I need some clarification on an issue that is confusing to me. You have stated that Satan in in charge of the world at the present. I agree, but isn’t God in His sovereignty setting limits on the Tempter’s actions? In a sense isn’t that what the Holy Spirit is doing in His role as restrainer? I would think He stops mankind from going too far as well. Am I looking at this correctly?
When we compare our life today with Biblical descriptions of life after the Church is gone, it’s obvious that at least in places like the USA God is restraining the power of lawlessness. But a comparison of today with even the recent past shows that this restraint is being progressively relaxed. I believe this is an indication that God is preparing to take the Church (2 Thes. 2:7) and release the forces of evil to do their worst.