Satan's Agenda

"What Would the Devil Do?" How would he bring about the decline and fall of nations that had once been greatly blessed by God?

The United States of America seems to be coming apart. Even if you live in Britain, Canada, Australia or elsewhere, this fact is becoming increasingly evident around the world. Various international newspapers and magazines report on it. People are sincerely puzzled as to how and why this is happening.

The inspired word of God makes it very clear that Satan the Devil is the actual "god" of this age—of this present human society. If you really believe the Bible and study it diligently, you surely understand this. The Apostle Paul described typical, carnal people, "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Later, the Apostle Paul described how such people walk "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). So, Satan is the one who actually controls many of the thoughts and impulses that beset human beings. Indirectly, Satan controls the media in most situations. For he is the invisible "prince of the power of the air." In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John was inspired to describe Satan as "that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9).

Many writers and authorities have described the United States as the "last great bastion" of freedom and Christianity. If I were Satan, how would I set out to destroy the nation that has—in the past—based many of its laws and customs upon the Bible, has promoted nominal Christianity all over the world, and put on its currency, "In God We Trust"?

Satan might use many ways. But I perceive five foundational methods by which Satan would bring down—and is bringing down—the United States of America.

1. Destroy the Moral Fabric of America

Satan is doing a masterful job of confusing the ministers, intellectual leaders and educators of our nation about true religion. He can very cleverly make morality seem passé. He can make the clear distinction between right and wrong seem very "fuzzy" so that morality and deep respect for law and authority are slowly obliterated.

Satan is making true religion seem "out of date" and even obsolete to our peoples! Hundreds of articles and books have come out in the last few years attacking God and the Bible! More and more, our political and even religious leaders are edging away from a clear description of faith in a personal God—especially a God who sets forth laws and a way of life. If there is any mention of "God" at all, it is of a vague concept, far from the true God of the Bible.

Most of you older readers can see this very clearly. Many of us remember how, when America was attacked at Pearl Harbor back in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt concluded his impassioned speech to the Congress of the United States by stating, "We shall gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God!" The idea of a real God was much more prevalent at that time, and was instilled in the moral fabric of the entire nation—through schools, families and other community institutions. All of that is quickly disappearing.

2. Undermine the Family

Most realize that strong families are the basis of every decent society that has ever existed. A very real Satan the Devil would love to get rid of strong fathers—of the right kind of masculine leaders of the family—and also undermine the loving wives and mothers who are to be the homemakers and have so much to do with the moral formation of a child's character. Any society that can be destroyed by undermining respect for parents is in trouble. Any society that Satan can corrupt by promoting "radical feminism" and the "battle of the sexes" is in trouble. For this causes great confusion not only to the present generation, but also to generations yet to come. Certainly, bringing in the concept that "homosexual behavior is okay" also greatly undermines a nation. For it destroys the right basis for the family—and obscures the very basic concept that a real family consists of a man and a woman producing descendants—children who come right out of their own bodies, looking like them and sharing in their heritage.

Yet, Satan is working overtime, as most of you realize, to undermine the family in a thousand different ways. In the media, strong fathers have been "made fun of" for a few decades now—starting way back with Blondie and Dagwood, and now in many more cartoons, television shows and other presentations. The father is commonly pictured either as too harsh—out of touch and unyielding—or else as a bumbling idiot who stumbles over himself and causes problems until he is forgiven by his sharp, effective wife, who is portrayed as the real leader of the family. Although this may seem like light humor when you first think about it, it is really an abomination in the sight of God, as it mocks God's true purpose for family.

Yes, Satan uses the modern media to push distorted concepts of family, so much so that many of our young people today—never having seen the other side presented—assume that these distorted concepts are correct! The increasing push to treat homosexuality as "normal" is also an abomination in God's sight. It will certainly further divide the family and the nation—and tremendously undermine the concept of a real God who inspired the Bible's plain teachings about homosexual behavior. Last year, our local paper featured a major article titled, "A Church Divided." The subhead tells it all, "After vote this week gives gays more rights, Episcopalians face a widening split" (Charlotte Observer, July 18, 2009). The article shows how people in that denomination—people who often used to be friends—are really torn because of their concern over the issue of homosexuality. And since most people do not really study or take the Bible seriously, sexual perverts continue pushing their agenda harder and harder and gaining more ground as each year goes by. One leader in this movement stated, "I am persuaded that the current understanding of homosexuality, and how it occurs and how relationships exist, is not descriptive of what the understanding was in Jesus' time" (ibid.)

