Do False Gods Still Rule the Nations?

On November 20, 2025 By Tyler BoydIn Christian's Relationship to Government, Spiritual Warfare

For many Christians today, the phrase “false gods” immediately brings to mind imaginary deities – empty carvings of wood and stone. These are seen as the inventions of primitive cultures and products of human superstition and ignorance.

As the previous two articles in this series have demonstrated, these false gods are not mere human inventions, but real spiritual beings. Scripture continually presents them as powerful entities who exert genuine influence over regions, nations, and rulers.

While the Bible affirms again and again that there is only one true God, the LORD, the Creator and Sovereign over all, it does not deny the existence of other spiritual beings – some of whom have been falsely worshipped as gods. These beings are real, but they are created beings, and far beneath the LORD in power and glory. You can read those two articles here:

The Regional “gods” in the Old Testament

The story of King Solomon provides a clear example of where the Bible refers to these “gods.” Scripture tells us that Solomon loved many foreign women – Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women. His decision to marry many of these foreign women was a direct violation of the LORD’s command:

You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.
1 Kings 11:2

And sure enough, Solomon’s heart was turned:

When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites… Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
1 Kings 11:5; 7-8

Observe a few important things here:

Each of these gods is specifically named – Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, Molech.
The text never mocks these gods as imaginary or fictional
Each of the gods mentioned is associated with specific nations and regions

The picture presented by this biblical text – a picture of different spiritual beings attributed to different people groups – is not simply a reference to an ancient pagan worldview. It reflects a reality described in the Bible itself.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses describes how the LORD divided the nations of the world.

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God.
But the LORD’s portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage.
Deuteronomy 32:8-9

This passage tells us that the Most High assigned the nations under the authority of various sons of God. Throughout the Old Testament, the phrase “sons of God” consistently refers to spiritual beings or angels (Job 1:6; Psalm 29:1). Thus, the text teaches that God allotted authority over specific nations to specific spiritual beings, while reserving Israel as His own possession.

But just like the nations themselves rebelled against the LORD, so also did these “sons of God.” That’s why Psalm 82 describes the LORD standing in judgment over these corrupt divine rulers.

God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods (elohim) he holds judgment:
“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked…
You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die
and fall like any prince.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all nations.”
Psalm 82:1-2; 6-8

Spiritual Rulers in the Book of Daniel

The book of Daniel offers one of the clearest pictures of these heavenly rulers. When Daniel prays for understanding, an angelic messenger is delayed in delivering God’s answer:

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.
Daniel 10:13

Here the “prince of Persia” is clearly not a human ruler. It is a powerful spiritual being whose actions influence and are mirrored by the Persian empire. The angel Michael is described as “one of the chief princes,” – a heavenly counterpart fighting on behalf of Israel.

If we were to read the book of Daniel in the Septuagint – a Greek translation of the Old Testament used at the time of Christ and the apostles – we would see that both Michael and the Prince of Persia are described by the Greek word “archon,” meaning “ruler” or “authority.” This is significant, because this is the very word Paul later uses to describe the spiritual rulers and authorities that govern the present age of darkness.

“It is not a wisdom of this age or of the archon of this age, who are doomed to pass away” – 1 Corinthians 2:6
“The archon of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” – Ephesians 2:2
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the archon, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.” – Ephesians 6:12

Paul was carrying forward the same worldview described in Deuteronomy 32 and Daniel 10. These regional spiritual “arche” are real, and their influence is reflected in the rise and fall of earthly nations.

The “God of This World”

Jesus Himself used similar language when describing the devil. Three times in John’s account of the gospel, He calls Satan “the ruler (archon) of this world.”

“Now the archon of this world will be cast out” – John 12:31
“The archon of the world is coming” – John 14:30
“The archon of this world is judged” – John 16:11

During His temptation in the wilderness, Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and claimed:

To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.
Luke 4:6

It is noteworthy that Jesus never disputes Satan’s claim, but rather Luke presents this offer as a legitimate temptation. The implication is that Satan truly holds authority in this present world – authority that has been claimed by him through the rebellion of mankind.

The “god” of all Nations

This same idea appears all throughout the New Testament. Paul calls Satan “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2).

