However, Revelation 12 takes up the Genesis narrative in apocalyptic form in hope:
[list][*]A woman, being with child, cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.
 
[*]Her Child was caught up to God and His throne. And war broke out there in heaven: the Child and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.
 
[*]Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the dragon has been cast down." And the followers of the Child on earth overcame the dragon too:

James,
Revelation 12 seems to indicate that the "war in heaven" occurs AFTER the birth of the child. This, I admit, is based solely on the apparent chronological order of the chapter. If verse 7 leaps back to a point in time preceding vs. 1-6 there is nothing to indicated that, except possibly our preestablished assumption of the timeline.

Also, v. 12 (Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." NIV) seems to indicate "rejoicing" for the people in heaven but "woe" to the people on earth.

And, v.13 (When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. NIV) when the Devil is cast to earth, he pursues the woman, which precipitates her fleeing and the "time, times, and half a time."

Traditionally, we have viewed the "war in heaven" to have occurred prior to the fall of man. Should this view be re-examined? I would appreciate if you could clarify your understanding.

This would necessitate a new thread, so as not to de-rail this thread.

...meaning that Calvary was a necessary precursor to the casting out of Satan from heaven. The battle on earth was going to trigger the battle in heaven. The victory on earth was going to seal the victory in heaven; and not the other way around.

verse 5) woman gave birth
6) woman fled
7) war arose
9) dragon cast out
12) woe to earth and those who dwell (not future tense), time is short
13) dragon pursued woman who "had given" birth
14) woman fled (repeat of 6? or further details of why she fled) Nourished 3.5 times (1260 days, which has been said to occur after the cross)

Issues were in heaven prior to earth (verse 4 before standing before the woman). But real war and casting down was at the cross. Otherwise, chapter 12 would be jumping back and forth multiple times not making sense.

So, just to be clear, (because I think this has significant implications,) Satan was in (or had access to) heaven, until Calvary.

Definitely not what SDA teaches, but seems to be supported by Rev. 12.

It seems that the average western mind is most comfortable in linear sequential presentations.
However, we need to be open to the possibility that the prophets didn't necessarily write in linear sequential form.

Sequential form usually moves from cause to effect.
But there are other literary structures in scripture, for example, one can also start with the effect, then present the cause.

Many have noticed chiastic structure in the Bible.
For example, the structure ABBA refers to two ideas (A and B) repeated in reverse order (B and A). Often, a chiasm includes another idea in the middle of the repetition: ABXBA.

Or there may be a focal point, like a mountain peak, and two streams moving in either direct from the focal point.

Parallel writing is very common in scripture as well. Points for comparison and contrast were often emphasized by repetition in parallel structures.

In symmetric parallels, the primary point of emphasis often comes at the middle of the passage. While a secondary point often comes at the beginning and end.

There are more interesting literary structures that the Bible writers used.
I'm mentioning them because we may be on the wrong track if we insist on a simple linear sequential structure for Revelation 12.