Satan's big lie is that a person can be like God.
In Genesis 3, Satan tells Eve she will not die and that her eyes will be opened so she will be 'as gods.' Les Feldick calls this the one lie that runs all through Scripture: 'when Satan tells a person, you can be God.' He says the end-times world ruler will believe it about himself, exalting himself above every god and showing himself as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 11:36).
Genesis 3:5 — This verse contains Satan's direct promise of godhood — the lie Les identifies as Satan's big lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 — Paul describes the coming man of sin exalting himself as God — the end-times fulfillment of the same lie.
The Bible's first record of Satan's lie is in the garden. God had warned that eating the forbidden tree would bring death, but the serpent said, 'Ye shall not surely die' (Genesis 3:4). He went further, telling the woman that on the day she ate, her eyes would be opened and 'ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil' (Genesis 3:5). Scripture calls Satan 'a liar, and the father of it' (John 8:44). The same self-exalting lie reappears in prophecy. Daniel writes of a king who 'shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god' and 'shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished' (Daniel 11:36). Paul describes the man of sin as one 'who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God' (2 Thessalonians 2:4). God's response to those who reject the truth is strong delusion, 'that they should believe a lie' and be damned because they 'had pleasure in unrighteousness' (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
Les Feldick says there has been 'one lie all through Scripture' — which he calls 'the lie' — and that is when Satan tells a person, 'you can be God' [Clip 1]. He traces it to Eden: in Genesis 3 Satan said, 'You shall not surely die' and 'you shall be as God,' and Jesus called Satan 'the father of the lie' [Clip 4]. Les teaches that this same lie will be believed again in the end times. After the Antichrist signs a treaty with Israel, the people who heard the gospel and rejected it will be the first to acclaim him 'as the God of this world' [Clip 1]. The coming ruler will be godless — the counterfeit Christ who receives his power from Satan [Clip 2]. He will do according to his own will and finally have absolute power over the world [Clip 0]. Les also points out that Satan is the god of this world, and his main activity is not in skid row but in the upper levels of religious leadership, where he promotes good things to accomplish his ends [Clips 3, 7]. During the tribulation, a false religious leader will cause the earth to worship the Antichrist and to make an image of him [Clip 5].
Les points to the coming world ruler as the man who will act on Satan's lie. He will 'do according to his will' and come to a place of almost absolute power over the whole world [Clip 0]. He will be godless — the counterfeit Christ who receives his power from Satan [Clip 2]. Scripture says he will exalt himself above every god (Daniel 11:36) and show himself as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Les connects this to the lie in the garden: rather than repent of wanting to be like God, the world will follow a man who claims to be God [Clip 1].
Les says those who heard the gospel, rejected it, and had nothing to do with it will be the first to acclaim the Antichrist as 'the God of this world' once he signs the treaty with Israel [Clip 1]. He ties this to 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: God sends strong delusion, 'that they should believe a lie,' so that all who did not believe the truth 'might be damned' for taking pleasure in unrighteousness [Clip 1]. For Les this is the Eden lie returning: people will again believe that a man can be God.
Les emphasizes that Satan's main activity is not skid row or gross immorality; those people he already has. He works at the upper levels of religious leadership, in seminaries and large denominations, so that his influence funnels down to the average person in the pew [Clip 3]. Satan will promote good, beautiful things that the world is in awe of in order to accomplish his own end [Clip 3]. During the tribulation a false religious leader will cause the earth to worship the Antichrist and make an image of him [Clip 5]. The ultimate purpose of the lie, then, is worship — taking the place of God.
The Coming World Ruler's Self-Will
Les teaches that the end-times king will do according to his own will and gain almost absolute power, showing how the Antichrist embodies the lie of being like God.
The One Lie — 'You Can Be God'
Les explicitly names Satan's big lie: he tells a person, 'you can be God.' He also says those who reject the gospel will be the first to acclaim the Antichrist as God after the treaty with Israel.
The Counterfeit Christ
Les teaches that the Antichrist is godless, the counterfeit Christ, and receives his power from Satan — and that Satan can perform good in order to promote his cause.
Where Satan Works: Religious Leadership
Les says Satan's main area of activity is the upper levels of religious leadership; he promotes good, beautiful things to funnel his influence down to average people.
The Lie in the Garden
Les identifies the beginning of 'the lie' in Genesis 3: Satan says, 'Ye shall not surely die' and promises Eve she will be 'as God' — which is why Jesus called Satan the father of the lie.
Worshiping the Antichrist
Les teaches that a false religious leader will cause the earth to worship the Antichrist and make an image of him, showing the end-times climax of Satan's lie.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream That Predicted Every World Empire — Daniel 2
Now I'm always emphasizing, just because it's a miracle, don't say that's God. Satan has tremendous miracle-working power, and he's going to really do it here during the tribulation. And so he has the miracles in the sight of the beast. Now remember these are two great world leaders. These aren't animals. These are men.
Satan, the God of This World
Les teaches that Satan is the god of this world and that the material world is under his dominion, citing the temptation of Jesus as proof.
Genesis 3:4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Satan's first recorded contradiction of God sets up his big lie.
Genesis 3:5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The promise of godhood is the heart of the lie Les identifies.
John 8:44: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Jesus calls Satan the father of the lie, the source of the deception.
Daniel 11:36: And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
The end-time 'king' exalts himself above every god.
2 Thessalonians 2:4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The man of sin shows himself as God — the same lie in its final form.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God sends delusion so those who rejected truth believe the lie.
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.
Satan offers Jesus the world's kingdoms, evidence Les uses for Satan's dominion.
Les says there has been one lie all through Scripture, and he calls it 'the lie': when Satan tells a person, 'you can be God.' It began in Eden and will reach its climax when the world acclaims the Antichrist as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Genesis 3:5: 'For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' This is the serpent's promise to Eve.
Les says those who have heard the gospel and rejected it will be the first to acclaim the Antichrist as the God of this world after he signs his treaty with Israel. Paul says God will send strong delusion so that they believe the lie and are damned (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
Yes. Les teaches that the same lie — 'you can be God' — is what the Antichrist will believe about himself. He will exalt himself above every god and show himself as God (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Antichrist — Daniel 8 & 11