Who are the 'gods of the nations'?

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Reddogs

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Sep 17, 2025
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Most would say these are just idols or such graven images which the people worship, but there is a power of evil that exists behind it. We see at Mount Carmel when Elijah told Ahab to bring the "the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred" who stand for the false "gods", and all the people to see who is the true God, that God exposes the so-called "gods of the nations." And these are not "gods" which are mere figments of pagan imagination, but there was a real force of evil behind the false worship. We see that it had come into Israel from the surrounding nations and manifested itself among the people in many ways and levels, even families and tribes.

Deuteronomy 29:18
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

And God warned them of these "gods" when they came to the land of Canaan out of the bondage from Egypt..

Joshua 23:7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

And the even fact of the many "gods" the nations followed was well known by the kings around them

2 Chronicles 32:14
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

And we might just say these were just mere idols of these nations and nothing more. But something put these ideas of false worship and spread it far and wide among the nations. Behind the "gods" of graven images they thought they were worshiping was a actual power of evil which wanted the worship that only God deserved. Think about it..
 
Reddogs said:
Most would say these are just idols or such graven images which the people worship, but there is a power of evil that exists behind it. We see at Mount Carmel when Elijah told Ahab to bring the "the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred" who stand for the false "gods", and all the people to see who is the true God, that God exposes the so-called "gods of the nations." And these are not "gods" which are mere figments of pagan imagination, but there was a real force of evil behind the false worship. We see that it had come into Israel from the surrounding nations and manifested itself among the people in many ways and levels, even families and tribes.

Deuteronomy 29:18
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

And God warned them of these "gods" when they came to the land of Canaan out of the bondage from Egypt..

Joshua 23:7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

And the even fact of the many "gods" the nations followed was well known by the kings around them

2 Chronicles 32:14
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

And we might just say these were just mere idols of these nations and nothing more. But something put these ideas of false worship and spread it far and wide among the nations. Behind the "gods" of graven images they thought they were worshiping was a actual power of evil which wanted the worship that only God deserved. Think about it..
Click to expand...

there is only one God. yes ye are god's, yet not the most high God
Psalm 82
 
Reddogs said:
Most would say these are just idols or such graven images which the people worship, but there is a power of evil that exists behind it. We see at Mount Carmel when Elijah told Ahab to bring the "the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred" who stand for the false "gods", and all the people to see who is the true God, that God exposes the so-called "gods of the nations." And these are not "gods" which are mere figments of pagan imagination, but there was a real force of evil behind the false worship. We see that it had come into Israel from the surrounding nations and manifested itself among the people in many ways and levels, even families and tribes.

Deuteronomy 29:18
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

And God warned them of these "gods" when they came to the land of Canaan out of the bondage from Egypt..

Joshua 23:7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

And the even fact of the many "gods" the nations followed was well known by the kings around them

2 Chronicles 32:14
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

And we might just say these were just mere idols of these nations and nothing more. But something put these ideas of false worship and spread it far and wide among the nations. Behind the "gods" of graven images they thought they were worshiping was a actual power of evil which wanted the worship that only God deserved. Think about it..
Click to expand...

GW says gods are idols, and they only have imagined power (1Cor. 8:4, Psa. 115:4-8 & 135:15-18, Isa. 44:9-11, Jer. 10:14, Rev. 9:20-21).
Even Satan has power only when fools cede it to him rather than resist temptation (Jam. 4:7).
 
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The “false” in “false gods” doesn’t mean that the entities are false or non-existent; rather, it means that their “godhood” is false.

They are real beings created by God and given dominion over the earth and its peoples. They rebelled against God and have been judged; that’s what Psalm 82 addresses.

They are spiritual beings with significant power and influence, but they are not in any way equal with God Himself.
 
Dino246 said:
The “false” in “false gods” doesn’t mean that the entities are false or non-existent; rather, it means that their “godhood” is false.

They are real beings created by God and given dominion over the earth and its peoples. They rebelled against God and have been judged; that’s what Psalm 82 addresses.

They are spiritual beings with significant power and influence, but they are not in any way equal with God Himself.
Click to expand...

I guess you are talking about Satan's demonic angels, which have no power more than Satan's, and even his power can be resisted.
In Psa. 82:1 the NIV has "gods" in quotation marks and verse 7 says they will die like mere men, so yes, their godhood is false;
nothing to worry about.
 
