Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 12:4

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven , and did cast them to the earth : And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child assoon as it was born .

The Tail of the red Dragon signifies his followers, his civil and military Officers, whosoever were by him imployed to execute his Commands.

By the Stars here, are either meant the Ministers of the Christian Church, or the Professors of it.

Turning them out of their places and stations, making them as useless as he could.

That is, before the Church that was ready to propagate it self, watch[illegible: 2 letters]g upon her Increase to devour them. I take this to be a much more probable Sense than theirs, who understand it of Constantine; For I know not, with reference to him, who should be understood by the red Dragon. Mr. Mede hath ingenuously observed, that Pharaoh was a Type of this red Dragon. He is resembled by a Dragon, Psal. 74.13, 14. Isa. 51.9. Ezek. 29.3. and watched upon God's ancient Church to destroy it, as the Pagan Emperors did upon the Christian Church.