What Wicked Spirits Are Behind the Orlando Tragedies?

In the wake of a trio of national headline-making events in Orlando—the gay nightclub massacre, Christian singer Christina Grimmie’s murder and the alligator attack that killed a toddler at a Disney resort—prophetic voices in the nations are praying hard. Many are pressing in to discern what confederate of spirits has marked Orlando—the city in which I was born, went to college and met my daughter’s father and where my parents still reside—for destruction.

I agree it’s important to discern the enemy’s attack. Surely, we need to understand what spirits are operating in a city that Cindy Jacobs prophesied last year would be in the eyes of the nation in 2016. It’s vital not to be ignorant of the enemy’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). Yet many of the strongholds along the I-4 Corridor—which connects Orlando to Tampa, Florida—have been in place for a decade or more. It doesn’t take a prophet to see the princes over Orlando.

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Think back for a moment. I’m not going to name names, but the instances are well-documented. More than a handful of high-profile pastors have fallen into sexual immorality in the area. At least one of them committed suicide. Another was found dead in a W hotel room in New York City with a substance in his pocket that looked like cocaine. Orlando has one of the highest LGBT populations in the nation, ranking 20th. And the “Psychic Capitol of the World,” Cassadaga, is in the region.

Please hear me. I am not singling out Orlando. To be sure, these sorts of problems are not isolated to Orlando. Immorality and idolatry are running rampant in many cities across the nation. It just so happens that Orlando is in the spotlight right now, so it’s an opportune time to learn what we can to move forward with greater wisdom in battle. 

Listen to Jennifer’s podcast on the Orlando shootings.

Tolerating This Spirit Has Opened a Portal of Hell

Clearly, Jezebel is one of the princes in Orlando and, despite all the teaching, the body of Christ has largely has tolerated this spirit. Tolerating Jezebel opens a portal of hell, allowing all manner of destruction. Despite the many praises Jesus offered the church at Thyatira, He also had a few things against this body of believers. The spiritual governors of the city tolerated a false prophetess and teacher named Jezebel who taught and seduced God’s people to commit sexual immorality and engage in idolatry (Rev. 2:20).

Jesus refers to Jezebel’s teaching at “the depths of Satan” (Rev. 2:24). Jesus gave Jezebel a space to repent, but she refused. The Lord said He would throw Jezebel on a sickbed and all those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation if they don’t repent (Rev. 2:22).

Make no mistake, I am not suggesting that the events in Orlando are God’s judgment. That’s an ignorant and unfortunate assumption some people who call themselves Christians are making. I am only suggesting this: When we tolerate Jezebel—when we tolerate immorality and idolatry and the occult—we open a door for the enemy that God is not obliged to shut. Orlando is not the only city in America tolerating Jezebel. The church in America needs to repent and close the door on any agreement with this spirit right now.

Was an antichrist spirit attacking Orlando? I believe so. Was witchcraft involved? Likely, given the Bible’s revelation on Jezebel and her witchcrafts (2 Kings 9:22). Discerning spirits is ultimately not a difficult task. Raising up governmental intercessors who understand how to legislate in the Spirit and use the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose (Matt. 18:18) is the greater challenge. But we can commit to doing it.

It’s Time to Raise Up Governmental Intercessors

We can train up more intercessors who govern in the Spirit in cities across America and push back darkness. We can equip more spiritual governors who understand how to rule and reign with Christ and take authority over the principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12). That’s what we’ve committed to doing at Awakening House of Prayer in the wake of this tragedy, which took place only a few hours up the road.

We can argue about what spirits were behind the attack all day long, but that won’t stop another attack in Orlando. It won’t stop another attack in San Bernardino. It won’t stop another attack in Waco; Oklahoma City; Charleston, South Carolina; or New York City or anywhere else. While I agree we need to discern the spirits behind these and other tragedies, discerning spirits is not going to stop spirits from carrying out their agenda to steal, kill and destroy if we don’t govern in the spirit through strong intercession.

We can train more fearless, discerning believers who will occupy the spiritual seats of governing authority in their territories—and we can do it. Jesus gave us His authority (Matt. 28:18-19). He’s given us His name. He’s given us His gifts. He’s given us His Spirit. And He told us clearly, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). The giants battling our nation are real, but we will not faint in the day of adversity (Prov. 24:10). Like Joshua and Caleb, we have a different spirit that cries, “We are able to overcome” (Num. 13:30).