Since experiencing the encounter I recount here, my life has changed drastically and for the better. I believe yours can, too. Understanding how third-heaven authority works puts you in the driver’s seat with Christ Jesus in heavenly places where you belong. Remember, being seated with Him isn’t just about the view—everything is about His authority.
First Visit to the Third Heaven
Peering out the panoramic window of the penthouse suite, the city lights below appeared like sparkling jewels strewn across the dark fabric of night. Roars of intercession rose up around me from others gathered in this “upper room” as together we appealed to heaven. My wife, CK, and I had come to this city with about fifty other Christian leaders to intercede for an upcoming evangelistic crusade. The hotel conference center was in the process of setting up for the meetings that we were believing would usher in a great move of God in the city.
The manifest presence of God was thick in the room as we cried out for souls while warring against demonic strongholds. Praying in English and in other tongues, we decreed the word of the Lord together. In a moment of personal calm, while continuing to pray in the Spirit, I leaned against the wall and let my body slide down until I was sitting on the carpet. When I sat on the floor, an astounding thing happened. All the beautiful sounds of prayer, including my own, began to fade away and in an instant, I was caught up into the spirit realm.
No longer aware of the physical scene or activity around me, I felt myself lift up and out of the room! I knew I’d gone from the natural realm into the dimension of the spirit as I rose all the way through the ceiling of the suite and then the roof of the hotel. Continuing to ascend into the night sky, I now found myself looking down on the same city lights I had gazed at earlier.
Rising higher through the heavens, I could see numerous smaller lights hovering in the atmosphere over the city. These lights were dull, dingy, and reddish in color. No glory emanated from them, and I knew instinctively they were demonic spirits. Moving right through the dull lights, I suddenly found myself inside the throne room of heaven! Being caught up like this to heaven took me completely by surprise, yet there I was, standing in holy awe. What was most glorious, however, was that right in front of me was the Lord Jesus Christ sitting on His throne. I don’t have the words to describe how magnificent the moment was. My words will be like a snapshot taken of the Rocky Mountains. They can’t do it justice, yet I will try.
In the Presence at the Throne
Angels surrounded Him on both sides, and nebulous silhouettes of other beings were behind the throne. They seemed slightly larger than the angels, and I wondered if these were the living creatures John described in his vision of heaven in Revelation 4:7–9. A canopy of swirling rainbow colors stretched over, above, and all around the throne. The colors were deep and rich, more radiant than anything on earth. Everything I was observing reflected the brilliance of the glory of God. As I tried to take it all in, my heart leaped, and joy overwhelmed me. Truly, “in [His] presence is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11).
Ezekiel’s depiction of the rainbow surrounding the throne of the Lord immediately came to mind: “As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and brilliance of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I heard a voice of One speaking” (Ezek. 1:28, AMP). John’s account of heaven records a similar sight: “Encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald” (Rev. 4:3, AMP).
And the music! I can never forget the music that permeated the atmosphere. The sounds of soft, peaceful music and voices were all around. Strangely, I couldn’t distinguish the sounds because they weren’t something I was accustomed to hearing on earth. The sounds were heavenly, making everything whole. All I can say is in heaven, everything worked together to produce a perfectly balanced environment.
It then occurred to me that I saw only one throne in front of me. I was puzzled at this for a moment because I expected to see two thrones—the throne of God and Jesus at His right hand. It was then that I heard a voice inside me quote Revelation 4:2: “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” When I realized I was seeing the throne of Jesus, I was at peace.
As I gazed into the face of Jesus, I saw wisdom, strength, and compassion. I felt absolutely loved, accepted, and valued. I had never experienced such a feeling. There was no fear, no intimidation, no condemnation, shame, guilt, disapproval, inadequacy, failure, or self-doubt. All those things we struggle with here on earth were completely absent from my being. The revelation of complete love and peace had taken their place.
Inside, I could hear myself say, “Lord, is this who You created us to be? Is this what it feels like to be a new creation in Christ Jesus?” Then I realized that the hooks of the second heaven had completely come out of me. On earth, evil spirits seek ways to place hooks into the souls and flesh of believers. Through these attachments, the spirits attempt to influence the thoughts and behaviors of those believers. In heaven, I was standing before the Lord free, pure, and holy. Jesus didn’t say a word as I contemplated all this. He simply allowed me to process what I was discovering. It was a precious, wonderful feeling.
The Levels of Heaven with Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, who was separate from Jesus, turned me around 180 degrees so my back was now to the throne of Jesus. From this view, I saw a circular portal, about 10 feet in diameter, before me on the floor. Through this portal, I could see the second heaven as well as observe the activities on earth. I looked all the way down to the intercessory prayer group below me. I could see the city they were praying for all around them. I also saw the numerous small, reddish demons that were in the atmosphere above the city but still below where I was in heaven. It was this group of demons that the prayer group was dealing with in the Spirit.
Because of their earthy perspective, however, the prayer group could not see the full picture of what was happening above them. Looking down from heaven, I saw the whole spiritual battle from a completely different vantage point.
Then something else caught my attention. Above the reddish demons hovering in the air was a larger, dull, green light. I recognized this as another demonic being that seemed to be more powerful than the red ones below it.
This is when the Lord Jesus finally spoke to me. His words came from behind me because I was facing away from the throne, peering into this portal. “That’s a general giving orders to the demons under him,” He said. “They are following his orders. He is giving them the strategies and the commands.”