He is also identified as “the god of this age” who blinds the minds of unbelievers:

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4

John likewise declares:

The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1 John 5:19

It would take some impressive hermeneutical gymnastics to avoid the clear conclusion: according to Scripture, Satan is the chief spiritual ruler of this present world system. Beneath him operate a host of rebellious spirits, sometimes referred to as his angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7-9), and other times referred to as principalities and powers (Ephesians 1:20-21; 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 2:15). These are real, personal, heavenly beings who exercise real regional and cultural influence. Although these beings are destined for destruction (1 Corinthians 15:24), Scripture teaches that they do rule in this present age of darkness (1 Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12).

If that is true, then it is not only ancient nations like Egypt, Moab, Canaan, Babylon, and Rome that were under such dominion. It means that every earthly nation today lies within his sphere of influence.

It means that:

Satan is the god of Russia.
Satan is the god of Japan.
Satan is the god of Nigeria.
Satan is the god of North Korea.
Satan is the god of the United States.

This worldview is not flattering to any earthly nation, but it is biblical. It reminds us that no worldly power, no matter how noble it may appear, is neutral. Every kingdom of man ultimately belongs to this present fallen order.

The Christian Response

If the nations of this world lie under the dominion of false gods, then Christians must be careful not to confuse patriotism with faithfulness to Christ.

We are citizens of another Kingdom – one not ruled by the god of this age, but by the Sovereign Lord of all creation. Therefore, as Revelation 18:4 declares,

Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues.

Behind every throne stands a spiritual power, but above them all stands the LORD Most High, and His anointed King, Jesus – who is the Lord of lords and King of kings. His Kingdom cannot be shaken. The gods of the nations are real, but they are fallen and doomed for destruction. The LORD alone is God, and His Kingdom alone will stand forever.

Are the Other “gods” of the Bible Real?

On October 23, 2025 By Tyler BoydIn Spiritual Warfare

Many Christians grow up hearing that the other “gods” in the Bible are nothing more than carved idols or imaginary inventions. After all, the Bible insists in no uncertain terms that there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4).

And yet, the inspired text often speaks of these other “gods” in ways that sound far more real than imaginary. For example, in the book of Psalms, the LORD is praised as being superior above all other “gods.” Psalm 95:3 declares: “The LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods,” and Psalm 97:9 states, “You are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 29:1 even claims that the one God deserves worship from the other “elohim.” Even in the New Testament, in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, when Paul addresses the question of eating food offered to idols, he admitted that “indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’” (1 Corinthians 8:5) before clarifying that for Christians there is only one God (1 Corinthians 8:6).

So what do we make of this? Is God just accommodating ancient superstitions? Is He really praised for being greater than things that do not exist? How would such a claim bring honor to the LORD? If these “gods” were purely imaginary, then such praise would be trivial – like saying the Almighty is stronger than a fictional comic-book hero. To say that God is greater than an imaginary being would be an empty comparison, like claiming that the sun shines brighter than a shadow. The glory of God is not seen in contrast to what is unreal, but in His supremacy over all that truly exists.

Or could it be that Scripture is revealing something true about the spiritual world? Are these “other gods” genuine spiritual beings? Or are they simply the products of ancient imaginations? To answer this, we first need to examine the Bible’s own vocabulary for identifying these other gods.

The Hebrew Word Elohim

The English word “God” is a decent translation of the Hebrew word elohim, but it is not a perfect one. In English, the word “God” usually carries one of two meanings.

(capitalized) The one true supreme being, the Creator of the universe
(uncapitalized) A pretend deity, the gods from ancient mythology

But the Hebrew word elohim has a broader range of meaning.

1. Elohim as the Creator

Similar to the English word God, the Hebrew word is sometimes used to refer to the one true Creator of the universe. The very first verse of Scripture says “In the beginning, elohim created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Over and over again, Israel’s God is identified as elohim (Exodus 3:6; Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalm 100:3). When used in this way, the text always sets Him apart as unique, sovereign, and incomparable (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 86:10).

2. Elohim as the gods of the nations

Also similar to the English word God, the Hebrew word is sometimes used to refer to the false gods of the nations. The Ten Commandments forbids Israel from having any “other elohim” before the LORD (Exodus 20:3). Deuteronomy observed that the surrounding nations “served their elohim” (Deuteronomy 29:26). It can be observed that the word elohim functions as both singular and plural, so determining whether it refers to “God” or false “gods” requires examination of the context.

