Satan is ruling now. How do we know?
Jesus said so.
In John 12:31 Jesus says that Satan is about to be kicked out (of heaven). – “Now is the time for judgement on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.”
Jesus then spoke (John 14:30) that Satan would come after he leaves: “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me.”
This is what was also explained in the Revelation 12 prophecy where Satan is driven out of heaven and thrown to the earth. That is what Jesus meant by the verses above.
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
Revelation 12:3-13
Paul goes on to explain that Satan is deceiving people now:
Corinthians 4:4 – “The god of this age 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.”
Ephesians 2:2 – “in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
John and Peter say the same thing:
1 John 5:19 – “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
If someone says that Satan is not deceiving the world, not deceiving the nations, they are lying.
Rest assured, Jesus is ultimately reigning and Satan can do nothing outside God’s permission. Even so, be encouraged that God has all things in his control.