Have you fallen prey to some of Satan’s biggest lies? Are you even familiar with them? I thought I had heard them all — until a few months ago when I overheard a couple on the subway train discussing the movie “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.” According to Internet Movie Database: this is the continuing adventure of the demon superhero…

A small aside here — not only has Hollywood helped convinced children that sorcery is fun and totally OK (thanks, Harry Potter), but now Hollywood is apparently trying to get kids to accept demons. This Hellboy character is supposed to be a “good” demon (like that isn’t an oxymoron) fighting against evil. …Right.

Anyway, I overheard one in the pair trying to give some background information to their partner about spiritual matters. This person said something to the affect of Satan is greater than Jesus… that Satan is the rightful leader of heaven but got kicked out for some reason. When I overheard this I couldn’t even comprehend how such confusion was even possible. I thought about turning around and trying to correct them, but alas, I did not. Forgive me, LORD, if I should have.

A run-in with a Jehovah’s Witness this morning also got me thinking about some of the lies and misconceptions floating around the world that people seem to accept without question. For example, today’s Jehovah Witness Watchtower pamphlet was about there being no hell. Which brings me to the list…

Here, in no specific order (except for number one really being foremost in my opinion), are some of the biggest lies Satan has the world (some of us gladly) believing.

1. There is no hell/ afterlife. This one is CRAZY… and probably the most prevalent and popular for obvious reasons — live how you want with no worry of having to answer for your actions once this life is over. Even people who seem to believe in an afterlife like to claim that hell isn’t real. Oh, they say heaven is real… and just about everyone gets to heaven (grandma, the pet gold fish, etc.)… but hell, if it does exist they say, is solely reserved for folks like Hitler.

There are plenty of passages in the Holy Scriptures that contradict this Satanic lie, but I feel Revelation 20:7-10; 14-15Revelation 20:7-10; 14-15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, ⁸ And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ^{14 1} And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: ³ And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. redeemed: Gr. bought ⁵ And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. ⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. ⁸ And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ⁹ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. ¹² Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. ¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. from henceforth...: or, from henceforth saith the Spirit, Yea ¹⁴ And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. ¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. ripe: or, dried ¹⁶ And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. ¹⁷ And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. ¹⁹ And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. ²⁰ And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. ^{15 1} And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. ² And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. ³ And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. saints: or, nations, or, ages ⁴ Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. ⁵ And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: ⁶ And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. ⁷ And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. ⁸ And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.  

WP-Bible plugin explains it clearly:

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

This passage from the Holy Scriptures shows that there is a place for the wicked and unrepentant sinner — whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Call it hell or whatever you want, but Christ Jesus calls it the lake of fire here, described as the second death — if people lose all consciousness and don’t feel or experience anything after death — how can they experience a second death? Therefore, we are immortal beings, if you will, within these physical shells. This punishment for the wicked is an eternal punishment, as the Holy Scriptures say those in it will be “tormented day and night forever and ever.” How can unfeeling, unconscious lifeless beings be tormented?

2. The Devil isn’t real. This is one just as puzzling to me because, again, some folks don’t have an issue believing in GOD (although they do not truly know HIM), but they’ll also insist that Satan is a myth. This is just another one of the Devil’s lies men embrace because it makes us feel comfortable and safe (i.e., doesn’t require us to consider our spiritual wretchedness).

The Holy Scriptures explain who Satan is and that the loser (defeated and damned for eternity as Revelation 20:7-10Revelation 20:7-10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, ⁸ And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  

WP-Bible plugin shows) is in fact very real and nothing to be feared. For example, in the Book of Job’s first chapter, GOD ALMIGHTY has a conversation with Satan and makes it clear that the devil has no authority other than what the LORD permits him to have. Jesus Christ of Nazareth explains Satan’s agenda in John 7:10John 7:10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.  

WP-Bible plugin and explains in John 8:43-45John 8:43-45
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 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. of his own: or, from his own will or disposition ⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.  

WP-Bible plugin the devil’s greatest tactic in leading people away from seeking our LORD and CREATOR GOD ALMIGHTY.

3. Good people go to heaven. This is another lie that reveals our pathetic, lazy and arrogant ways. Some of us cling to the notion that good deeds gets us to heaven. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people talking about dead celebrities being in heaven because they were the nicest person in the world and had so many charities and helped the homeless, etc. etc. We can’t buy or donate our way into heaven, as Ephesians 2:8-9Ephesians 2:8-9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.  

WP-Bible plugin reveals: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Galatians 2:15-16Galatians 2:15-16
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, ¹⁶ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  

WP-Bible plugin is one of several other passages that also addresses this issue.

4. GOD hears all prayers. It’s difficult to pinpoint the possible reasoning for believing this one, but it’s definitely tied to number 5 below. But this attitude, too, is arrogance — that GOD is some kind of stationary being just waiting in the wings to help us when we feel like calling on HIM. And then, a few days later, once the crisis passes, we go right back to our filthy ways. According to the Holy Bible, the only reliable written source we have about our CREATOR (because HE wrote it), the LORD our GOD does not hear sinners. John 9:31John 9:31
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.  

WP-Bible plugin reads: 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. A “worshiper of GOD” is one who has been saved by Jesus Christ and bears fruit attesting to that (i.e., lives in Spirit and in truth and in holiness). Saints, those saved by Jesus Christ, sin everyday… but we repent and try with the help of Jesus Christ to avoid repeating these sins. Of course, HE acknowledges and responds to the prayer we say as sinners seeking Salvation in the LORD Jesus Christ.

5. GOD IS love. This one is true, but like the others, is only half the picture. We use this one to excuse all kind of filthy behavior — homosexuality perhaps being one of the most popular ones. Of course the LORD our GOD is love — how else could HE send HIS Only Begotten Son from HIS side to have his blood shed on a cross for us wretched sinners? But our heavenly FATHER is most HOLY and punishes sin. For example, the flood is a great illustration. In Genesis 6:5-8Genesis 6:5-8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every...: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day ⁶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. ⁷ And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. both...: Heb. from man unto beast ⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.  

WP-Bible plugin we read:

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

The LORD reserved for HIMSELF only 8 people out of all who were on the earth. HE killed everyone else with a great deluge. The LORD our GOD is a GOD of love. HE is also a GOD of judgment (the Book of Revelation) and a GOD of war (Exodus and Joshua for example). Our CREATOR is not a one-dimensional being stuck in a church building somewhere. HE IS real.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but I do believe these are some of the devil’s most common lies, in my opinion. I imagine I may have also neglected to post some pivotal passages from the Holy Bible. You are invited to please share — passages or a lie not listed or to expand on a lie listed.

One not listed here, but which I may address at a future point in a part 2 of this post, is the lie that we can save ourselves, the planet and the entire universe.

If it caters to your sin, it’s definitely a lie.