3. Elohim as other spiritual beings

This is where it gets interesting. Elohim can also refer to other spiritual beings we normally wouldn’t call “gods” in English.

Psalm 8:5 says that mankind was created “a little lower than the elohim.” Translations of this verse vary. ESV translates elohim here as “heavenly beings.” KJV and NIV translate it as “angels.” The Greek Septuagint, used by Jesus and the apostles, chose “angels,” a rendering confirmed by inspiration in Hebrews 2:6-8. Regardless of how we translate it, it is clear that mankind was created a little lower than real spiritual beings.

Psalm 82 describes God as presiding in a divine council:

God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.
Psalm 82:1

Again, God is described as holding judgment in a council of real spiritual beings.

In 1 Samuel 28:13, when Saul consults the witch of En-dor, she reports: “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” Again, she did indeed see a real spiritual being coming up out of the earth – the deceased human Samuel.

In short, elohim is not a title restricted to the Supreme Creator. It is a more general word for inhabitants of the spiritual realm, many of which are indeed very real. There is certainly a sense in which the LORD is the one true Elohim, but the Bible also recognizes the existence of other real spiritual beings, which Scripture refers to as elohim.

So when we ask, “Are the other gods in the Bible real?” the answer depends on what we mean by “gods.” If by “gods” we mean spiritual beings in a general sense, then yes – the Bible teaches that other “gods” are real.

There is Only One LORD

But while the Bible acknowledges the reality of other spiritual beings, it never endorses what people today refer to as polytheism. The God of Israel is utterly unique, set apart from all others.

Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Exodus 15:11

For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?
Deuteronomy 3:24

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord.
Psalm 86:8

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psalm 95:3

For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted above all gods.
Psalm 97:9

No, these passages are not comparing God to imaginary beings like Captain America or Spider-man. These passages proclaim that the LORD is supreme above all real spiritual beings.

The LORD is unique in His power (Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Psalm 115:3) and is the Creator of all others (Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 148:1-5). As Nehemiah 9:6 plainly states, “You are the LORD, you alone.”

Just because the Bible says that there are other elohim, it quite plainly denies polytheism. It continually exalts the one incomparable God above all other spiritual beings.

Why Call Them “False Gods”?

If other elohim exist, why does Scripture so often label them as “false gods” (2 Chronicles 13:9; Isaiah 44:9-20)?

Because their claims to deity are false.

They are not equal to the LORD
They did not create heaven and earth
Their power is incomparable to the LORD’s
They cannot save, redeem, or give life

Compared to the LORD, they are “nothing” (Isaiah 41:24). Not because they don’t exist, but because their claims are empty.

Think of it this way: If I were to point out a con artist, and ask you “Is that con artist real?” how would you respond? Of course the con artist is real, in the sense the con artist is an actual person. But is the character the con artist pretends to be real? And are the stories the con artist tells real? Of course not! In the same way, these “other gods” in the Bible are real spiritual beings, but their claims to supremacy and their calls for worship and allegiance are lies.

Deuteronomy 32:17 clarifies that when Israel sacrificed to other “gods,” they were really sacrificing to demons.

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods,
to gods they had never known,
to new gods that had come recently,
whom your fathers had never dreaded.

Paul makes the same point in 1 Corinthians 10:19-20: pagan sacrifices are not meaningless gestures to imaginary idols – they are participation with demons.

What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to gods. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Likewise, Galatians 4:8 says that Gentiles were enslaved to “those that by nature are not gods.” They were real beings – beings who were capable of enslaving – but not true gods.

So, Are the Other Gods Real?

Yes and no.

Yes, if by “real” we mean actual spiritual beings who exist behind the veil of the unseen spiritual realm.

No, if by “real” we mean equal rivals to the Creator.

The Bible affirms the reality of a spiritual world filled with many spiritual beings, beings which at times are referred to as elohim. But the Bible never compromises the uniqueness of the LORD God.

We do not live in a world with one God who actually exists and countless imaginary ones. We live in a world where the one true God reigns supreme over a host of other real, but lesser, spiritual beings.

And in such a world, the call remains the same: