How do Satan and his Demons Dominate the World?
How do Satan and his demons dominate and direct unbelievers throughout the world? How do they wield their power over fallen man?
By Ron Jones ©Titus Institute 2009
Summary of article:
There are two major ways they dominate and direct:
1. Through false religion and spiritual beliefs
2. Through the culture which is dominated by Satan’s lies.
1. Through false religion and spiritual beliefs
The Bible clearly teaches that Satan and his demons are behind false religion, both non-Christian religions and false Christian groups.
a. Satan and his demons are behind non-Christian religions.
Paul writes in 1 Cor.10: 20-21,
But I say, that the things, which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of demons.
Demons are behind the idols of false religion. The statue, the idol is nothing. But the religion, which deceives men into believing, worshiping, and sacrificing to idols is demonic.
But there is more. Satan will also set up counterfeit “Christian” religions for the same evil purposes.
b. Satan and his demons are behind non-Christian religions.
In 2 Cor.11:13-14, Paul teaches, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Earlier Paul has been talking about those who preach a false Jesus rather than the true identity of the Son of God that the apostles preach.
The Greek word Paul uses, which is translated “transformed,” reveals that Satan’s ministers put on an outward form or fashion that makes them look like “apostles of Christ.”
They put on a mask so people cannot see what they really are and so they masquerade as apostles of Christ.
These unbelieving human beings who teach false doctrine about Christ look and act like they come from God and yet they come from the devil himself.
In 1 Tim.4:1-3, Paul says,
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meat, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving.”
2. They spread false beliefs and values in secular culture and society.
Satan and his demons dominate and direct unbelievers so that they develop beliefs and values that are not from God and they then act accordingly.
Because these unbelievers dominate by their sheer numbers over true believers, then the society, culture, and government and nations are also going to have these beliefs and values permeating them.
Eph. 2: 1-3 “You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient…”
The word “followed” here expresses agreement with and conformity to a way of life.
In this passage, Paul connects together three things, “the ways of the world,” “the ruler of the kingdom of the air,” and “those who are disobedient.”
The ruler of the kingdom of the air and the spirit that is now at work in those who are disobedient is Satan.
Those who are disobedient are unbelievers who are disobedient to God, whether they realize it or not, because they do not believe in God as he has revealed himself in His Son Jesus Christ and they do not follow God’s ways through Christ.
The world refers to unbelieving human beings who are in darkness, who are entrapped in sin and error – living out a life in rebellion against God based on a belief system that does not recognize the truth about God and His Son Jesus Christ.
Satan’s lies form the basis of the beliefs and values of fallen man and express themselves in the sinful attitudes, words, and actions of fallen man all coming from Satan and his demons.
The “ways of the world” are the ways unbelievers live without truth and Biblical morality.
The “ways of this world” are the beliefs and values which are expressed in attitudes, words, and actions of fallen men based on the lies of Satan
When we were unbelievers spiritually blinded by Satan to the truth and what is right and wrong from God’s perspective, we followed the ways of the world
And the ways of the world were bound up in the desires and cravings of our sinful fleshly nature.
Eph.2: 3 says that we all lived among those who were disobedient gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
The world is made up of those who are disobedient and their lifestyle is satisfying the cravings of the flesh and following its desires and its thoughts.
Satan justifies a fleshly lifestyle through his lies. “If it feels good and doesn’t hurt anybody, do it.” is just one example of the ways of the world.
As unbelievers fulfill their own fleshly desires they create in culture and society things which entice and stir up the fleshly desires of humans.
Paul tells us in Gal.5 that the flesh has four categories of desire and cravings:
1. sexual immorality
2. religious idolatry which includes the occult
3. selfish attitudes and actions toward others
4. overindulgence in alcohol, drugs and its resultant behaviors
Humans with Satan behind them create cultural venues to entice and stir up these desires in others.
