Jack, I have been thinking about this question for awhile and I know you will be able to shed light on it. I do believe that Satan has as much access to this Earth as we do, and even more. Earth and its atmosphere is right now his domain (2 Cor. 4:4 and Eph. 2:2). 1 Peter tells us that the devil walks about seeking whom he can devour. I think this is a warning to us because Satan said he has freedom to go up and down on this earth.
If Satan cast slurs upon Job to the presence of God, does he also do this to believers today, to God, for permission to test us or whatever? I know Scripture tells us that Job had a protective hedge around him so Satan had to have God’s permission to attack Job in the various ways he did. If God permitted Satan concerning Job, is there anything in scripture that tells us God permits Satan to attack Believers in a “like” manner?
Yes, I believe Satan can torment believers today like He did with Job, but it’s important to understand that Job brought the attack upon himself. God had to grant Satan permission because of Job’s self-righteousness, which was a sin. The fact that Paul wrote Ephes. 6, saying that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers in heavenly places, is proof it can still happen. We have to understand that as Christians in the world we’re aliens behind enemy lines, and must keep ourselves prepared for battle in the way Ephes. 6 describes.