Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 16:3

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea , and it became as the blood of a dead man : and every living soul died in the sea .

This answered the first Plague upon Pharaoh, Exod. 7.20. All the Waters that were in the River, were turned to Blood; and the Fish that were in the River, di[illegible: 1 letter]d. By the Sea here, Dr. Moor understands the Iurisdiction and Dominion of the Papacy, wherein he agrees with Mr. Mede. I rather agree with those who understand the whole System of the Popish Religion; their Rites and Ceremonies, their Doctrines of Indulgences and Purgatory, &c.

God sheweth his Prophet, and instructeth us, that he will bring the Papacy to ruine, first by bringing his Clergy, (which are the Earth upon which he stands) into Scorn and Contempt; discovering their Frauds and Cheats. 2. By discovering the Folly and Vanity of their pompous, and Theatrical Religion, consisting only in vain Shews, and idle Rites and Ceremonies, without any Regard to that Religion which is spiritual, and pure, and undefiled before God; discovering the Cheats of their Confessions and Absolutions, their Masses, Pardons and Indulgences; making them appear to be not only idle, but pernicious and damnable; so as

Christians could not live in the Communion of their Church, but it must be damnable to those who keep in the Communion of it.

Marginal references: Exod. 7.17.