From the 10/40 Window to January 6th: How Evangelical Spiritual Warfare Violence Shaped the Capitol Riot

Many commentators have noted the markers of evangelical theology and spirituality on display during the violence and chaos of the January 6th Capitol Riot. Rioters and the surrounding crowds prayed, sang evangelical worship songs, did spiritual warfare against demonic entities, and carried flags and wore apparel that signified their loyalty to Jesus, the Bible, and Donald Trump. But what was the relationship between these spiritual practices and the violence that occurred that day? This paper examines how spiritual warfare thought leaders and paradigms that were popularized among American and global evangelicals in the 1990s through the massive 10/40 Window missions prayer campaign became instrumental in the Christian mobilization for and participation in January 6th. Following the trajectory of three of these 1990s leaders, the paper will show how organized campaigns of spiritual violence became increasingly politicized over time and then tipped over into literal violence at the US Capitol.