Think! If that same idea of changing what an "understanding" was in Jesus' time, or assuming He did not teach the truth about "how relationships exist," is applied to other biblical teachings, what will happen? God's plain instructions about adultery, fornication, stealing, lying—and any number of other biblical teachings—can be twisted and perverted in almost any direction these "progressives" wish to go. That should be obvious. And so it is that professing ministers of Jesus Christ, who are cut off from God because of their lack of obedience to His commandments (1 John 2:4), are twisting and perverting the Bible, as God Himself said they would. They are bringing in a completely false form of Christianity and morality that condones almost anything. As God warned, "As for my people, children are their oppressors and women rule over them. Oh my people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths" (Isaiah 3:12).

A little later in Isaiah, God also cautions us: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).

With such a confused and carnal approach even in so-called "Christianity," it is no wonder that increasing numbers of people are disillusioned with religion—and become easy victims of Satan's plan to destroy the family.

3. Destroy the Economy and the Value of the Dollar

Satan surely recognizes that one key way to destroy a nation is to undermine its economic well-being. And so it is that Satan the Devil—by destroying the concepts of real honesty and hard work, and the correct foundation of Christianity based upon obedience to the Ten Commandments—is able to bring down our nations in this way. America is now faced with the prospect of putting its children's future "in hock" for generations to come because of profligate spending. Increasing numbers of thoughtful economists are beginning to realize this. Great numbers of articles are coming out in our major publications acknowledging this.

The indication that increasing trillions of dollars are being spent on so many governmental programs is beginning to cause even America's foreign creditors such as China, Japan, Russia and other nations to begin cutting back on the investments they hold in the United States. Since those investments support the dollar and America's standard of living, this is indeed frightening to all economists who understand. It is a sure path to the destruction of the dollar—which many acknowledge is imminent unless we return to fiscal sanity!

God told our forefathers that if they turned aside from obeying His commandments, "I will break the pride of your power" (Leviticus 26:19).

After warning His people that they should return to obedience to His commandments, God foretold, "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you" (Deuteronomy 28:43-45).

Because of its national sins, America is indeed being brought "lower and lower" and—instead of being the world's greatest lender as it used to be—is now the world's greatest debtor! As God said, this is a "curse" which will continue until America is "destroyed," because as a nation it has failed to keep God's commandments and His way of life!

It is time for the American and the other British-descended peoples of the world to wake up!

4. Denigrate Patriotism and a National Sense of Purpose

When I was a young man in high school, we heard "The Star Spangled Banner" played at nearly all public events—those in the school and those in the community. We stood up straight and sang our national anthem with gusto! When World War II began, even those who disliked President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came together in a powerful sense of unity. For he was our President and we knew we had to hang together, love our nation and pray to God that He would deliver us from this terrible threat posed by the Axis powers.

Millions of Americans sensed that their nation was a type of "Israel." The U.S. was a blessed nation. Americans held their heads high. People were eager to back their leaders, to keep the nation strong and unified. During World War II, and for years afterward, news broadcasters on national radio and later television nearly always sounded a loyal theme. They did not always agree with everything that was done, but you could sense that they were all for America.

Today, America's political leaders—and many leading educators and figures in the media—tend to "waffle" here and there about anything patriotic. President Barack Obama has even been apologizing—over and over—for what America has done in the past! America's leaders appear to be ashamed of the great blessings that God has given their nation, and of the victories that He gave in World War I, World War II and through many other terrible trials. Many Americans have lost their national sense of purpose, their deep patriotism—and their deep respect for the God who made all of this possible.

I could cite hundreds of articles showing how America has "lost its way" as a nation, and how its sense of patriotism is simply not the same as it used to be. But all you readers need to understand—as many of you do—that the Americans and British-descended peoples are indeed very "special." No, they are not "better" than others. But Almighty God foretold in Scripture that the American and British-descended peoples would become the single most "great nation" and the greatest "company" of nations at the time of the end. God has given these nations blessings that they are now squandering because of rebellion against Him!

We would like to give you an exciting and powerful booklet that will prove this vital truth to any who are willing to understand. If you have not already done so, please call or write the Regional Office nearest you (listed on page 30 of this magazine), or go online to our www.tomorrowsworld.org Web site, to request your free copy of our eye-opening and informative booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. When you read it, you will understand why Americans have been able to sing about the "land of the free and home of the brave." It should help you profoundly understand why the song "God Bless America" talks about the nation extending "from sea to shining sea." Truly, the Americans and all the British-descended peoples should be very thankful to the great God who gave all these blessings—and the peoples of these once-great nations should humbly repent of all selfishness and rebellion and turn back to the true God with all of their hearts!

