Divine Triumph and the Shadow Within
God's victory over Satan and demons is explained as a cosmic, victorious event in which the forces of Light achieved a decisive triumph over the forces of darkness. Thus, according to one source, a heavenly war is described in which the archangel Michael, along with his angels, “herded the dragon” – an ancient serpent called “the devil” and “Satan” – who, unable to withstand the struggle, was overthrown and cast down to the earth (source: link txt). Another text indicates that the coming of Christ announced a war against Satan and his kingdom, for the Savior came “to deprive death of its power, that is, of the devil” (source: link txt). These descriptions emphasize that through Divine intervention, the victory over demonic forces was made manifest, and the power of Christ, who conquers evil, affirmed God’s authority in the world.
However, despite this victory, darkness continues to fester in the souls of wicked people. This is explained by the fact that the true light brought by Christ encountered the reality that people prone to evil deeds and sin prefer to remain in darkness so that their corrupt actions are not exposed. One source notes, “for everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed, for they are evil” (source: link txt). Thus, the victory in heaven and through Christ does not eliminate the internal struggle of man with his inclinations toward evil. The light established moral and spiritual standards, but human nature, designed for choice, sometimes still opts for the path of darkness, leading to the continued festering of darkness in the hearts of those unable to overcome their weaknesses and sinful nature.
Supporting citation(s):
“Then a war took place in heaven: the archangel Michael and his angels herded the dragon, and he with his angels resisted fiercely. But the dragon, along with his angels, could not stand, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was overthrown, the ancient serpent called ‘the devil’ and ‘Satan’, who deceived the entire universe. He was overthrown and cast down to the earth along with his angels. Then I heard a loud voice from heaven proclaiming: ‘Now our God has achieved victory; the power of His Kingdom is manifest, and the authority of His Anointed is confirmed, for the accuser of our brethren—the one who accuses them day and night before our God—has been cast down.’” (source: link txt)
“Christ’s coming as the declaration of war on Satan and his kingdom. Christ’s coming heralds the era when prophecies and expectations begin to be fulfilled. The God-man comes into our world, born of an ordinary earthly woman, and engages in battle with Satan: ‘If by the Spirit of God I cast out demons, surely the Kingdom of God has reached you.’ The main purpose of Christ’s advent is to defeat Satan, who had effectively enslaved mankind. The Savior arrives, as the Apostle Paul states, ‘to deprive death of its power—that is, of the devil.’” (source: link txt)
“When, with the Lord Jesus Christ, the true light descended into our earthly night—into the night of evil and death—a day of divine truth, righteousness, and life dawned in our human world. Yet at the same time, because of sinfulness and lust, people have always preferred darkness over light, since their deeds are evil and they love to hide in the shadows so that they are not exposed. The verdict is that while the light came into the world, men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil; for everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed, for they are evil, whereas he who follows the truth comes to the light so that his deeds may be manifested, because they are done in God.” (source: link txt)