The Two Greatest Lies: The Deceptive Power Behind the World's Largest Scam

The two greatest lies in this world are these:

That God sends people to hell

That the devil isn’t real.

These lies are like siblings, born from the same source: hell itself, with their father being Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). They work together, hand in hand, to blind humanity to the truth of God’s love and justice. But the truth—the unshakable, undeniable truth—is this:

God doesn’t send anyone to hell; He provides the way out.

Lie #1: "God Sends People to Hell"

This lie distorts the heart of God. People often picture God as some cosmic tyrant, eagerly casting souls into eternal punishment. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. God’s Word clearly states His desire:

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Hell was never created for mankind. It was prepared for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Humanity’s sin creates separation from God (Isaiah 59:2), but God didn’t abandon us in our sin. He created the way out—an escape route paved by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself said:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" (John 3:16-17).

If anyone ends up in hell, it’s not because God sent them there—it’s because they chose to reject the rescue plan. Acts 13:46 puts it plainly: "You reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life." God offers the gift of salvation freely, but love cannot be forced. The choice is ours. You make the decision and God is forced to reinforce what you already chose for yourself.

Lie #2: "The Devil Isn’t Real"

This lie is perhaps even more dangerous than the first. If you don’t believe in an enemy, you won’t prepare for battle. But Scripture is very clear: Satan is real, and his mission is to deceive, destroy, and steal the souls of men. Jesus described him as the thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that"our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The devil’s greatest tactic is convincing the world he doesn’t exist. If he can blind us to his schemes, he can more easily lead us astray. But Scripture warns us to be vigilant: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Satan’s end is sealed. No matter what he does or tries, his fate is fixed: eternal torment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). His goal isn’t to win—he knows he can’t. His goal is to harm the heart of God by dragging as many souls as possible into his fate.

God’s Heart: The Escape Plan

God, in His infinite love and mercy, didn’t leave humanity without hope. From the very beginning, He set His rescue plan into motion. Even when sin first entered the world through Adam and Eve, God promised a Savior who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Jesus is the ultimate sin offering. A holy God cannot accept sinful humanity, but Jesus bridged the gap. Through His death and resurrection, He became the eternal offering for sin (Hebrews 9:12). Paul explains: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Heaven is eternal, and it requires an eternal solution. That’s why Jesus, fully God and fully man, offered Himself once and for all. Through Him, we can receive eternal life: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

The devil’s master plan is rooted in deception, and Scripture doesn’t shy away from exposing his tactics. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this age [satan]has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 

Satan works overtime to keep people from believing the truth. He doesn’t just aim to keep eyes closed—he wants minds locked and hearts hardened, preventing the Word of God from taking root. Like a thief snatching seeds from a farmer’s field, the enemy tries to steal scripture from memory before it can bear fruit (Matthew 13:19):

"When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path."

Why does he do this? Because the truth exposes him. Jesus called Satan “the father of lies” in John 8:44, explaining that lying is his native language. A liar can’t speak the truth—just as a spring cannot produce both fresh and salt water (James 3:11).

Satan’s lies are not just words; they are weapons, designed to sow confusion, fear, and rebellion against God. And if there’s a father of lies, then there are his children—the seed of deception, those who willingly or unknowingly carry out his agenda.

This is where discernment is critical. Don’t be fooled by the world’s slick packaging of lies masquerading as truth. Satan’s strategy is the same today as it was in the garden of Eden: twist God’s words just enough to make them sound appealing but lead to destruction. The good news? The Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It cuts through the lies, exposes the darkness, and brings light to the blind.

The enemy may work to hide the truth, but God’s truth is indestructible. Scripture is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105), and no amount of darkness can extinguish it (John 1:5).

So while the devil blinds, God enlightens.

While Satan deceives, Jesus reveals.

And while the father of lies schemes, the Father of Truth stands victorious.

We’ve all heard stories of people surviving extraordinary situations: escaping a raging fire, breaking free from a sinking car, or outsmarting a bear attack. These stories captivate us, and we listen closely. Why? Because survival instincts are hardwired into us. We instinctively want to learn from those who’ve lived to tell the tale, ensuring that if we ever find ourselves in similar peril, we’ll know the way out.

So, why do we embrace these escape plans without hesitation? Because they make sense—they offer hope in the face of danger. Yet, when it comes to God’s escape route for the greatest danger of all—eternal separation from Him—why is there so much resistance? Because Evil has a Plan too!

God’s escape plan is just as practical, clear, and necessary as the strategies we learn for physical survival. The Bible provides the ultimate survival guide for our souls, pointing us to Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He is the exit strategy from the burning house of sin, the broken window when we’re sinking in despair, the refuge when we’re pursued by the enemy.

His plan is there not to

control us but to save us.

