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The Bible makes it clear that civilizations and societies are influenced by Satan. John writes that "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). The entirety of civilization has been seduced by this cunning being through his persuasive deception and insidious lies.

The result has been thousands of years of human anguish, misery and suffering. Deceived by his lies, humans have willingly adopted Satan's way of life rather than God's way. The result of following Satan's way, which through his deception appears appealing and natural to most people, is predictable: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25, New International Version).

Satan's deception is so complete, so pervasive, that the Bible calls him "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The apostle Paul, in the original Greek, identifies him as the theos—the god, the one who is worshiped—of this eon, this age, this period in history.

Consider the magnitude of Satan's influence over humanity—that most of mankind unwittingly worships and follows the devil as its god. That is the incredible truth revealed in your Bible! Understanding that reality explains so many of the troubling paradoxes we see in the world around us.

Paul explained that, as a result of Satan's hold on humanity, most people do not believe the truth of the Bible. They do not understand the gospel—the good news—of God's plan for mankind. "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 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 4:3-4).