🧠 Who’s Really Pulling the Strings? And why it matters more than ever.

Look around. These names are more than headlines—they're hands gripping the levers of power in America. From the Oval Office to billion-dollar boardrooms, from viral influencers to the architects of tech, finance, and narrative control—these are the power players shaping what you see, think, buy, fear, and believe.

Let’s just start with a few names from Trump’s inauguration—those who didn’t just show up but were center-stage in the room where future decisions are made. The three richest men in the world—Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—weren’t just in attendance. They were front-row, attending multiple events, rubbing shoulders with policymakers, and quite literally seated behind the President as he took the oath of office.

Elon Musk, worth over $430 billion, controls electric cars, satellites, AI labs, space travel, and the platform many use to speak freely or get canceled—X (formerly Twitter). He’s not just wealthy—he’s now a close presidential advisor who spent over a quarter of a billion dollars helping Trump win.

Jeff Bezos, at nearly $240 billion, owns Amazon, one of the most powerful distribution and cloud infrastructure systems in the world—and he owns The Washington Post, shaping media narratives coast to coast. Mark Zuckerberg, worth over $210 billion, runs Meta: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and more. He controls your digital identity, algorithms, and conversations whether you’re aware or not.

Right beside them sat Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, with a net worth of $154 billion. His company shapes what you find when you search, what you see on YouTube, and what data is collected about your habits. Also attending was Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, worth $1.1 billion—whose tech is already replacing jobs and writing laws. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple ($2.2B), donated to the inauguration and was seen inside the Capitol Rotunda, representing one of the most powerful tech companies on Earth.

Miriam Adelson, worth nearly $32 billion, is a GOP mega-donor and one of the biggest behind-the-scenes funders of American politics. Rupert Murdoch ($22.2B), former chairman of Fox News, helped mold decades of conservative thought and information. Even Bernard Arnault, France’s richest man and head of luxury empire LVMH ($179.6B), attended with his son—because global elites don’t need borders when it comes to influence.

From India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani ($98.1B), to Las Vegas mogul Phil Ruffin ($4.7B), to Cantor Fitzgerald’s Howard Lutnick ($1.5B), the room was full of titans of wealth. Vivek Ramaswamy, a rising political entrepreneur worth $1B, was also seen there. Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase and a $12.8B voice in crypto policy, was reportedly invited too. Even Tilman Fertitta ($10.2B), who owns everything from restaurants to NBA teams, co-hosted Trump’s pre-Inaugural Ball.

These are not just guests.

They’re shareholders in the future of America.

🤝 What Do They Have in Common?

On the surface, they come from different industries—tech, media, luxury goods, crypto, politics, casinos, biotech. But take a closer look, and you’ll see the common threads run deep:

They control what you see, what you buy, how you speak, and how you live. They own platforms that shape culture, tools that rewrite truth, and technologies that redefine reality. They sit on empires that don’t answer to borders and don’t need elections to stay in power.

Whether it’s the flow of money (like Bezos, Lutnick, Armstrong), the flow of information (like Zuckerberg, Brin, Murdoch), or the flow of thought (like Musk, Altman, Ramaswamy)—each one plays a role in bending the arc of the future.

And nearly all of them share one more thing: access. Not just access to wealth, but to presidents, policy rooms, and platforms the average American will never touch.

They were not chosen by the people. They are not accountable to the people. But they are absolutely shaping the world the people live in.

So the question isn’t just who they are.

It’s what they’re building—and who they’re building it for.

🤔 Now… Ask Yourself:

What do you actually have in common with these people?

Maybe you admire Elon’s innovation. Maybe you use an iPhone, shop on Amazon, or watch reels on Instagram. Maybe you’ve even benefited from crypto or AI tools like ChatGPT.

But let’s be honest…

These figures—Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg, Brin, Altman, Cook, Arnault, Ambani—they don’t live like you. They don’t work like you. And they sure don’t struggle like you.

They don’t feel inflation at the gas pump. They’re not putting off dental visits because insurance doesn’t cover enough. They’re not skipping date night to pay the electric bill. They’re not praying over a cart of groceries before swiping the debit card.

They have private jets, private security, direct lines to presidents, and portfolios that grow while yours flatlines. They sit in rooms where policies are written—but you’re the one who lives under those policies.

So here’s the real question:

Who is standing between them and us? Who is holding the line for “We the People”? Because if our decision-makers are surrounded by people who can’t relate to our reality—how can there be balance?

Where is the bridge between elite control and the everyday American story?

And more importantly… What happens when that bridge burns? What happens when no one in power actually looks like us, talks like us, or fights for us?

Because influence without accountability isn’t leadership—it’s ownership.

God Warned Us About Wanting a King

Long before nations crowned rulers and built political systems, God issued a clear and sobering warning through the prophet Samuel. The Israelites, longing to be like other nations, demanded a king. But God had always intended to be their King—ruling with justice, mercy, and provision. Their request grieved Samuel, but even more so, it grieved God. He told Samuel,

“They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”— 1 Samuel 8:7 (NKJV)

Despite His heartbreak, God permitted them to have what they insisted on—but not without warning them of the consequences of human government. He laid it out plainly in 1 Samuel 8:10–18. He said a king would:

• Take their sons for war

• Appoint commanders for his own purposes

• Take their daughters for service

• Seize the best of their fields, vineyards, and olive groves

• Tax their produce and livestock

• Make them servants to his rule

And then God delivered this chilling word:

“And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”— 1 Samuel 8:18 (NKJV)

Let that sink in: “Whom you have chosen for yourselves.” It wasn’t just about kings—it was about the replacement of God’s leadership with human control.

