Luke 10:18 (NKJV) And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
Without going too much into WHY Jesus said this, it has long intrigued me as to WHEN Jesus saw what He did here and how it fits in the chronology: And how it might be related to the events of Revelation 12.
I believe the evidence points in the direction that Jesus sees in the disciple’s jubilant report of success in casting out demons in His name, not only Satan’s present loss of power, but the sign and foretaste that his ultimate downfall is already set and sealed in irreversible, irresistible motion. With this confirmation of what has begun, Jesus promises yet further success in the future, even power “over all the power of the enemy” (Lk 10:17-20).
When Jesus said, “it is finished” (tetelestai), the price was fully paid that sealed and set in motion the sure and certain end of Satan’s kingdom, but its final subjugation would not be fully realized “until” two more decisive stages, Christ’s return and the end of the millennial age (compare Ps 110:1; Acts 2:34-35; 3:21; 1Cor 15:24-25; Heb 2:8-9 with Rev 20:4-10 with Isa 24:22).
I think all of this has something to do with what scholars have called, “the already and the not yet”, referring to the mysterious tension between what has been both newly fulfilled and newly revealed versus what remains to be fulfilled in light of the ‘unexpected’ revelation of Messiah’s coming, departure, and return to Jerusalem. It is what Jesus called, “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mk 4:11), and Paul called, “the mystery of the gospel” (Ro 16:25-26; Eph 6:19 with 1Pet 1:11-12).
The revelation of the mystery made clear that the ultimate victory over Satan and the full bringing in of the kingdom on THIS present earth would be realized in stages.
Through decisive actions at appointed moments (“in the fullness of time” / “appointed times”), the kingdom is making progress to “that day” when, after the last and unequaled tribulation Jesus will return to assert His rod iron rule over all nations. But even beyond that day is yet another stage towards the ultimate post-millennial “end” when Jesus, having subdued all things, will hand His fully accomplished work over to the Father in final completion (1Cor 15:23-28).
So I agree with what I suspect you’re perceiving, that Jesus sees in the disciple’s power over the devils a foretaste of the future empowerment that will come to the Maskilim of the end at the very same time that Satan will be cast down in the middle of the week to begin his “short time” (Rev 12:12).
It is supremely important to observe that this mighty, unprecedented victory in heaven is seen as tremendous good news. This is the very event in heaven that makes possible the revelation of the mystery of lawlessness on earth that has so long stood in the way of Jesus’ return (2Thes 2:3-9).
It is not only that Satan’s forcible dejection means the kingdom of God may now come, but the scripture says, the strength and power of the yet coming kingdom has NOW come (Rev 12:10).
What was in the way of Jesus’ return has now been removed, but with its removal, a new “power and strength” has NOW come upon a people who “love not their lives unto death” (Rev 12:11). This is a very significant correlation.
Immediately, when Michael thrusts Satan out of heaven down to earth, all of heaven breaks out in jubilant rejoicing, with the glad announcement that “Now (not the end but the middle of the week) is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.”
Note the paradox. The very event they will signal the beginning of the most unprecedented time of woe for the “earth-dwellers” is seen as a high-point of jubilation, not only for the host in heaven, but for the saints on earth who NOW receive power and strength to “love not their lives to the death”.
The final martyrdom appointed to the saints will be met, not with forbidding fear but welcomed with the glorious liberation of that perfection of love that cast out fear. It is this love and the peace of Isa 26:3 that will be their greatest witness to Israel and the nations in the midst of unprecedented deception, cruelty, and chaos.
What Jesus was seeing in the jubilant report of the returning 70 is what will happen in that great transition in the middle of the week when Michael prevails to dislodge Satan from his place in heaven. This decisive removal (compare Dan 10:13 with 2Thes 2:7; Rev 12:9) permits the mystery of lawlessness to be revealed that Paul shows is necessary before Christ can return (2Thes 2:3-9).
We may be sure that just as Daniel’s deep self-abasement and travail of intercession was indispensable to the removal of the mighty demon prince of Persia, even so, it will be the deep intercession of a corporate Daniel that will empower Michael to remove Satan as the great restrainer that holds back the decisive revelation of the mystery of lawlessness that releases the tribulation judgments that bring Jesus back to rule the nations from a restored and fully renewed Jerusalem.
This is when, as “the beast that was, and was not, and yet is”, i.e., the revived and now fully empowered man of sin, will be filled with “all power” (2Thes 2:9) and proceed to enter the temple in Jerusalem of Judea to place the abomination of desolation, as he exalts himself above every other form of deity or worship (2Thes 2:4; Dan 11:36-37.)
Now here’s what we do well to observe: It is precisely then, as this is happening, that kingdom power and strength will be coming upon the maskilim of the end, (the Maskilim are simply all the believers who will be believing and “understanding” saints at that time).
Not only do we see power coming on the two witnesses at this time (Rev 11:2-3), but it is immediately after mention of the abomination and removal of the daily sacrifice in Dan 11:31 that Dan 11:32-33 follows with this declaration of power and success in instructing many, which, according to Dan 12:3, results in “turning many to righteousness”.
“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.”
This can only refer to the great evangelistic thrust of the final 3 1/2 years that will result in the salvation of a multitude beyond natural ability to count (Rev 7;9, 13-14). It is significant that whereas the gospel has been preached to all nations since Pentecost, Jesus speaks of it as especially reaching is full goal at the time of the end in Mt 24:14, and this is exactly what we find in Rev 14:6 where the gospel is being released in greatest power just as great Babylon is about to be judged fatally and finally at the Lord’s post-tribulation return.
All’s to say, the scripture certainly holds for us, not only a hope, but glorious certainty that a great preparation is coming, yea, is already underway for this great transition and breakthrough of an “open heaven” into full apostolic love and power for the final sending, for the final witness, “WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING”.
“For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Lk 1:37).
