How to Fight Principalities and Powers the Biblical Way
Our Father and the spirits who represent Him in holiness and love are not the only spirits in the spirit realm.
In that vast realm, our Father’s kingdom is one of light. But there is also a kingdom of darkness whose lord, also a spirit, is unspeakably evil and through deception. There are clear, well-lit ways of working with God in the spirit, and He wants all His children to know them.
I have a prayer group with three precious friends, and we have worked together in prayer for almost 20 years. Some years ago, we found ourselves praying for and over the nations of the earth when a phrase came to us: “Ancient Thrones.” As we raised this in prayer over subsequent weeks and months, the Lord began to reveal aspects of these ancient thrones, and we started to see patterns in Scripture that began to unfold for us and give clarity on this phrase.
Principalities and Powers
The apostle Paul had remarkable insight into the spiritual realm. He saw with almost X-ray precision how Jesus conquered that realm and all the beings who inhabit the realm of the spirit. Paul writes about how the Father raised Jesus and gave Him a seat far above all principalities, powers, thrones and dominions in the heavenly sphere.
For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him (Colossians 1:16 AMPC).
And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church] (Ephesians 1:19-22 AMPC)
Paul did more than gaze into a spiritual realm. He identified those principalities, powers, thrones, and dominions (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 6:12).
The terms principalities, powers, thrones and dominions appear throughout Scripture, notably in Romans 8:38, Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 6:12, and Colossians 2:15. These words describe elements of the scope, function, and influence of these spirit beings. These words refer to their operation rather than describing four different types of spirit beings or their rankings. These spirit beings have exercised certain influence, power, and dominion, even operating as “gods of this world.”
In the book of Daniel, we read about the “prince of Persia” and the “prince of Greece.” These entities are spoken of as regional spiritual rulers who had taken up dominion over geographical regions. Their jurisdiction was given by God and empowered by the people in those lands (Daniel 10:20 NKJV). These are not natural political leaders but spiritual principalities influencing culture, government, and civil operations in their region.
Colossians 1:16 affirms that all things, including thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, were created through Christ and for Him. If that is the case, then what are they and how do they function? How does understanding of their function and operation affect us today and what are we to do about them?
This chapter is not intended to be an exhaustive dive into this topic but rather to provoke deeper study. I would encourage you to take this to the Lord in your own personal study and devotional time. And dig a little deeper!
Where did it all start? Let’s look in the book of Genesis.
God Divided the Nations
In Genesis 11, we read of the Tower of Babel and how God confused the language of the people and then separated and dispersed them. This dispersion led to the establishment of distinct nations or “ethnos” groups (from the Greek ethnos, meaning people, nation, or tribe) who share a common culture, language, and customs.
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage (Deuteronomy 32:8-9 ESV).
God separated the people at the Tower of Babel not only according to language but He gave them over to the “sons of God.” God allowed
the nations to follow after other gods or spiritual rulers in the heavenly realm. In fact, He—the one true God—allotted these lesser gods to have dominion over regions and ethnic groups of people. The spiritual control that these gods, or principalities, were given by God continue to operate even today. These spiritual principalities are at work to influence and control leaders and those in positions of influence around the world. They work like puppet masters to influence leaders, nations, and global events. They have spiritual “thrones” and they function from those thrones just as kings. A natural leader may rise and fall, but those principalities, or ancient thrones, continue to influence and even control regions, ethnic groups and world events.
While God allocated the nations to these gods, He reserved Israel for Himself. God was to be the King over Israel, and Israel was to be an example to the nations of what godly rulership would look like. Is it any wonder why there is such contention between Israel and the nations of the earth today?
It is significant that God so often warns the children of Israel not to follow other gods. Why would He need to warn them if the other gods were not a reality? Other gods are genuine entities and the temptation to follow after them remains real.
Satan, or the devil, is referred to as “the god of this world,” and he has corrupted those spirit beings.
In fact, he has corrupted the whole earth. Both spiritual principalities and natural kingdoms have been corrupted by the devil.
God Has a Plan for the Nations
Although God separated the nations, He did not abandon them. Not at all. He always intended that all the nations of the earth would have the opportunity to seek after Him and find Him.
And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), so that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:26-27 AMPC).
God determined when all these nations should rise and fall and decided their boundaries so that the nations might seek God, feel after Him and find Him. He is not far from any one of us.
In Mark 11:17, Jesus said that His temple would be called a house of prayer for all nations. God’s desire was (and is) to include all peoples.
