You mean that in literature there is proof of Satan yet there is no physical proof in reality. No guy running around in a red suit with a pitchfork and a pointed tail...No God running after him trying to strike him down with lightning bolts. There is no Satan to fear because Satan is not real he is a character in a book.
They used slang terms and symbolism/imagery to keep the authority from knowing they were being talked about, especially during the revolts.
According to their texts, I think John of Patmos in Book of Rev described Devil as simply being the power of Death, the adversary at that time was Rome which John described in such code. Rome did indeed wield that power over them and their description in later generations of the symbol of the 2 horn scarlet color devil represented the 2horn(power) system of Rome-the political authority hiding behind the religious, red being their colors especially of their army which yielded that power of destruction and death.
Satan meaning adversary was Rome which offered the figure in the story popularity, fame, etc and in the story upon refusing, that adversary still made the figure popular and famous through plagiarising the Baal death scene and claiming the figure rised and defeated death and thus made him a Martyr & god (where they now could speak behind the curtains for and collect taxes(tithes) on and invade many kingdoms through without insurrection. In other words they swallowed and used the image to try and defeat the revolters, claiming Paul converted was used to try and convert the revolters to accepting Rome's authority now in the guise of Religious authority (the other horn that masked the true authoratative political power).
Once you grasp this, you might recognize today's global subversive emulation is not one world religion masking political authority, but the Global warming climate change cult globalist agenda masking the true subversive political authority.
Taxes still being collected and countries invaded under the guise of the global initiative in the same manner Rome used a religious icon claimed needed to save humanity. Even Rome's fall due to open borders, enemies destroying Rome within, liberal stances on social constructs, failed governance, spreading military to thin, etc is all being emulated around the globe, especially here in the U.S. where some see us in an era of collapsing.