Satan influences people as the god of this world, blinding the lost, prompting everything mankind accomplishes, and promoting anything that keeps their hearts from God.
Scripture describes Satan as a powerful being who holds the veil over the gospel for those who are lost, and Les Feldick applies this directly to daily life: the world is currently in the lap of the wicked one. Because Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, his influence is often deceptive — it can look good, beautiful, and attractive rather than openly evil. Yet Les is also careful to show that Satan's power is always limited by the sovereign God, as seen in the example of Job.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 — Paul names Satan as 'the god of this world' who blinds the minds of those who believe not, directly identifying the one who veils the gospel.
Matthew 4:8-9 — Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, revealing his claim to dominion over the world and everything in it.
Scripture calls Satan 'the god of this world.' Paul writes that the gospel is veiled to them that are lost because 'the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not' (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). John also states that 'the whole world lieth in wickedness' (1 John 5:19). The Bible further reveals that Satan disguises himself — 'Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light' (2 Corinthians 11:14). In Matthew 4:8-9, the devil shows the Lord Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and claims, 'All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.' Scripture also records in Job that Satan could touch Job only within the limits God himself set (Job 1:12).
Les Feldick teaches that Satan is 'the God of this world' and that everything mankind accomplishes — whether it is good, beautiful, ugly, or bad — has been prompted by Satan. As Les says, God is not in the business of a material world, and so 'the world is in the lap of the wicked one' (Clips 3-4). Because Satan can transform himself into an angel of light (Clip 1), Les stresses that his influence is deceptive: he will promote anything as long as it keeps men's eyes and hearts from God (Clip 7). Les also teaches that a person who is only body and soul and is ruled by the sin nature is not in control of himself — he is in bondage to the sin nature and to Satan, and that is where the world is operating today (Clip 2). Christians are not to give Satan little credit, Les says; he is powerful and should never be underestimated, yet he is controlled by the more powerful, sovereign God (Clips 2, 6). Les sees this influence at work in history and current events. He teaches that Satan has constantly fought God's dealing with the nation of Israel, and that the world's opposition to Israel is a Satanic ploy to get rid of the Jewish nation so that God cannot perform His prophecies (Clip 5). He likewise describes the pre-flood civilization of Cain's line — the natural, unbelieving line — as driven by the very forces of Satan (Clips 0, 7).
Les teaches that Satan is not confined to openly wicked works. Scripture — and Les — shows that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light (Clip 1), and he will promote anything as long as it keeps men's eyes and hearts from God (Clip 7). Because Satan prompts everything mankind accomplishes, whether good, beautiful, ugly, or bad (Clip 3), his counterfeit can look like the genuine article.
Les teaches that a person who is only body and soul and in whom the sin nature is ruling supreme is not in control of himself — he is in bondage to the sin nature and to Satan. That is why the world is operating under the influence of Satan (Clip 2).
No. Les points to the example of Job: Satan could go only as far as God permitted (Clip 6). Satan is powerful, but he is controlled by the more powerful, sovereign God (Clip 2). Even when Paul instructs the Corinthians to turn a sinning believer over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, the purpose is that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (Clip 6).
Les points to history and says that Satan has constantly fought God's dealing with the nation of Israel. Everything that comes about in the nation of Israel — their unbelief, their attacks from the Gentile world — Satan does. The world's opposition to Israel is, in Les's teaching, a Satanic ploy to get rid of the nation so that God cannot perform His prophecies, since all prophecy rests on Israel (Clip 5). Les also describes the pre-flood civilization as driven by the very forces of Satan (Clip 7).
The Natural and Spiritual Lines
Les identifies Cain as the natural, unbelieving line in contrast to the spiritual line, providing the background for how the natural man is influenced by Satan's world system.
Satan Holds the Veil and Appears as Light
Les teaches that Satan holds the veil over the gospel for those who are lost, and that this same Satan is a powerful being who can transform himself into an angel of light.
Bondage to the Sin Nature and to Satan
Les explains that a person ruled by the sin nature is in bondage to that sin nature and to Satan, so the world operates under Satan's influence and should never underestimate his power.
Satan Prompts All Human Achievement
Les teaches that Satan is the god of this world and prompts everything mankind accomplishes — whether good, beautiful, ugly, or bad — because God is not in the business of the material world.
The World Lies in the Lap of the Wicked One
Les repeats that Satan is the god of this world and that the world is in the lap of the wicked one, with everything accomplished in the world prompted by him.
Satan's Attack on Israel
Les shows how Satan works against God's purposes by opposing the nation of Israel, because if Israel is removed, God cannot perform His prophecies.
Satan Limited by God: Job and the Corinthians
Les uses Job to show that Satan can go only as far as God permits, and he explains Paul's instruction to turn a sinning believer over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so the spirit may be saved.
Satan Promotes Anything That Diverts From God
Les teaches that Satan will promote anything as long as it keeps men's eyes and hearts from God, and that the pre-flood civilization was driven by Satan's forces.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
This verse directly reveals Satan as the god of this world who blinds the minds of the lost — the veiling of the gospel Les describes in Clip 1.
2 Corinthians 11:14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Paul's warning that Les cites to show Satan's deceptive ability to appear as light rather than evil.
Matthew 4:8-9: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
The temptation Les cites to show that Satan claims dominion over the world's kingdoms and can offer them to others.
1 John 5:19: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
The scriptural basis for Les's statement that the world lies in the lap of the wicked one.
Job 1:12: And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Shows that Satan operates only within the boundaries God permits, which is exactly the point Les makes about Job.
1 Corinthians 5:5: To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The verse behind Les's teaching that even when Satan is allowed to destroy the flesh, God's purpose is the salvation of the spirit.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that the Satan of the Bible is a powerful being, not the cartoon character in a red suit with a pitchfork that many people imagine. Paul says he can transform himself into an angel of light, and Les warns against underestimating his power.
It means the present world system lies under Satan's influence. Les teaches that everything mankind accomplishes — whether good, beautiful, ugly, or bad — is prompted by Satan, and that the world is in the lap of the wicked one. God, Les says, is not in the business of the material world.
Les teaches that a person ruled by the sin nature is in bondage to that sin nature and to its god, Satan, and is not in control. Such a person may inhibit a few things but is under the influence of Satan.
Les teaches that Satan is controlled by the more powerful, sovereign God. From the example of Job, Satan can go only as far as God permits — and even Paul's instruction to turn a sinning believer over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh has the purpose that the spirit may be saved.
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