The biblical view of Satan is that he is a real, powerful angelic being — the god of this world — not a cartoonish comic figure, and he operates only under God's sovereign control.
Scripture portrays Satan as the god of this world who blinds the minds of the lost and holds the veil over the gospel. He is no silly creature in a red suit with a pitchfork; he can transform himself into an angel of light and counterfeit God's work at every opportunity. Yet Satan is not equal to God — he is held in check by the sovereign God and can only do so much.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 — Paul directly calls Satan 'the god of this world' who blinds the minds of unbelievers — the key verse Les uses to show Satan's real nature and role.
2 Corinthians 11:14 — Paul reveals Satan transforms himself into an angel of light — the basis for Les's point that Satan is deceptive, not an obvious cartoon villain.
Matthew 4:8-9 — Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, demonstrating the dominion he claims — Les points to this as proof he is the god of this world.
1 John 5:19 — John states the whole world lieth in wickedness, which Les paraphrases as 'the world lieth in the lap of the wicked one.'
The Bible reveals Satan as a real spiritual being of remarkable power and authority. Paul calls him 'the god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), describing him as the one who blinds the minds of those who believe not so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ cannot shine unto them. Paul also warns that 'Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light' (2 Corinthians 11:14) — meaning he operates deceptively, not always in an openly evil form. Scripture also shows Satan claiming authority over the kingdoms of the world. In Matthew 4:8-9, the devil takes Jesus up into an exceeding high mountain, shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and says, 'All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.' First John 5:19 says the whole world lieth in wickedness, and Ephesians 6:12 tells believers they wrestle against principalities and powers — the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Les Feldick insists that the Satan of the Bible is not the ridiculous comic figure of popular imagination — he says some think of Satan as 'more or less a cartoon character in a little red underwear suit and a pitchfork and some horns on his head,' but that is not the Satan of the Bible. The Satan of the Bible is a powerful being, so powerful that Paul says he can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Les calls him 'the master counterfeiter,' one who is well qualified to promote good, beautiful things and who counterfeits God at every opportunity (Clips 1, 4). Les also teaches that Satan is the god of this world. He says Scripture makes it abundantly clear that Satan is the god of this world tonight, that the world lieth in the lap of the wicked one, and that everything mankind accomplishes — whether good, beautiful, ugly, or bad — has been prompted by Satan. 'God is not in the business of a material world,' Les says; the world is in the lap of the wicked one. He demonstrates this from Matthew 4, where Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world (Clips 6, 7). Yet Les is equally clear that Satan is not God's equal. Although Satan has authority and is able to blind the lost so they cannot comprehend the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), he is held in check by God's checks and balances and can only do so much. He is 'only controlled by the more powerful, sovereign God.' Satan is powerful and the world operates under his influence, but God remains sovereign over him (Clips 2, 3, 5).
No. Les says people think of Satan as 'more or less a cartoon character in a little red underwear suit and a pitchfork and some horns on his head,' but that is not the Satan of the Bible. The Satan of the Bible is a powerful being who, Paul says, can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Because he can present himself as light, he is deceptive rather than openly evil (Clips 1, 4, 5).
Yes — in a limited sense. Scripture calls him 'the god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:4), and Les says 'Scripture makes it so abundantly clear' that Satan is the god of this world tonight. He points to the verse that the world lieth in the lap of the wicked one, and he says everything mankind accomplishes, whether good or bad, has been prompted by Satan (Clips 6, 7). In Matthew 4, Satan even offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, showing the dominion he claims. But Les is careful to say Satan's control is not absolute — he is still under the sovereign God (Clips 2, 3).
Les explains that when the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are lost, and it is Satan who holds the veil in place. He is called 'the god of this world' because he has blinded the minds of those who believe not, so they cannot comprehend the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Les says the lost people of this world are totally blinded through the power of Satan, and this is why they cannot understand the gospel (Clips 1, 5).
No. Les says that just because Satan is evil and represents wickedness, he doesn't always do awful things. Satan is very well qualified to promote good things, beautiful things — even things believers enjoy day by day. As the master counterfeiter, he makes a sham look like an original; he counterfeits God at every opportunity and can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) (Clip 4).
Cain's Separation From God's Presence
Les describes the rebel Cain going out from the presence of the Lord to dwell in the land of Nod — one who wanted nothing more to do with God and removed himself from the place where God would have contact with him.
The Satan of the Bible Is Not a Cartoon
Les strips away the popular image of a comic devil in a red suit with a pitchfork, showing that the biblical Satan is a powerful being who transforms himself into an angel of light and holds the gospel veil over the lost.
Satan Under God's Sovereign Control
Les explains that although Satan is the god of this world, he is held in check by God's checks and balances and can only do so much — unlike Christ, whose future kingdom power will be absolute and glorious.
Satan Rules the Sin Nature
Les teaches that unsaved people are in bondage to the sin nature and to its god, Satan, and warns never to underestimate Satan's power, which is only controlled by the more powerful sovereign God.
Satan, the Master Counterfeiter
Les emphasizes that Satan doesn't always do awful things; he promotes good, beautiful things as a counterfeit of God, appearing as an angel of light and making shams look like originals.
Satan's Authority and Blinding of the Lost
Les shows that principalities and powers have real authority, that Satan is powerful, and that through the power of Satan the lost are totally blinded so they cannot comprehend the gospel.
Total Dominion Over the World
Drawing on Matthew 4, Les says everything mankind accomplishes has been prompted by Satan, who has total dominion over the world, while God is not in the business of a material world.
The God of This World Tonight
Les repeats that Scripture makes it clear Satan is the god of this world tonight, that the world lieth in the lap of the wicked one, and that Satan has total dominion as seen in Matthew 4.
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 is the key passage identifying Satan as the god of this world who blinds the minds of unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 11:14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Paul reveals that Satan appears deceptively as an angel of light, not as an obviously evil cartoon figure.
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 claims authority over all the kingdoms of the world, demonstrating the dominion Les says he exercises.
1 John 5:19: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
John states that the whole world lies in the wicked one — Les paraphrases this as the world lying in the lap of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Paul speaks of the spiritual authorities of darkness, which Les notes have real authority.
Genesis 4:16: And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
This records the rebel Cain removing himself from God's presence — the biblical background Les describes for a man who wanted nothing more to do with God.
Les treats Satan as a real, powerful being — not a mere symbol. He says the Satan of the Bible is a powerful being who can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and who is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Scripture calls him 'the god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:4). Les also points to the verse that the world lieth in the lap of the wicked one and says that Satan is the god of this world tonight.
No. Les teaches that unlike Christ, whose kingdom power will be absolute and total, Satan is held in check by God's checks and balances and can only do so much. Satan is controlled by the more powerful sovereign God.
Les says yes — Satan is the god of this world and everything mankind accomplishes has been prompted by him. But Les adds that Satan's dominion is not absolute; he still operates under the sovereign God's control and can only do so much.
Watch the Teaching: Understanding Cain and Abel: Faith, Sin, and Civilization Explained