Yet, unlike the instinctual acceptance of survival strategies for physical threats, many push back against God’s spiritual escape route. Why? They bought the Lie and live in it’s disbelief, doubting the seriousness of the danger or the reality of the Rescuer (Jesus) and downplay the Villian (Satan).

Whatever the reason, the truth remains:

 without embracing God’s plan, the consequences are eternal.

Imagine someone ignoring a firefighter yelling, “This way to safety!” Or refusing to break a car window as the water rises. It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Yet rejecting God’s plan for salvation is no different. He doesn’t shout at us out of anger but out of love. His desire is that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

When we resist His escape plan, we’re not just risking temporary discomfort—we’re jeopardizing eternal life. But here’s the beauty: the door to escape is open. It’s not locked, hidden, or conditional on anything other than our willingness to walk through it. Jesus is standing there, offering His nail-scarred hand, saying, “This way to life.”

So, the question isn’t whether the escape route exists. It does. The question is whether we’ll trust the One who designed it, embrace the path He’s provided, and follow Him to safety. 

The survivors of faith—those who’ve walked through the fire, the flood, and the wilderness with Jesus—testify to its truth. Will you listen to their stories and join them on the path to eternal life?

The Bible warns us that in the last days, there will be great deception. These deceptions will not only come in the form of lies and false teachings but will also be fueled by sorcery—spiritual manipulation and idolatry designed to lead people astray. Jesus warned of this when He said, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24). This reflects the widespread influence of deceptive practices that will characterize the final days before Christ’s return.

Sorcery, in biblical terms, refers to any attempt to manipulate spiritual forces for personal gain. It involves witchcraft, divination, and magical arts—all of which seek power from sources other than God. As seen in Galatians 5:19-21, sorcery is a work of the flesh, alongside other sinful practices that draw people away from God: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."

In the last days, this kind of manipulation will not only be spiritual but also ideological, with ideologies and teachings that distract from God's truth. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, Paul explains that in the last days, the "man of lawlessness" will perform counterfeit signs and wonders, leading people into deception:

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing."

 This indicates how sorcery, false teachings, and deception will be used to lure people away from the truth, leading them to spiritual destruction.

Birth Pains of the Last Hour

The Bible speaks of these warning signs as "birth pains," an image that reflects the increasing intensity and frequency of these deceptions as the end of the age approaches. Matthew 24:7-8 says: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." These signs indicate that we are entering the final hour before Christ’s return, a time when deception will grow increasingly prevalent.

Sorcery in this context isn’t limited to occult rituals. It encompasses anything that leads people away from the truth of God’s Word—whether through misleading ideologies, political manipulation, or seductive philosophies. Revelation 18:23 speaks of this global deception in the last days, stating: "By your magic spell all the nations were led astray." In this passage, "magic spell" refers to the manipulative influence that leads people into spiritual darkness.

In the face of these deceptions, the Bible encourages believers to stay vigilant and rooted in the truth of God's Word. 1 Timothy 4:1 warns us: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." It is essential for the faithful to discern the signs of deception, recognizing that it will come in many forms—whether through sorcery, false teachings, or worldly philosophies.

The Invitation

Imagine Jesus standing before you right now. His nail-pierced hands extended, His eyes full of love. He is the reason eternity is for you, not against you. He’s not the one blocking your path to heaven—He’s the one making the way.

But you have to decide. God doesn’t force His love on anyone. Love must be chosen. Jesus says:"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

Satan wants you to believe it’s all a lie. He wants to convince you that there’s no escape, no hope, no future. But he’s a defeated foe. You, however, have a choice: to accept the gift of salvation and step into the light of God’s kingdom, or to reject it and remain in darkness. The decision is yours.

So, what will you choose? The lie or the truth? Darkness or light? Death or life? God’s heart is clear: "Choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Let this be the day you escape the lie and embrace the truth that sets you free. Jesus paid the price, the escape route is open, and the wedding feast awaits. Will you join Him?

Heavenly Father,

I come before You today, acknowledging that I’ve gone my own way, and it hasn’t worked out too well. Your Word says all have sinned and fall short of Your glory (Romans 3:23), and I admit, I’ve definitely fallen short. But I believe in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and I confess that He died for my sins and rose again (Romans 10:9). I ask for Your forgiveness and invite You into my heart to guide me according to Your will (Proverbs 3:5-6). Thank You for the gift of salvation and for making all things new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I’m ready to follow You and live the abundant life You promised (John 10:10). In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Scriptural study:

John 8:44, 2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 25:41, Isaiah 59:2, John 3:16-17, Acts 13:46, John 10:10, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Revelation 20:10, Genesis 3:15, John 1:29, Hebrews 9:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Matthew 13:19, John 8:44, James 3:11, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105, John 1:5, John 14:6, 2 Peter 3:9, Deuteronomy 30:19, Romans 3:23, Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 10:10.

Key Scriptures on Sorcery and Deception in the Last Days: Revelation 18:23, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, 1 Timothy 4:1