The trinity of evil ones has now been introduced as the enemy of the saints on earth (12:13–13:18). They are given the authority to overcome them (13:7) and to seduce the rest of the world into worshiping the Evil One rather than God (13:16–17). Chapter 13 concludes with a resounding note of secularism’s triumph: the worldwide kingdom of the Evil One is firmly established within human history. This remains the current status of the battle between God and the Evil One on earth. Ironically, even as Christ’s exaltation begins a period of escalation in humanity’s conflict with evil, so also does it disclose the outcome of this battle, which has already been decided in God’s favor. The doxologies of the heavenly chorus have declared it, and the dragon’s banishment from God’s heavenly throne roo…