… under the earth?

For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Revelation 5:3

And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13

We often read the scriptures passing over certain given ‘facts’ within them without ever considering the implications. What does it mean when the scriptures say “under the earth”?

In the Philippians passage the Greek word used is καταχθόνιος / katachthonios / (kat-akh-thon’-ee-os) which literally means “under the earth” which comes from the Greek word κατά / kata / (kat-ah’) which is a preposition meaning down (in place or time) used like (a preposition, governing two grammatical cases) – properly, “down from, i.e. from a higher to a lower plane, with special reference to the terminus (end-point)” (J. Thayer) and the word chthon meaning ‘the ground.

Now Biblehub’s Topical Lexicon in Biblical context says this about this Greek word meaning ‘under the earth’.

“The word appears once in the New Testament, Philippians 2:10 within Paul’s exaltation hymn: “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Berean Standard Bible). The phrase “under the earth” completes a three-fold cosmic scope—heavenly beings, living humanity, and those beneath—underscoring the universal reach of Christ’s lordship.”

Most see this as a place where the dead go – and is inhabited by spirits. We often dismiss it as a ‘mythological’ place and not a real place. The old Jewish background and the Greco-Roman setting fully believed in a REAL place ‘under the earth’. But in my ‘modern’ Christianity religious teaching it was never really ever brought up. I too often just dismissed this ‘under world’ as possibly another dimension or another phase of existence which it might be as well, but never thought it could be a place that actually exists physically. When the scriptures begin to mention things more than once that don’t quite fit with our ‘modern’ scientific understanding …it often perks my interest.

Enter the realm of ‘supernatural’ phenomena, UFO’s, space portals, black holes, worm holes, quantum states and entanglement, AI, and all sorts of ‘other’ now talked about possibilities EVEN within our own government that they have actually disclosed and declassified… things have gotten really weird. I am driven back to the one real source of ancient information that has ALWAYS been found to be the most reliable scientific and archeological source of information… the Bible. Now we have government individuals talking about subterranean military and government facilities as well as UFO subterranean ‘under the ocean’ bases? What is going on? When the scriptures mention “under the earth” could it actually mean subterranean physical places that are inhabited by different types of entities (fallen angels / demons / and their ‘creations’ / technologies, etc.) / life forms / and also humans?

Basically, the passage is talking about the ‘bottom line’ that Jesus RULES it ALL, and even those ‘under world’ places, whatever they may be. More and more I am finding out my ‘knowledge’ of the created universe by God, this earth, the “heavenlies”, and other ‘realms’ is VERY limited. And my intellectual knowledge isn’t as ‘deep’ as I thought it was, causing my ‘pride’ to take big hits. BUT… the scriptures hold secrets and mysteries that can only be revealed correctly through the Holy Spirit. Many seducing spirits are luring away many with deep occultic magic practices telling them they will gain all sorts of power and riches. And they may actually do that in the immediate time, but it will not end well for them.

I am learning to not dismiss ideas and theories outright – without first consulting the Holy Spirit and asking Him questions. This creation by God and this universe IS SO MUCH bigger and more complex than we can know.

At least I know the One who rules it all. Jesus Christ.

Do you?