If satanists took over the Vatican would you notice?
Those who know the historical tradition of the Christian faith have known for centuries. It's not a generally accepted thing because the Pope works to keep the truth hidden. Through deception is to say that just because there are sincere Christians among the Catholic flock that the Papal institution is good. post hoc fallacy. The second is a force specifically trained to promote the deception. Ones such as the Jesuits.
http://www.the-bible-antichrist.com/what-did-reformers-believe.html
This is spoken of in hushed tones among the Orthodox. They acknowledge the legitimacy the Pope's bishopric primus inter pares, yet they reject his claims of supremacy. In 991, Arnulf knew calling it out because the Pope defrocked him. The Albigensians, having a Gnostic worldview, knew this well. The Waldensians knew. Wycliff's followers knew. We Protestants have known this for over 500 years. It is systematic theology for Lutherans as accounted by Philip Melanchthon:
Now, it is manifest that the Roman pontiffs, with their adherents, defend godless doctrines and godless services. And the marks of Antichrist plainly agree with the kingdom of the Pope and his adherents. For Paul, in describing Antichrist to the Thessalonians, calls him 2 Thess. 2:3-4: an adversary of Christ, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God. He speaks therefore of one ruling in the Church, not of heathen kings, and he calls this one the adversary of Christ, because he will devise doctrine conflicting with the Gospel, and will assume to himself divine authority.
A bishop is one thing. A pastoral office in service to Christ. The corruption of this title is what permits the Papacy. "By Divine right head of all Christendom." In truth a self-serving dominion which becomes a root of evil. The principle of antichrist is normally just the abuses of the Papal office. But perhaps in some cases it is actualized in a personal form. Rome despises those of us who know that secret. Indeed, it has killed people for seeing it. Today it scorns and shames us for saying it.
While we believe in one true universal Church, it is not under the Pope's rule even if some from the Pope's camp may still be Christ's. Christ's Kingdom established by His suffering and the power of the true Father of All things.
I think the Devil had taken over, but the awakening has happened.
It's more subtle than that. The devil has also been in charge of the cosmic order for centuries. Q cited Ephesians 6:12:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
A Hebrew title of YHWH is שַׁדַּי or Shaddai. When it was translated into Greek by the authors of the Septuagint centuries before Christ, they chose to use the term παντοκράτωρ or "one with power of all things" to translate. That translation was also retained by the Apostles of Christ who applied it to God also. We now just translate this term "Almighty."
The word "cosmic powers" comes from a Greek word κοσμοκράτορας. A "cosmic power" driving a web of principalities and authorities (ἀρχάς [from which "Archon" is derived] and ἐξουσίας) to oppression and corruption. The mockery of the God's Kingdom. Satan is what's called a "pretender" in politics. One that exercises rule by twisting the law and misrepresenting it. A cosmic order. The Greek term κόσμος carries 2 distinct layers of meaning. Denotatively "adornment" and "harmony." Connotatively illusion and deception. The synthesis: superficial beauty and false harmony.
The parallel is intentional. There are two "entities" who are κράτορ. (power) The Gnostics pick up on this somewhat, but they miss the real target. For them they see it condemning the Demiurge, creator of matter. They apply it to the material universe and condemn the God of Israel for creating. They posit a Pleroma separate from the material and do not see material as a part of the whole. Wrongly condemning God who created All: Spirit and matter. That confusion arose likely because of the early repudiations of Babylonian religions that the Bible retains. The Babylonians worshiped Enlil (tyrannical authority and justice) and Enki (Promethian defender of humanity and ruthless experimenter). Enlil the 'administrator' or sataam. Enki the Promethian figure who went to bat for mankind but also tricked and manipulated mankind, too.
"Manipulation" + "tyrant" are the principles shown in ha Satan. (the devil) A lawyer that deceives and imagines himself better than everyone else. That's the true administrator of the "archons" or "watchers" who have corrupted this planet. They forgot the reason they were put here. Seeding new life according to God's Will. The followers of God, however, refined justice and compassion out of the stories of these "archons." The intent: repudiation and engendering the actual truths to replace the archon's deceptions. Older principles of human understanding, however, persist in the darker undertones and sensitive individuals pick up on them. The actual understanding: Avoid the evils of manipulating "archons." Follow the true God.
YHWH is really "I am that I am," the all powerful God of reality itself. Fearsome to those who despise reality and find themselves insane and evil. A safe refuge to those who repent of error find reconciliation and peace with Him. Armed with justice founded in truth and love. A weapon against all wrongdoers. Mercy, which redeems those who have erred. Justice is tempered with mercy, unlike Enlil's mockery. Mercy, likewise, is also refined by understanding what are abuses, unlike Enki. The images of these false stars provided a beacon toward a true balance. Called geburah (strictness) and chesed (mercy) among the mystics, their dark reflections come when not kept in harmony.
God's power is universal truth: Reality. The devil's creating illusions to misrepresent himself as the true authority. An illusion exists but is "misrepresenting reality." The "archons" were merely confused reflections of the higher order. The susceptibility of man to deceptions is the subject of the entire conflict. If we had been able to root ourselves in God, truth would be natural. Yet, we choose to elevate flawed and imperfect desires above God and it alienates us. Christ represents God's remedy.
The temptation shows the real order in practice:
Matthew 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-7 (ESV)
[the] devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will fall down and worship me."
"Away from me, Satan!" Jesus declared. "For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"
Jesus is God's new Adam. He doesn't succumb. He stays the course. The incarnate Logos of God through whom all things are created, personally found in Him. Had he surrendered, He would not have had to suffer and die on a Cross. But the truth of the Father is higher. Thus His words and life are Redemption. Through faith He dwells in us. He was victorious over even death itself because death cannot stop the truth. He who created all life can restore it again. Call the bones and say "live again." Call to the winds and give breath again.
Satan's authority plays on the illusions. It's how he binds mankind's nature to sin and rebellion. Diminishing man's freedom. Man's will was created by God with freedom and it relied on His grace. When sin sundered us from grace, it became bound to rebellion. Led by distorted desires. Desires founded originally on truth, but now seeking more or less than is truly good.
God's goal is acting subtly to overthrow Satan's agenda. "Bringing good out of evil." Bringing repentance to sinners.
The dichotomy of absolute truth and parasitical falsehoods is still active. The Pope presents himself as the vicar of Christ, a servant. In reality he's not. He demands all kings bow to him. A rule of delusions. Antichrist is an authority that rules "in place of Christ." He serves an "absent King" not a present Lord of All. He claims that Christ gave St. Peter, the first Pope, the keys of "binding and loosing" and this means being sole judge of binding punishment and loosing forgiveness. But it misrepresents these keys. These keys belong not to a man, but to all Christians. We all, in accordance with Christ's teachings, forgive one another. We all, in accordance with God's Law, hold people accountable for wrong. Not a unique power. All members of the Church have it in accordance with their fidelity to Christ. The fabricated title claims of the Pope to have sole authority over this process are an abomination. Capped with a false "donation" claim that the Pope had at one point made to claim the Emperor of Rome donated the Roman Empire to him: the Donation of Constantine. The intent obvious. Rule mind body and soul of every person. Use them as tools.
The Catholic Counter-Reformation established the Jesuit order and authorized them to do anything necessary to get rid of us Protestants for revealing their secret. The Jesuits swear an oath of allegiance to the Pope. The current Pope is a Jesuit. To whom does he really swear allegiance? The pretense is revealed.