I wanted to illustrate one of the many places where the Apocalypse / Revelation was written in parallels. In the example below, there are two stories of Satan, the first is that he is victorious and the second is that he is defeated. It is also worth noting that the story of Satan being victorious has to be derived by comparing it with the story that he is defeated, this is because he is not mentioned in Revelation 7:1 - 9:21.
This was taken from my book, How John Wrote the Book of Revelation, p. 306.
The center section is an inverted parallel that represents the attacks by Satan against the believers. The parallel is unique in that it is only visible by inserting Rev 12:1-17 between Rev 20:6 and Rev 20:7. The formation shows us that John does not need contiguous content for each side of the parallel but he can use sections to form a parallel.
The 144,000, the Great Multitude, and the Six Trumpets (7:1-9:21)
Chapter 20 with Chapter 12 Inserted
The Angel Holding Back the Four Winds (7:1-8)
The four angels that hold back the four winds (7:1-2).
So that they do not hurt the earth, sea, or trees until the 144,000 is sealed (7:3-8).
The Angel with Keys to the Abyss (20:1-4)
An angel sealed Satan in the abyss for 1,000 years (20:1-2).
So he cannot deceive the world (20:3-4).
Great Multitude is in Heaven (7:14-17)
They came from the great tribulation (7:14-7).
The First Resurrection (20:4-6)
The souls of those beheaded and those who did not worship the beast lived and reigned with Jesus for 1,000 years.
First Trumpet (8:7)
Hail and fire mixed with blood was thrown down to the earth. A third of the earth and trees burnt up and all the green grass.
The Fourth Attack by Satan (12:17)
The dragon grew angry with the woman, and made war against her offspring who keeps God’s commandments and holds Jesus’ testimony (12:17).
Second Trumpet (8:8-9) The Water Absorbs the Land
A great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships destroyed.
The Third Attack by Satan (Rev 12:15-16) The Land Absorbs the Water
The serpent spewed out water from his mouth so that the woman might be carried with it but the earth opened and swallowed up the water (12:15-16).
Third Trumpet (8:10-1)
A great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch (8:10).
Turned a third of the rivers and springs bitter and many people died from the bitter waters (8:10-1).
The Second Attack by Satan (12:7-9)
There was a war in heaven and the one called the Great Dragon, the Old Serpent, the Devil, and Satan was kicked out of heaven with his angels to deceive the world (12:7-9).
Fourth Trumpet (8:12)
A third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck. They were darkened by day and night by a third.
From Ezek 5:2 where a third was struck with a sword.
The First Attack by Satan (12:1-6)
The woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and twelve stars, then came Satan who with his tail sweeps a third of the stars from the sky (12:1-6).
Fifth Trumpet (9:1-12)
An angel opens the keys to the abyss (9:1-2).
Their king is the angel from the king of the abyss (9:11).
Satan Released From His Prison (20:7)
He is released from the abyss (see 20:3, 7).
A Huge Army Is Assembled (9:13-9)
The four angels were freed to kill a third of mankind (9:15).
Their army was 200,000,000 (9:16).
The army used fire from their mouths to destroy and their tails to do damage (9:17-9).
Satan Gathers a Huge Army (20:7-10)
They are from the four corners of the earth (20:7).
Their numbers are like the sands of the sea (20:8).
They surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city (20:9).
Fire came down from heaven and destroyed them (20:9).
They Did Not Repent of Their Deeds (9:20-21)
The rest of humanity did not repent from their evil deeds (9:20-1).
The Great White Throne Judgment (20:11-5)
The dead were judged according to their works--these are the unbelievers and are thrown in the lake of fire.