And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth - When the heathen party saw that they were no longer supported by the civil power: -
He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child - The heathens persecuted the Christian Church in the behalf of which Divine Providence had raised up a dynasty of Christian Roman emperors.