Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 13:7

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them : and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations .

God sheweth Iohn, that after Antichrist had gone on blaspheming the Name, and Tabernacle, and Saints of God, some years, the Devil should influence him also

to make War against God's Holy Ones, and he would suffer him to overcome them;

and he should have a Power over all the Nations of that part of the World, where God had his Church. This was eminently fulfilled after the year 1200, when the Doctrine of Transubstantiation was established; the Inquisition was set up in Spain 1206; the number of those murdered by it, was exceeding great. But yet this was too slow a Work, the Pope quickly raised vast Armies against the Albigenses, first under the Conduct of his Legate, then of Simon de Montf[illegible: 2 letters]d. Perionius (one of their own) saith, That more than a Million were slain in these Wars of these poor People, meerly for not complying with the Church of Rome in their Apostacy. But what were these to those slain in the Valleys of Piedmont, Provence, Calabria, Alsatia, Bohemia, before the year 1517, when the Reformation began in Germany? What Slaughters have been since made in Germany, Hungary, Flanders, Ireland, &c. every one knows. The latter clause was eminently verified until the year 1517, there being no Nation in Europe but was subject to the Pope of Rome, so as he had a Power over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations. The poor Albigenses thought themselves concerned in this Prophecy; for when the Popish General, Simon de Montford had made a vast Slaughter of them, and the Archbishop of Tholo[illegible: 1 letter]s[illegible: 1 letter] interceded for those that survived, upon Condition that they would imbrace the Romish Faith: they boldly refused, sending the Archbishop word, That they were the Overcome Servants of Iesus Christs; and all died comforting themselves with the Prophecy of this Text.

Marginal references: Dan. 7.21. Chap. 11.7.