Though He separated the nations at Babel by language, in Acts 2 we see Him reunite them and He did it by language. Each person heard in their native language. The nations are also described as part of Christ’s inheritance. In Psalm 2:8 (NKJV) declares, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance.” That promise shows how the nations are woven into God’s redemptive plan, and how Jesus, as King of kings, will take His throne and rule over all the nations (Revelation 11:15).
God, because He is just, cannot violate His own word. The heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth is given into the hands of the sons of men (Psalm 115:16). By the permission of the people in a region, those principalities, with their thrones and dominion, still have been allowed the right to influence and govern the geographic region and people group of that region. For now, they maintain their ruling power by the consensus of the people, and they operate on lies to maintain that rule. Jesus, however, will return to judge the nations and reclaim them as His inheritance.
So, What Do We Do?
What are we to do in response to these “ancient thrones”? Do we simply accept it and say, “Well, it is what it is”? No! Jesus did something about these principalities and powers.
These powers became corrupt and sought dominance over people and nations. Their influence depends on the level of submission from those within a region. Their power is not absolute but tied to the authority people grant them. Their authority (exousia) and influence (thronos) persist through collective agreement and submission of the people.
Jesus disarmed these powers, removing their legal right to dominate us. They now operate through deception, but Jesus, as Truth, has exposed their lies and given us light.
Our task isn’t just to bind, lose, or declare, but it’s to partner with God to influence people’s choices toward righteousness and Jesus’ authority. We can’t simply command these powers to leave or try to dismantle their thrones. Their thrones are still legitimate and will remain until Jesus returns. He will judge the nations and their gods. They will “die like men” (Psalm 82:6-7).
Instead, we present Jesus as King and proclaim the gospel of His kingdom. When people enter God’s kingdom, these principalities lose their influence, and God’s reign and rule will expand.
Jesus gave us the key: preach the gospel, make disciples, care for others, and pray. As fewer people in the nations of the earth submit to these rulers, their power weakens, freeing individuals and transforming nations and cultures.
Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19 NKJV).
Jenny and I have both participated in missions trips into the Pacific Island nation of Fiji. Before the gospel came to those islands, they were a people of war, living in the mountains and even practicing cannibalism. After the gospel arrived, the culture was dramatically changed. The people moved out of the mountains to the coast and became peace-loving, welcoming, and so warm. It’s now part of their culture! If you were ever to go there, you would be greeted with a heartfelt “bula,” meaning “welcome.”
We are to teach people of all ethnos groups. Immerse them. Baptize them in the name of Jesus, and help them and equip them with the Word of God. That will influence a nation or a region and take back that nation for God.
Colossians 2:14-15 explains that Christ canceled the record of charges against us, nailed it to the Cross, and disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities, publicly shaming them. Thus, the spiritual rulers no longer hold legal power to keep us bound. We are free!
These spiritual rulers still hold on to some power to operate in the earth because Adam’s race still holds authority in the earth until Jesus returns. Though we are now transferred out from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13), those principalities still try to exercise control and influence over the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).
Step Into Your Seat of Authority and Bring Heaven to Earth.
Do you sense that history is accelerating, yet feel unsure how to pray effectively in such critical times? Have you wondered how your prayers can truly impact nations, governments, and the spiritual forces shaping this generation? Are you longing to move beyond surface-level intercession into strategic, Spirit-led collaboration with God?
The answer is not more noise—but clearer vision. Not striving—but alignment. What you need is a Kingdom strategy.
Through years of ministry and nearly two decades of consistent, Spirit-led prayer, Patsy Cameneti uncovered a powerful, scriptural framework for working with God in the spirit realm. This breakthrough resource reveals how to pray from your seat with Christ, discern the spiritual landscape, and speak Heaven's words into Earth's realities. More than a teaching on prayer, this is an invitation to partner with God in bringing His master plan to pass in the culmination of the age.
As you read, you'll discover how to:
Develop a biblical worldview that reshapes how you interpret world events.
Pray from your seat of authority in Christ with confidence and clarity.
Collaborate with the Body of Christ in coordinated, end-time prayer.
Recognize principalities and spiritual operations without fear or confusion.
Align your personal calling with God's greater, eternal purposes.
You are not at the mercy of darkness. Jesus has been raised far above all principalities and powers--and you are seated with Him. The enemy's strategies are no match for a believer who knows how to watch, listen, and speak what Heaven is saying. This is your call to rise above self-focused prayer and embrace your role in God's unfolding plan.
