The result of the casting down of some of the heavenly host will be the perfecting of God's army in preparation for the Battle of Armageddon.

The end of the Church Age will not come until the power of the saints has been broken and God's strength alone remains. Thus all disobedience and self-will shall be shaken out of the army of the Lord.

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel)

"When he shall have accomplished to scatter [break] the power of the holy people [the saints], all these things shall be finished."

The New Testament is clear that in the last days, Antichrist will be given power over the saints.

How does he tear them down from their heavenly position?

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:7,8)

Sodom, Egypt, and Jerusalem.

Sodom speaks of the lusts of the flesh. Some of the host of God will be torn down from their position in Christ when Satan offers to them opportunities to indulge their physical passions without restraint. Adultery and fornication will abound as people give themselves to their bodily appetites in the last days.

Many of the stars of the heaven have fallen today because of lust.

Egypt symbolizes the love of the world, of luxurious things, of material wealth. Some of the stars of the heaven will be brought down to the earth as Antichrist holds before them the opportunity to live as rich people. The Christian testimony in America already has been destroyed as the ministry convinces the believers of the desirability of possessing much money.

When God calls people to the mission field they sometimes have to give up many comforts of the flesh. How many of the pleasure-loving believers of our time are ready to go to Peru, or New Guinea, or Haiti, and live in poverty with the natives?

Jerusalem, the city where our Lord was crucified, symbolizes religious ambition, envy, self-will. Our Lord was not crucified by people living in lust, or even by the worldly (who are too occupied with houses and lands to concern themselves with religion). Our Lord was crucified by ecclesiastical leaders who were filled with ambition, envy, the "I will" of Satan. Some individuals are filled with a lust for prominence in the church world.

To be continued.