What Exactly Is the Courts of Heaven All About?

The Courts of Heaven is a real place where Believers have access through prayer and petition, through intercession by the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for them. God governs His court system in Heaven as the sovereign Judge. He hears our circumstances and answers us according to His governmental system.

Have you ever noticed the references to many legal terms in the Bible? Words such as:

• Law
• Justified
• Guilt 
• Penalty
• Petition
• Throne
• Heaven’s Court

In the book of 2 Timothy, you read Paul’s letter to the young man to “guard what has been entrusted to you.” This “entrusting” comes from a formal procedure where one party could securely pass a commodity to another authorized party. 

Paul charges Timothy…

• “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!…” —2 Timothy 4:1-2

Paul enters the courts of Heaven and charges Timothy before God as judge and the Lord Jesus. “I charge you…” means “ in view of the preceding,” which was mentioned in the previous verse about the inspired Word of God used for teaching and instructing. 

Why Are There Legal Terms in the Bible?

Because there is a legal battle over the rights of the earth, there is an Accuser, and there is a Righteous Judge. The beauty is that we can come before the Judge, know His will, and petition in prayer. 

You don’t need a law degree to understand the scriptures; you need the Holy Spirit. Likewise, digging into the Jewish roots of our faith and how governments and nations were set up in ancient times sheds much light on the subject. 

Heaven’s court is mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments.  

Daniel 7:9-10 says this…

• “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousands stood before Him. The court was seated and the books were opened.” (emphasis added)

This vision is a manifestation of God the Father’s splendor and judgment.

Revelation 4 and 5 also illuminate the Throne Room of Heaven… 

• “…behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’” —Revelation 4:1 

The writing explains the majesty of God the Father’s appearance and further discusses the scrolls being opened, revealing what is to come. 

All of these actions take place within the Courts of Heaven. Many Christians avoid the Book of Revelation and passages like Daniel mentioned above. Some claim we can’t understand them or that there is too much symbolism. 

But we need to remember what Jesus said… 

• “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” —John 15:15 (emphasis added)

Being a friend of God means that He reveals Himself to us—His thoughts and His plans—through the Holy Spirit. For this reason, we can understand what those passages mean about His courts, throne, authority, instruction, and prayer.

They clarify that, as Believers, we have access to this place in the spiritual realm. Because of Jesus’s blood, we have been granted the right to boldly approach Him in times of need. We can then petition and become intercessors. 

Some argue this is an effort to “change God’s mind.” It is clearly not about changing God’s mind. It is about having such an intimate relationship with Him that we can approach Him and humbly grasp His sovereignty and authority. It’s all about seeing the need to follow His protocol so that He can work through us to accomplish His will. 

Does Satan Have Legal Rights on Earth?

After the fall, sin entered the world. We have a choice to follow God and His authority, or to go our own way and fall into temptation from the enemy. The fall allowed Satan to have access to this world. 

Let’s look at how God’s Word describes the enemy’s temporary dominion…

• “…the ruler of this world…” —John 12:31
• “…the prince of the power of the air…” —Ephesians 2:2
• “…the god of this world…” —2 Corinthians 4:4
• “…the whole world is in the power of the evil one…” —1 John 5:19

Throughout the book of Job, we see the limited nature of Satan’s power. God limited the enemy’s affliction on Job. 

Ultimately, Satan will be eternally defeated and his dominion removed, as prophesied by Daniel:

“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. ‘But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” –Daniel 7:25-27 (emphasis added) 

Our prayers in the courts of Heaven proclaim the ultimate end of Satan’s dominion and the eternal rule of Jesus!

The Power of Prayer in the Courts of Heaven

Believers, knowing God’s heart, are to come before the Judge and pray in three realms. God desires to be merciful, and He wants us to approach Him, to seek and proclaim His mercy for others.

“When you step into these three dimensions, you are not approaching God with a prayer list. You are stepping into a spiritual sphere where you and God begin to move things in the spirit that shifts things in the earth.” —Robert Henderson

Three Realms of Prayer…

1). Approaching God as Father opens the throne of Grace.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

2). Approaching God as Friend brings us into the place of the counsel of the Lord.

This parable speaks to the principle of persistence and the strength of friendship: 

“And He said to them, ‘Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him”; and he will answer from within and say, “Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you?” I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.’” —Luke 11:5-8

3). Approaching God as Judge opens the dimension of the Courts of Heaven.

This parable highlights God’s character as the Just Judge:

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’” —Luke 18:1-8

The Takeaway

Through the blood covering of Jesus, we are encouraged to approach the throne of grace with humility and boldness. When we approach God as Father, Friend, and Judge, we see the power of His nature and character and participate in bringing His Kingdom to earth. 

The Courts of Heaven is not about changing God’s mind but honoring His will and purposes. The world is under the sway of the evil one, and there is a legal battle playing out. Yeshua has the final victory and everlasting dominion, and as we enter the courts for instruction and revelation, we are taking part in His mission to bring light to darkness and set captives free. The enemy’s dominion will end, but King Jesus will reign for eternity in full sway and glory. 

“For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.” –Daniel 6:26