Today Satan’s main goal is to harm us spiritually through his lies and deceit. Those people who cooperate with Satan most ardently are very antagonistic toward Jesus Christ, His Word, and those who believe. They are more than willing to do Satan’s bidding in whatever way to prevent the truth of God and His “gospel of the grace of God” from being known.

Throughout the book of Acts, physically attacked the Twelve Apostles of Israel, the Apostle Paul and his ministry associates. Unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles imprisoned them, beat them, killed them, discredit their message, discouraged them, et cetera (see Acts chapters 4, 5, 7, 9, 12-14, 16-19, 21-25, and 26). Later, Satan’s people killed the Protestant reformers and believers burning many at the stake. Just read Fox’s book of Martyrs.

Paul makes reference to being hindered from visiting the Roman believers (Rom. 1:13) and Satan hindered Paul from visiting the Thessalonian Christians at least twice (1 Thess. 2:18). Paul was beaten, shipwrecked and stones multiple times. Satan often accomplishes his will this by using corrupt political leaders and/or religious leaders.

Our attitude is to remain steadfast in the faith; firmly loyal, constant; unswerving, faithful to Him who died for us. In the Bible in in the world around us we see how that life comes out of death as witnessed by Christ’s death of the Cross unto the resurrection. Thus, Job could say;

“¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15 (KJV)

What Satan mostly concentrates on today is trying to harm us spiritually by perpetuating his lie program… called false religion. He uses unintelligized Christians and lost people to mix Satan’s lies in with a bit of the truth so as to deceive people and rob the grace gospel of its saving power. The Bible calls these lies the ‘leaven that leavens the whole loaf.’ Leaven is a metaphor Paul used for ‘corruption’ of the GRACE gospel by evil workers mixing in some level of “works” as a requirement for salvation and blessing. But Paul is clear that Grace must be 100% Grace, totally void of and ‘works’ requirement.

“⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

“⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9 (KJV)

“⁶ And if [salvation be] by grace, then is it NO more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it NO more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6 (KJV)

“¹⁴ …ye are NOT under the law, but under GRACE.” (Romans 6:14 (KJV)

Satan’s main goal originally was to destroy Israel, and he would do that by using false religion, pagan idolatry, man’s traditions, along with Israel’s corrupt priests and prophets, et cetera. Consider Jeremiah’s words;

“³¹ The prophets [of Israel] prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:31 (KJV)

Even today, we have to be vigilant concerning his “wiles [schemes] of the devil”; he will attack us with false doctrine as he did regarding Israel of old. This is why Christendom today is so very confused!

Though we are Satan’s adversary, Paul asks rhetorically, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Nothing can do that!

“³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39 (KJV)

Satan uses our normal difficult circumstances in order to cause us to believe God does not love us. But we cling to the truth of His eternal unconditional love by faith… whether we live or die. The fact is that in any case we win and are destined to dwell “eternal in the heavens” (2Cor. 5:1b)

“⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery [secret]; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed [metamorphosized], ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we [the living] shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1Corinthians 15:51-55 (KJV)

Satan will also use his spirit of bitterness and/or an unforgiving spirit to divide and conquer Christians.

“¹⁵ Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” (Hebrews 12:15 (KJV)

Satan tried to do that in the church at Corinth, which Paul warned against.

“¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; ¹¹Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor. 2:10-11 KJV)

While Satan will not directly physically harm us, however he certainly can use a bitter spirit to cause us to physically harm others and them to us!  Jesus said even those of a man’s own family may do the evil deeds.

“³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:36 (KJV)

Yet Paul wrote: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Today, as in all the ages, we see such evil against believers worldwide… and we will see this so much more as the day of our Rapture to heaven and our reward approaches.

Consider that God uses our experience of the transitoriness and uncertainty of this temporary physical life on earth in this fallen world during this age… for a reason. He wants us to come to understand, trust in, and appreciate God’s oversight of us and the eternal security that He provides us.

This also was the reason why God brought Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness. Not to endanger Israel or put Israel at undo risk, but to make her ever-conscious of the fact that God’s love for them, as the only force that gives form to and animates our reality. Any notion of permanence outside of God’s love is an illusion. And falling under the sway of such an illusion is nothing less than a form of bondage to a false hope. Our hope is sure in Christ our Savior.

“²⁰ For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrection] body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)

Some portions were adapted from https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.org/2014/10/30/satan-operate-today/