Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 9:20

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues , yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils , and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk :

The two thirds of Men that should be le[illegible: 1 letter]t, for we read of one third part destroyed; and this also must be understood of Men dwelling in Countreys subject formerly to the Roman Empire on this side of Euphrates. This leaves this applicable to none but Papists; for there are none else but them who worship Daemons, Gr. [non-Latin text not transcribed], or Idols of Gold and Silver.

By Devils are meant Daemons, that is, persons that are Dead, whom the Heathens made their Petty Gods, and worshipped as middle Beings betwixt them and the Supreme Gods (according to their notion) which is the same thing the Papists are guilty of, with this only difference (as Mr. Mede excellently observeth) that the Heathens made many supreme Gods, and these modern Idolaters own but one in that notion; but as many D[illegible: 1 letter]astri or Daemons, as they did, which are all those Saints to whom they pay an Adoration, as to those who should present their desires to God, which, as Mr. Mede sufficiently proves from Writers, was the very work the Pagans alotted for those whom they Canoniz'd after Death. From whence came the Names of Baal and B[illegible: 1 letter]l, &c. but from Belus, who is said to have been the first Prince, whom being dead, they made a God, and adored? which Daemons God in Scripture calleth Devils: Nor do any but they, now worship Images, the works of Men's hands, made of Gold, Silver, Brass and Wood, who are here described in the same words as by the Psalmist, Psal. 115.4. & 135.15.

Notwithstanding God's great Judgment executed upon the Graecian Churches, yet they repented not of their Idolatry and Superstition; so as God hath brought them wholly under the power of those Barbarous Enemies; and though the Romish party seeth this, yet neither do they repent, which may give them cause to fear that God should make use of the same Adversary to destroy them likewise; especially considering that neither to this day do they repent.

Marginal references: Lev. 17.7. Deut. 32.17. Psal. 106.37 1 Cor. 10.20.