things in the heavens—that is, as objects of the judgment referred to in the seventh trumpet. In this case, the first act would be the taking of the saints out of the way; then the casting down of Satan; then, after persecution of the Jews, the last struggle, including the judgment of the beast, and the
The cry of the remnant on earth brings judgment down there; as the cry from under the altar in the fifth seal had brought on the sixth.
Then come the trumpet-judgments in succession; the last involving the final judgment.
The only point that remains is, when is Satan cast down? The twelfth chapter takes in the whole course of the book in its sources within, to introduce the last agents as objects of judgment announced in heaven on the seventh trumpet sounding. That chapter shews, as noticed, the first act to be catching clean out of the way Him who is to rule the nations; and the whole question all goes on after that. The next step is, not changing the heavens, but war there; and then the adversary and accuser is cast down. This is clearly before the last three and a half years, when there is tribulation, and before the tribulation and fleeing takes place; at least it seems to me so. The changing of the heavens is after that. I only state, then, as to this, that upon these passages, the casting down of the dragon, as to the crisis, seems to be some time previous to the setting up of the abomination, after the catching up of the saints, i.e. before or in the period of the four or five first seals.
It is clear that the appearing of the Son of Man is subsequent to these changes in the heavens, from Matthew, Mark, Joel; and indeed the whole course and order of these mighty dealings of God’s judgment. The epiphany of His parousia destroys the man of sin. Isaiah xxiv. may be referred to here.
