The lie is Satan’s ancient claim that man can become like God — specifically, that the Antichrist is God and is to be worshiped.
In Genesis 3, Satan told Eve, “Ye shall be as gods,” and Les identifies that as the big lie that runs through all of Scripture. During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will come with Satan’s power, signs, and lying wonders, and those who rejected the love of the truth will believe the lie that he is God. God will even send them strong delusion so that they believe it.
Genesis 3:5 — The serpent’s claim that man can be “as gods” is the original lie Les identifies as Satan’s big lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-11 — This passage describes the tribulation deception: the Antichrist comes with Satan’s power and lying wonders, and those who reject the truth are given strong delusion to believe the lie.
Daniel 11:36 — Daniel predicts the Antichrist will magnify himself above every god and prosper until the indignation is accomplished.
First, the lie itself appears in Genesis 3:4-5. The serpent said to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die: 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 original claim that man can become like God. During the tribulation, this lie is seen in the coming of the Antichrist. Second Thessalonians 2:8-10 says, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” The next verses add, “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” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Daniel 11:36 also describes the one who will embody this lie: “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.”
Les Feldick traces “the lie” all the way back to Genesis and identifies it as Satan’s big lie: “You can be like God.” He says it is the lie that has been thrown at the human race ever since the Garden of Eden. In the tribulation, the Antichrist takes this lie to its ultimate conclusion — he believes it about himself and claims to be God. Les points to Daniel 11:36, where the king magnifies himself above every god and prospers until the indignation is accomplished. Les also explains how people will be deceived. The Antichrist’s coming is after the working of Satan, with power, signs, lying wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness “in them that perish.” These are people who received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. Because they rejected the truth and took pleasure in unrighteousness, they are the ones who will be deceived. Les says the false prophet will cause the people of the earth to worship the Antichrist as a counterfeit of the Son, and even Israel will begin to wonder if he is the real Messiah after he signs the seven-year covenant and provides protection.
The lie is not new. In Genesis 3:4-5 the serpent told Eve, “Ye shall not surely die” and “ye shall be as gods.” Les calls this an out-and-out lie and says it is the lie that still runs through Scripture. Jesus called the devil the father of the lie, and he still uses the same deception. In the tribulation, the Antichrist will believe this lie concerning himself, claiming to be greater than God and even to be God.
Scripture says the Antichrist’s coming is after the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Les emphasizes that miracles do not necessarily prove God is at work — Satan has tremendous miracle-working power, and he will use it during the tribulation. The false religious leader will cause the earth to worship the Antichrist, making an image to him just as Nebuchadnezzar built an image to centralize worship.
The people who believe the lie are those who perish — those who received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. They had the opportunity to receive the gospel and understand the truth, but they chose unrighteousness and took pleasure in it. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, God will send them strong delusion so that they believe the lie. Les says that when the Antichrist signs a seven-year treaty with Israel and the world falls at his feet, they will be among the first to accept him.
Les links the Antichrist to the Genesis lie: the Antichrist believes that he can be like God — in fact, that he is God. Daniel 11:36 says he will magnify himself above every god and prosper until the indignation is accomplished. Les says the world will be literally falling at his feet, and Satanically those seven years will be the most awful in earth’s history. For the first three and a half years, Israel will enjoy his protection and many will wonder if he is the real Messiah, until he turns on them and forces them to worship him.
Deception of the Perishing
Les shows from 2 Thessalonians 2 that the Antichrist’s coming will be accompanied by Satan’s working, signs, lying wonders, and deceit aimed at those who received not the love of the truth.
Israel Wonders if He Is the Messiah
Les explains that after the treaty, Israel will be so awed by the Antichrist’s protection that they begin to wonder if he is the true Messiah before he turns on them.
The Big Lie: “You Can Be Like God”
Les identifies Satan’s big lie as “you can be like God” and says the Antichrist believes it about himself, claiming to be God and prospering until God’s indignation is complete.
False Prophet Deceives the Earth
Les warns that miracles don’t prove God; Satan has miracle-working power, and the false prophet will use it to make the earth worship the Antichrist as a counterfeit of the Son.
Parallel Teaching on the Image of the Beast
In a parallel lesson, Les repeats that Satan’s miracle-working power will be used in the tribulation to cause people to worship the Antichrist and make an image of him.
The Seven-Year Treaty
Les says the signing of the seven-year covenant with Israel is the triggering event that reveals the Antichrist and ushers in the tribulation.
The Lie in Eden
Les traces the lie to Genesis 3, where Satan told Eve she would not die and would become as gods; he calls it the out-and-out lie that still deceives the human race.
The World Falls at His Feet
Les says when the Antichrist appears the world will be literally falling at his feet, and his seven-year reign will be the most awful in earth’s history.
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 original lie is that man can become like God — the same lie Les says the Antichrist will embody.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Describes the Antichrist’s satanic coming and why the deception falls on those who rejected the truth.
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’s response to those who refused the truth: He sends strong delusion so they believe the lie.
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 tribulation king exalts himself above every god and prospers until God’s indignation is complete.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The seven-year covenant that introduces the Antichrist and sets the tribulation in motion.
The lie is Satan’s ancient claim from Genesis 3 that man can become like God. In the tribulation, this lie is embodied in the Antichrist, who claims to be God and is worshiped as a counterfeit of the Son. Those who rejected the love of the truth will be deceived by his signs and lying wonders.
Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, and had pleasure in unrighteousness. God sends them strong delusion so that they believe the lie and are damned (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
People who have heard the gospel and understood the truth but deliberately chose unrighteousness and rejected God’s offer of salvation. Les says these are the ones who perish, and they will be among the first to accept the Antichrist as their God and Messiah.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to the 144,000 Jews in the Tribulation?