Still Relevant Today

This warning wasn’t limited to ancient Israel. It is prophetic in nature, revealing a pattern that still persists. Today, nations place their hope in elected officials, presidents, and governments. We trade the leadership of the Holy Spirit for the rule of bureaucracy and man-made systems. And just as God warned, we’ve become burdened:

• Our children are shaped by ideologies instead of righteousness.

• Our labor is heavily taxed.

• Our land and resources are controlled and distributed according to policies.

• Our freedoms inch toward erosion under promises of protection and prosperity.

The enslavement He spoke of is not always with chains, but with dependency, fear, and disconnection from God’s authority.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”— Psalm 118:9 (NKJV) “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel.”— Isaiah 31:1 (NIV)

When we place our faith in man,

we forfeit the covering that comes from trusting God as King.

We were never meant to be ruled by men—we were created to be governed by God. While laws, leadership, and order are necessary, they were always meant to be submitted to the rule of Heaven, not to replace it. When the people of Israel cried for a king, they unknowingly invited the very system that would oppress them. And today, many cry for a better leader without realizing they’ve rejected the only One who rules with perfect justice.

But there’s hope—Jesus is our true King. He doesn’t demand your land or take your children; He gave His life to set you free. He leads with truth and grace, not power and control. His Kingdom is not of this world, and it cannot be voted in or out—it must be received with a yielded heart.

“For unto us a Child is born… and the government will be upon His shoulder.”— Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

The question for every generation remains: Do we want a king like the nations—or will we choose the King of Kings?

While We Wait for Christ’s Return, We Are Commanded to Pray for All Our Leaders

As we eagerly await the return of Christ—the true King whose rule is just, holy, and eternal—Scripture is clear: we are not to be passive observers of this world, nor are we to curse its broken systems. We are called to be active intercessors. God's Word commands us to pray for those in authority—not just for our sake, but so that His purposes can be accomplished through and in spite of human rule.

Paul wrote:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”— 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (NIV)

But today, our “kings” don’t just sit on government thrones.

In the modern age, power and influence have shifted beyond political office. Now, our leaders also reside in:

• Hollywood and the entertainment industry – shaping values, redefining identity, and normalizing sin through art and media.

• Finance and global economics – directing markets, controlling debt, manipulating currencies, and deciding who gets wealth and who doesn’t.

• Technology and artificial intelligence – creating systems that influence thought, behavior, speech, and even spiritual engagement.

• Social media platforms and algorithms – where unelected influencers shape entire generations’ beliefs in seconds.

• Scientific research and pharmaceuticals – where decisions are made in secrecy that affect the health and future of humanity.

Many of these leaders operate in high towers and hidden circles, outside of public view, yet their decisions ripple into everyday life. Whether it's what we watch, how we speak, what our children are taught, or what information we’re even allowed to see—these are the new “thrones” of influence. And many of them wield power without accountability to God or His Word.

Yet, the command still stands:

“Pray for all those in authority…” – not just those with titles, but also those with platforms, patents, and power.

As believers, we cannot afford to ignore who is shaping the world we live in. If we stay silent in prayer, we surrender ground. But when we rise up in intercession, we engage the highest courtroom—Heaven itself. While we may not have access to boardrooms, stages, or political chambers, we have access to the Throne of Grace, where decisions are truly overturned.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”— Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV)

We don’t have to agree with them. We don’t have to follow their worldview. But we are called to pray for them—that their hearts would be turned, their plans interrupted, and their influence redeemed for God’s purposes.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”— Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Let us remain watchful. Let us remain prayerful. And while we wait for the return of the only King whose reign will never end, let us pray for every leader—seen and unseen—knowing that our prayers carry weight in shaping the course of nations and the destiny of souls.

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in obedience to Your Word, lifting up all those in authority—not only in government, but in every realm where power and influence shape the world around us.

I pray for those in political office—presidents, governors, lawmakers, and judges. Give them wisdom from above, the kind that is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy. Turn their hearts like rivers of water according to Your will, and let justice and righteousness be their guide.

I lift up the leaders in Hollywood and the entertainment industry—those who craft narratives, produce music, write scripts, and direct the world’s attention. Lord, let truth rise in a culture saturated by lies. Interrupt agendas that normalize sin and distort identity. Raise up voices that reflect Your light in the darkness.

I pray over the financial gatekeepers—those who control markets, wealth, and economic systems. Expose corruption. Break the spirit of mammon. Let integrity be restored to those who distribute resources and direct global economies.

I lift up the minds behind technology and artificial intelligence—those building systems that touch human thought, language, and even emotion. Let no creation outpace the Creator. Protect our minds from manipulation and preserve the freedom to seek truth. Let technology become a tool for good and not a trap for deception.

I intercede for social media giants and influencers, those whose words and algorithms shape culture, conversation, and identity. I ask that You would silence confusion and amplify truth. Let what is hidden in the dark be brought to the light, and let truth trend again.

I pray for those in science, medicine, and pharmaceuticals, where discoveries are made in secret and decisions affect the health and future of nations. Uncover deception. Release healing. Let truth and transparency rise in these places of influence, and protect the vulnerable from exploitation.

Lord, many of these leaders sit in high towers and behind closed doors, yet nothing is hidden from Your sight. Though I may not know their names, You do. And so I pray—for every leader, known and unknown, with titles, platforms, patents, or power—let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

And while I wait for the return of Jesus, the only righteous King, I will remain faithful in prayer. I will not surrender this ground to silence. I will not be passive. I will intercede, I will declare, and I will trust that You still rule over the affairs of men.

In Jesus’ mighty name,Amen.

Amanda Allen, the author of Kingdom Revelations, holds the copyright to her work, art, graphics, and videos. Copyright © Amanda Allen, Kingdom Revelations, 2025. All rights reserved. This article may be shared with acknowledgment of the author and the original source.