5. Control the Media To Promote All of the Above

Hundreds of articles and even entire books could be cited to show how so much of the modern media has been and is being used to undermine the concepts of patriotism, true religion, the family—and almost every aspect of a decent life! Remember, God's word calls Satan "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2).

For Satan is, indeed, in control of this earth's atmosphere, and he certainly uses the "airwaves" (as we used to call radio broadcasting, and now television) to infiltrate people's minds continually with anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-Bible concepts. Most of us have not realized how cleverly this is being done, for it has been a gradual process creeping up on us. It is like the example of the frog in the pot, which is heated up so slowly that it does not jump out in time! My friends, we are that frog! We are letting our minds be "programmed" by the modern media to slowly yet surely turn against the God of the Bible, against His laws and way of life, against the true understanding of the family itself, against genuine patriotism—indeed, against everything that made our nations great in the first place!

Is this just alarmist talk on my part? No! Consider the example of National Public Radio. As most of you know, NPR has received partial government sponsorship, and is supposed to be a "mainstream" vehicle to disseminate news and information to the American people. Yet, in May 2009, the NPR Board changed the wording of its media policy to state: "NPR Member Stations shall provide only [emphasis added] nonsectarian, non-political, noncommercial educational content on all broadcast channel(s) and related media distribution platforms such as member partners that use the NPR member brands." That means NPR stations carrying religious programming were to stop such programming as of May 1.

What about other public outlets? The Station Services Committee of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)—another federally funded media outlet—wrote that it "places a high value on presenting diverse perspectives, as opposed to rigidly adhering to any single political or religious point of view" and that even allowing a few different religious views to be aired would privilege some over others and "would cause the public's trust in PBS to erode, along with the value of the brand."

Since this change was instituted, many religious programs featured on NPR member stations have been "axed"! Slowly but surely, Satan is removing all reference to the God of the Bible, unless God is portrayed in a worldly and usually an outright negative manner. The great nation of America—which formerly called itself a "Christian" nation—has turned its back on God in stubborn, willful disobedience. Meanwhile, Americans are letting the "heathen" flourish in their various expressions of religion and philosophy, even while they often persecute any genuine Christians.

Our nations have forsaken the Ten Commandments—God's law that leads to genuine liberty and peace (James 2:12). So we are now headed downward and out—unless there is a genuine national repentance and return to the God of the Bible! May God help all of us realize this more and more as each month passes—and as the sad story of national decline continues. Most of us love our nations. But we need to love God more, and pray that He will help us wake up—individually, if not nationally—before it is too late!

How Does Satan Get His Followers?

When most people think of "Satan worship," they picture small groups of demented, wild-eyed people, perhaps wearing hooded robes, chanting blasphemous incantations using odd language during strange ceremonies in which animals—or even people—may be sacrificed. Those vile worshipers, however, are only the most visible of those who are under Satan's influence. In fact, Satan is usually far more subtle in how he draws people away from Jesus Christ.

Although Satan is not omniscient, he knows a great deal about God's plan for humanity. Satan and his demons "believe" in Jesus Christ, but though they may "tremble" they do not obey Him (James 2:19). Satan and his demons know that they have but a limited time to deceive human beings before they will be bound for a thousand years at Jesus Christ's return (Revelation 12:12; 20:2).

Satan is only as powerful as God allows him to be. God greatly limits what he can do. However, in our present age, Satan's power is so great that Scripture calls him "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Most human beings are blinded to his activities.

If Satan appeared in the fanciful manner depicted by poets like Dante Alighieri—a bat-like red being with a pitchfork and a pointy tail—he would be easy to detect and dismiss. But Satan is not stupid; he appears as an "angel of light" to those whom he seeks to deceive (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Because of this deception, many who think they are following a gentle god of love—a lamb—are, in fact, under the sway of a "dragon" who practices and teaches sin (Revelation 13:11). But what is sin? The Apostle John explained, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4). Or, as the KJV puts it, "sin is the transgression of the law."

Jesus Christ, who gave the Ten Commandments to Israel at Mount Sinai (1 Corinthians 10:4), told His followers, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Satan's religion teaches that God's law is a burden, but Jesus Christ inspired the Apostle John to write, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).

Do not let yourself be deceived! Be sure that you are obeying the true Jesus Christ, not falling under the sway of a lawless impostor!

—William Bowmer