I always assumed that Satan was cast out of Heaven prior to ‘the fall’ in Genesis chapter 3. A friend of mine believes that Satan still reports regularly to God the Father in Heaven to give an account and to accuse the brethren. He also disagrees that Satan is currently ‘the god of this world.’ He says, “God calls all shots.” This is his view of ‘the sovereignty of God.’
Other acquaintances, pre-trib, pre-millennialists, as am I, believe that Satan is still in Heaven and will be cast out of Heaven midway of Great Tribulation upon the Earth. They reference Revelation 12:7-9 to justify this teaching. After all, if Revelation is chronological, then Chapter 12 is right before the pouring out of the bowls of wrath upon the Earth and after the ‘Blowing of the Seven Trumpets’.
I believe Revelation chapter 12 demonstrates that the Book of Revelation is not chronological. The Book of Revelation contains a series of seven eschatological visions. I believe that each of these visions stand alone. Revelation 12-14 is the Vision of The Woman and The Dragon. Chapter 12 begins with the vision of a woman who was pregnant and about to give birth. Verse five says, “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” Verse 3 introduces “an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.” “His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The Dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment he was born.” Back to verse 5-b, “And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.” Verse 6: “The woman fled into the desert…”
Again, this demonstrates that the Visions of Revelation are not chronological. The woman is Israel who is about to give birth to Messiah. Satan, the Dragon, the ruler of this world, seeks to destroy Messiah, but Messiah is caught up to Heaven. A footnote references this passage in Revelation to Genesis 3:1-7; the fall of man, where Satan, the tempter is already on Earth. It is generally accepted that the Dragon was cast out of Heaven before the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3. The 1/3 of the stars swept out of Heaven by his tail, are the third of the angels who followed Satan. They are fallen angels. Scripture demonstrates that Satan is the Prince of the Air surrounding the Earth. (Eph. 2:2) Other scriptures demonstrate that Satan is the god of this world. (1John 5:19) So, clearly, Chapter 12 of Revelation is not chronological. It is not yet to happen. This is historical.
Some suggest based on Revelation 12:7-9 that the ‘war in heaven’ is yet to occur. Again, not so. Indications are that this War in Heaven occurred after the Christ-child was caught up to Heaven. Prior to this you may have a case from the book of Job to suggest that Satan remained the ‘accuser of the brethren’, But after Christ was caught up to Heaven, Satan’s defeat was assured; the great dragon was hurled down; and he is no longer ‘the accuser of the brethren.’ He no longer has access to the Father. He now must now try to defeat us by accusing us personally, as the Father sees the blood of Jesus. Revelation 12:10-12 beautifully affirms this; and it is accomplished by the blood of the Lamb; not yet to come but 2000 years ago on the cross. Satan is still loosed and in control of this world system; but not in control of the believer. Verse 12 says, “He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short.”
To summarize: Revelation 12:
V 1,2: The Woman is introduced and is pregnant. (Israel)
V 3: The Great Dragon is introduced as ruler of the world. (Satan)
v.4: The Dragon waits to destroy Messiah.
v.5: Israel births Messiah and Messiah is caught up to Heaven.
v.6: Israel is dispersed.
v. 7-9: War in Heaven where the dragon and his angels are cast out for good.
V. 13: The Dragon pursues Israel.
v. 14: Israel given wings of a great eagle to escape the Dragon. (In my opinion: USA)
v. 15: The dragon spewed a flood of water to take out Israel. (imo: the holocaust)
v. 16: The Earth helped Israel by absorbing the flood waters. (imo: WWII)
v. 17: Then the dragon was enraged and makes war against Israel’s offspring – “those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (He now makes war on Christians)
Chapter 12 is not yet to happen but is an overview of History from the perspective of the Woman (Israel) and the dragon (Satan). Chapter 12 brings us up to date. Chapters 13 and 14 complete the vision showing us Daniels’ 70th week or the Great Tribulation that is yet to come. Chapter 14 concludes with the final battle of Armageddon where the blood is as deep as the horses’ bridles for 1600 stadia.
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