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Dino246 said:
The “false” in “false gods” doesn’t mean that the entities are false or non-existent; rather, it means that their “godhood” is false.

They are real beings created by God and given dominion over the earth and its peoples. They rebelled against God and have been judged; that’s what Psalm 82 addresses.

They are spiritual beings with significant power and influence, but they are not in any way equal with God Himself.
Click to expand...

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Mankind has been given dominion over the earth.

So why would God create beings to have dominion over the earth.

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Why would God create beings to have dominion over the earth when He can handle it Himself.

And He did not tell us about them so how would we know.

That means we would be going by our imagination.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Satan is considered the god of this world for he has dominion over the wicked.

The heathen sacrificed unto devils to gods they did not know.

To new gods that came up newly.

Which they do not know and are going by their imagination making things up.

Or Satan is tempting them to get them to follow falsehood.

Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Isa 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Isa 41:26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

Isa 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isa 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Their idols are their gods for they want a physical image of a god they cannot see and have no proof he exists.

Their works are nothing because there is no being existent to do anything.

And the Athens had an altar to the unknown God.

For they do not know.

The Bible says creation testifies of a higher power by the things created.

But it does not testify of the God of Israel if they have not heard.

But that there is a higher power.

So these people just make something up according to what they believe this higher power would be like and to benefit them.

No being can have dominion over the earth but God and no other being.
 
tablet123 said:
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Mankind has been given dominion over the earth.

So why would God create beings to have dominion over the earth.

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Why would God create beings to have dominion over the earth when He can handle it Himself.

And He did not tell us about them so how would we know.

That means we would be going by our imagination.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Satan is considered the god of this world for he has dominion over the wicked.

The heathen sacrificed unto devils to gods they did not know.

To new gods that came up newly.

Which they do not know and are going by their imagination making things up.

Or Satan is tempting them to get them to follow falsehood.

Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Isa 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Isa 41:26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

Isa 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isa 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Their idols are their gods for they want a physical image of a god they cannot see and have no proof he exists.

Their works are nothing because there is no being existent to do anything.

And the Athens had an altar to the unknown God.

For they do not know.

The Bible says creation testifies of a higher power by the things created.

But it does not testify of the God of Israel if they have not heard.

But that there is a higher power.

So these people just make something up according to what they believe this higher power would be like and to benefit them.

No being can have dominion over the earth but God and no other being.
Click to expand...
As you said, "We would be going by our imagination."
 
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tablet123 said:
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Mankind has been given dominion over the earth.

So why would God create beings to have dominion over the earth.

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Why would God create beings to have dominion over the earth when He can handle it Himself.

And He did not tell us about them so how would we know.

That means we would be going by our imagination.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Satan is considered the god of this world for he has dominion over the wicked.

The heathen sacrificed unto devils to gods they did not know.

To new gods that came up newly.

Which they do not know and are going by their imagination making things up.

Or Satan is tempting them to get them to follow falsehood.

Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Isa 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Isa 41:26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

Isa 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isa 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Their idols are their gods for they want a physical image of a god they cannot see and have no proof he exists.

Their works are nothing because there is no being existent to do anything.

And the Athens had an altar to the unknown God.

For they do not know.

The Bible says creation testifies of a higher power by the things created.

But it does not testify of the God of Israel if they have not heard.

But that there is a higher power.

So these people just make something up according to what they believe this higher power would be like and to benefit them.

No being can have dominion over the earth but God and no other being.
Click to expand...
I don't have time at this moment to explain in detail, but I encourage you to do some research on Dr. Michael Heiser's site drmsh.com. He has assembled the scholarly research on the subject, and I have found it convincing.
 
"Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons." 1 Corinthians 10:19-20.
 
GWH said:
GW says gods are idols, and they only have imagined power (1Cor. 8:4, Psa. 115:4-8 & 135:15-18, Isa. 44:9-11, Jer. 10:14, Rev. 9:20-21).
Even Satan has power only when fools cede it to him rather than resist temptation (Jam. 4:7).
Click to expand...
Well put . Most of these other religions ruled their accolites by sheer terror , peer pressure etc, similar tactics have been used throughout history , the Spanish inquisition etc . Either terror or sex and violence r at the heart of these idolators , and the people in charge were always narcissistic / psychopathic etc . They have only ever been about satisfying fleshly desires of one sort or another , manipulating people to get the behaviour that gratifies their own ends .
 
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