of Fire forever!
See also related “Topic Studies & Terms”:
“Rapture”
“Tribulation (The Great Tribulation)”
“Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)”
Related full “Study Series” (available upon request if not hyperlinked):
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 14 Lesson 3 Resurrection: 1 Thess. 4:13-17”]
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 14 Lesson 4 Resurrection: Expectations/Experiences”]
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 16 Lesson 9 Rev. Chapter 21”]
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 16 Lesson 10 Rev. Chapter 22”]