Reclaiming Hijacked Thrones
- Ariel Blumenthal
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Through Unity & Prayer
Tikkun Global
Jerusalem, Israel
Before the Iran war began, Tikkun Global had set apart 40 days of prayer and fasting leading up to Purim (March 2-4). After the horrific massacre of its own people on January 8-10, our hearts burned to stand with the Iranian people against the wicked regime of the Ayatollahs. When all-out aerial bombardments began on February 28, we extended the dedicated days of prayer until further notice and until a breakthrough happens.
When we pray, things begin to shift in the heavenly places, and that begins to change what happens down on earth. The primary and most fleshed-out example of this happening in the history of the nations—except for Israel—is Persia (Iran).
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Is our struggle only in the heavenly places? No. The struggle of our brothers and sisters in Iran, and all of us in the Middle East, is obviously spiritual; but what happens “up there” connects closely with earthly realities, and our battle against ballistic missiles is very much “down here” as well. Ephesians 6:12 and other verses in the New Covenant simply set the priorities for us as the body of Messiah concerning where our primary authority is: in the heavenly-spiritual realms, because Messiah Yeshua has been seated at the right hand of God far above all principalities, and powers, and He has raised us up to sit with Him in that place (Ephesians 1 & 2). We are praying from that place of authority because if something shifts in the heavenlies, it’s going to affect the kingdom of God down here on earth.
The Created Order of Authorities
Based on Ephesians 6, most believers think of principalities and powers as only evil, but that is not the whole story. In Colossians 1:15-16, it says that, “…by Him all things were created – both in heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.”
In the original created order, God created them, and like the rest of His creation they were “good.” Romans 13:1 adds that there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. When you put these together, you get a biblical worldview:
The Highest Power: God, the creator.
The Spiritual Realms: Different levels of beings, thrones, and angelic hosts.
The Earthly Realm: Earthly rulers and authorities.
These layers are connected. When something happens in the heavenly realm, it influences the earthly realm.
Hijacked Thrones and National Identity
Every nation or people group has an identity, a history, and an authority – a heavenly and earthly “throne.” Israel is the chosen “template” for God’s dealings with the nations, and these truths extend to every tribe, tongue, and nation. There is a heavenly “throne” that is part of the identity and authority of that nation.
However, these thrones have been perverted or hijacked by demons because of mankind’s:
Idolatry and sexual immorality.
Corruption, violence, war and genocides.
Wrath-inducing actions towards neighboring tribes, nations, etc.
Through Messiah, God establishes an ekklesia (church) in every nation that can begin to move the demons off of the “throne.” By bringing Yeshua and the Holy Spirit to that throne, we begin to cooperate with God to transform the earthly authority and culture of that nation.
Example: 100 years ago, the Korean people were largely pagan. After a revival started in 1907, Korea became the number two missionary-sending nation in the world. That was a reclaiming of their God-given identity and authority.
The Example of Persia (Daniel 10)
In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel. Daniel had been mourning for three full weeks. He was reading the prophecy of Jeremiah, which said the exile would last 70 years. Daniel began to fast and pray to seek God for the fulfillment of His word. God can do everything by Himself, but He chooses to covenant with us and allows us to be His intercessors.
“Do not be afraid, Daniel. From the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.” (Daniel 10:12)
We believe God is going to move in the Middle East in response to the words, fasting, and praying of his servants worldwide.
The Anointed Gentile
Isaiah 45:1 says, “Thus says Jehovah to His Messiah (His anointed), to Cyrus...” This is the only time in the Bible a Gentile king is called “Messiah” or “Anointed.” God chose this Persian king to restore the Jewish people and advance the kingdom of God.
Back then, was Persia the “good guy” or the “bad guy?” Both. There was a bad “Prince of Persia” in the heavenlies, but an anointed Persian king on earth whom God was using. Daniel moved the plan forward through prayer. Today, there are millions of “Daniels” – including a million and a half Iranian Christians – who are pushing back and reclaiming hijacked thrones.
The Power of the “One New Man”
The process of redeeming a nation’s destiny is linked with the “One New Man” – the unity of Jews and Gentiles, and by extension the unity and reconciliation among the bodies of Messiah in neighboring nations. Ephesians 3:10 explains that this “manifold wisdom of God is made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
This “demonstration” happens when:
Jewish and Arab believers walk together in the Middle East.
Believers in “friction zones” all around the world reach out across ethnic strife, jealousy, and history to say, “You are my brother.”
When we worship and pray together in reconciliation, it is a demonstration to the heavenly powers that starts to contend for those national “thrones.”
Summary of the Redemption Process:
1. Creation: God creates a good heavenly and earthly identity for a nation.
2. Fall: The throne is polluted and hijacked by demons through sin, violence, war and the like.
3. Redemption: Through the Gospel and the reconciled church (Jew and Gentile), God begins to turn things around.
4. Action: We are the ones He is pushing to do it right – through unity, reconciliation, and repenting for historical sin.
