Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 13:5

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things , and blasphemies ; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months .

By him here must be meant Antichrist (as appears by the 42 Months his Period, being the same with 1260 days) both the secular Power of the Emperors of Rome at this time, and the Ecclesiastical Power of the Bishops of Rome concurred to make one Antichrist. God permitted, and the Devil influenced this Beast to speak great things, as Da[illegible: 1 letter]. 7.11. which is interpreted by the term Blasphemies.

Blasphemies against God signifies strictly any reproachful Speeches against him, whether attributing to him the Creature's Imperfections, or denying him the Perfection proper to him, or giving to the Creature what belongs to God only, which Blasphemy must be in all Idolatry; for Adoration is due unto God alone, and when this is given to any Creature, there is both Blasphemy in the Doctrine which teacheth the Lawfulness of it, and Idolatry in the Practice of it.

These 42 Months are (as hath been before shewed) the same term of time with 1260 days, and must be the term of Antichrist, which was given him to tread down the outward Court in, so as the Beast here spoken of, must be the Antichrist, who began in the civil Power of the Roman Empire, but was quickly metamorphosed into the Ecclesiastical Power of the Bishop of Rome; in comparison of whose Power (after he had obtained the Primacy) indeed the Emperors Power was very small.

Marginal references: Dan. 7.8, 11. & 11.36.; Or, to make war.; Chap. 11.2.