Jesus continued, “Launch your warfare from here.” At first, I was surprised by His command. But then a holy boldness and authority rose up from inside me. “OK,” I said, “I’m going to launch my warfare from here.” I was ready to kick some demon butt and destroy every stronghold over that city!
Then I had a thought: “If I’m warring from heaven, do I need armor?” Again, the answer came as an impression in my spirit. I was reminded of Paul’s depiction of the spiritual armor in Ephesians 6. I heard the Lord say, “You already know that the apostle Paul had a revelation of spiritual armor. Your understanding of who you are as a new creation is part of you on earth because it is a part of you in heaven.” His words enlightened me, and I understood the armor as an integral part of our identity as new creatures in Christ.
More words began to come from behind me. Only this time, instead of just resonating inside me, these words came out my mouth. I looked down at that lead demon, the one that looked like a dull green light hovering over the smaller red lights. “In the name of Jesus,” I boldly proclaimed, “I dislodge your assignment. I break every strategy. I break everything that you have set up against this city. I dismantle the communication structure between you and the lower-level demons, and I speak confusion into your ranks now!”
This angelic activity went on for quite a while until I finished giving the commands. When it stopped, I stood there and looked around the throne room for several minutes.
My Assignment to Teach Third-Heaven Authority
To my surprise, Jesus stood up and walked over to me. With piercing eyes of pure love, He spoke these words: “I’m giving you the assignment to teach third-heaven authority to My people.” This was the first time I had ever heard the phrase third-heaven authority, but Jesus explained what it meant. “We are now entering a season,” He said, “when the veil between the physical realm and the spiritual realm will seem to get thinner. Believers will increasingly have more spiritual encounters. There will be visions and dreams, and they will become more prevalent. Believers will learn what it’s like to operate in the Spirit and flow in heavenly things.
“However, this is universal in the spiritual realm, so demonic encounters will also increase in spiritism, the occult, mind science, and religions. It will also increase in people who just open themselves up to dark things.” He then said: “Teach My children third-heaven authority so they will not be deceived by seducing spirits. They need to realize who I have created them to be and what they’re capable of accomplishing. There needs to be credibility among those who learn to walk in the ways of the Spirit.”
After that, Jesus began to illuminate the role of angels. “Angels are involved in every aspect of warfare, much more than you’re aware of. Learn to depend upon them by letting them do their job. They respond to your authority.” Then Jesus made this profound statement: “Third-heaven authority is about perspective, and only the Holy Spirit can give you the kind of perspective you need to accomplish this.” From my experience in heaven, I now understood that Christians must use their spiritual eyes to view things from heaven’s point of view, not earth’s. We are also to see spiritual warfare from heaven looking down instead of from earth looking up.
Pondering Jesus’ words, I wondered, “Why up above? I mean, the kingdom is in us and around us. The spirit realm is around us.” As soon as that thought came, the answer from the Lord rose up in my spirit: “The kingdom rule is inside of you, but the kingdom throne is above you.” Then Jesus quoted John 3:31 to me: “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”
The Lord continued, “Looking from earth’s perspective is purely physical, and [that perspective] is susceptible to a consciousness of sin. Heaven’s perspective is one of righteousness.” I understood this to mean the spiritual eyes of the new creation are free from guilt and condemnation. When we look down from heaven, it is with spiritual authority, not worry and guilt.
I recognized Jesus’ words as being a deeper expression and explanation of Hebrews 10:1–2, 22: “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins….Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Jesus went on to say: “When Paul was caught up to the third heaven, he had to learn how to apply what he saw in the spirit to his earthly life. Satan buffeted Paul in an attempt to steal that revelation from him, and that’s when he asked Me to remove the buffeting. But then he was able to see grace from heaven’s point of view and to walk in spiritual authority. My grace is sufficient.”
After the Lord finished speaking, one of the angels motioned for me to follow him. He led me through what appeared to be a wall in the throne room. There was no door. This entire room was made up of colors, sounds and glory that were slightly different from what I experienced in the throne room. I instinctively understood that these represented different anointings required to facilitate different purposes, both on earth and in heaven. It felt as if there were innumerable rooms and anointings for every major purpose of the body of Christ on earth.
Then, just like that, the experience ended. As suddenly as I was caught up, I was brought back into the natural realm, where I found myself still sitting on the floor of the penthouse suite, praying in my spiritual language.
I glanced around the room to see if anyone was watching, but since I had not moved in the physical, no one seemed to notice. I had been caught up in the spirit to the third heaven for the Lord to give me an assignment. With words straight from the lips of Jesus, this commission to teach third-heaven authority has been my priority. I have been teaching it and will continue to do so until I am instructed otherwise. I must be obedient to my heavenly assignment.
Go Forth and Claim the Innocent for the Kingdom
It’s important to note that I’m not the only one commissioned to do this. Jesus impressed upon me that there were many others who would be teaching this message. Because the church is entering an increasingly intense time before the return of Christ, it’s imperative for believers to grasp and walk in the spiritual authority that is ours.
I pray many believers will be equipped to move from spiritual milk to meat. May the Lord enhance your sense of authority in Christ. May He increase the effectiveness of your prayers—as you view the situations of life from heaven’s perspective.
Mike Thompson is a prophet to the body of Christ intent on hosting the glory of God and revival. With over 40 years of ministry experience (35 years as pastors), Mike and his wife, Cheryl (C. K.), are accurate prophets, anointed for healing hearts. They have been married since 1972, and have two adult sons.
