Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 13:4

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast : and they worshipped the beast, saying , Who is like unto the beast ? who is able to make war with him?

By the Dragon here, is to be understood the Devil,

who gave power to these Emperors; not that they did so directly, but interpretatively; they worshipped Idols, which ordinarily in Scriptures are called Devils.

Possibly worshipping in this la[illegible: 2 letters]er clause is not to be understood of a Divine Adoration, but a civil Subjection; People, upon the driving out of these their Enemies, generally gave themselves up to the Obedience of their Emperors and Bishops of Rome, commanding them idolatrous Worship.

And admired these two, as those by whom they had been delivered from those Enemies who had plagued them so long.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.18.