Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 17:18

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the Kings of the earth .

See v. 3.

That is, signifieth that great City, see v. 5. Babylon the great.

Commanding and punishing them as she pleaseth. To what person or power that either now is, or ever was upon the Earth, in this applicable, but to the Pope who makes Emperors hold his Stirrop, sends his Edicts to Princes to execute, Excommunicates them, and interdicts their Subjects, and arms them against them if they refuse? So that if the Pope s[illegible: 1 letter]s upon seven Hills, or Rome be built upon them; if the Papacy hath allured the Inhabitants of the Earth to Idolatry; if in her Idolatries she be the [illegible: 1 letter]mage of the old Pagan Idolaters; if to her many Princes have given their Power and Strength; if she reigneth over the Kings of the Earth; and these things be applicable to no other Person or Government; there is no more doubt, whether the Pope be Antichrist, and Rome mystical Babylon, which shall certainly be destroyed for her Idolatries and shedding the Blood of God's Holy Ones, than there is of what we have, chap. 1.1, 2. That this Book contains the Revelation of Iesus Christ to shew unto his Servants, things which must shortly come to pass, which he se[illegible: 2 letters] and signified by his Angel, by his Seruant John, who have R[illegible: 1 letter]cord of the Word of God, and of the Testimony of Iesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Marginal references: Chap. 16.19.