Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 19:20

20 And the beast was taken , and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image . These both were cast alive into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone .

The Issue of this great Battel will be the total Ruine of all the Enemies of the Church, their Bodies being made Meat for the Fowls of the Heaven, their Souls cast into the Bottomless Pit of Hell. The Secular part of Antichrist is here meant by the Beast:

The Ecclesiastical Antichrist by the false Prophet, that had cheated credulous Princes, and credulous People, with his pretended Miracles, into an Idolatry, that was but the Image of the old Idolatry of the Heathens, in worshipping D[illegible: 1 letter]mons, and the Images of such as were in great estimation amongst them while they were alive.

Both these, the Laick and Secular Popish Party, and all their Church-Party, that should be left to this day, shall all now be destroyed. In a matter of Fact, not likely to appear in the World yet of 200 Years or more, and thus darkly foretold, who can be positive and particular? But this seemeth the sence of it, upon the former Hypotheses: That the Beast with the seven▪ Heads and ten Horns, mentioned chap. 13.1. and the Beast with two Horns, also there mentioned, v, 11. are Antichrist, beginning with those Roman Emperors, that favoured the Idolatry introduced by the Bishops of Rome, and ending in the Vniversal Bishop, or Popes of Rome, and their Clergy, who quickly wormed out the Emperor's Power, and for 1260 Years reigned, setting up Idolatry and Superstition, and corrupting the Doctrine of Faith, and for the latter six hundred Years of Time, persecuting the true Church of Christ more notoriously. After which God will begin to reckon with him, gradually pouring out▪ five Vials upon him. I am very inclinable to think, that we in this Age are yet under the pouring out of the Second of these Vials, seeing little yet effected towards the Ruine of the Papacy, more than the exposing of their Idolatries and Cheats to several Princes and States, and to the Generality of thinking People; nor hath the Providence of God proceeded far in that as yet. The three other Vials are yet to be poured out, upon the Papacy, besides that upon Euphrates, and then this last upon all the Enemies of the Church together: And who shall live when God shall do these Things?

Marginal references: Chap. 16.13.; Chap. 13.15.; Chap. 20.10. See Dan. 7.11.; Chap. 14.10.