Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 9:3

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth , and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power .

From the Influence which the Devil thus let loose, had upon the World, came forth a Generation of Men, that in their Practices resembled Locusts. Who are to be understood by these Locusts, is not easie to resolve. The Locusts were an Insect with which God sometimes plagued the Egyptians; they are much in the Eastern Countries. It was an East-wind which brought them upon Egypt, Exod. 10.12, 13. God often hath punished People with them, they are therefore threatned, or mentioned as a Judgment in case of Disobedience, Deut. 28.38, 42. 1 King. 8.37. Ioel 1.4. & 2.25. Two things are to be remarked of them: 1. They were wont to go in infinite Numbers, Prov. 30.27. They go out by bands. Nahum 3.15. Make thy self many as the Locusts: without number, Psal. 105.34. 2. The Mischief they do is expressed there, v. 35. to eat up the Herbs of the Land, and to devour the Fruit of the ground: So they did in Egypt. We have a little Specimen of them in our Caterpillers in times of draught, usually caused from the Wind hanging long in the East. The Psalmist, Psalm 105.34. joineth the Locusts and the Caterpillers together. By the following Description of these Locusts, and the Mischief which they did, v. 4, 7, 8, 9, 10. it appeareth plainly, that these were no natural, but metaphorical Locusts. Men that for their Numbers, and the Mischief they did in the World, did resemble Locusts; but who these were, is the Question. I find but two Opinions that have any probability: The one is a late learned Writer, who judgeth them the Popish Clergy, to whom, indeed, many things agree. 1. They come out of the Smoke, that is, the great Influence which the Devil hath upon the World. 2. They are numerous. 3. Their King is Abaddon, they destroy every green Herb, knipping Religion, in all places, in the Bud. But I cannot see how two or three things can agree to them: 1. That they do not hurt to the Lord's sealed Ones, when as their particular Malice is against the purest, and strictest Profession. 2. That they do not kill, but only torment Men, v. 5. 3. And (which is the greatest) I cannot see how the Period of time agreeth to them. For this Prophecy seemeth to respect the sixth and seventh Age: And tho all these things agree to the Romish Clergy in later Ages, especially since the Jes[illegible: 2 letters]ts grew numerous, which is not much above 120 years since, yet these three did not so agree to the Romish Clergy in the sixth and seventh Age. Their Benedictine Orders began but 530, and their Orders of Dominicans, much more mischievous, not till upward of the year 1200. The Iesuits after the year 1500. I therefore rather agree with the learned and judicious Mr. Mede, with whom I also find Iohn Napier and others agreeing, that by the[illegible: 2 letters] Locusts are meant the Turks and Saracens. 1. Their time agreeth; for they first appeared formidably to the World about the year 620. 2. They were always very numerous. 3. They came the Locusts Road from Arabia, and the Eastern parts. The Arabians (which the Saracens are) are called the Children of the East, and said to be like Grashoppers for multitude ▪ Two things are objected: 1. That these Locusts are commanded not to hurt the Lord's sealed Ones. 2. That their Commission is but for five Months. As to the latter we shall speak to it, when we come to that clause. As to the former, Why may it not denote the Liberty that in their Conquests they generally give to all Religions; so as they put none to death upon that Account? How far other things will agree to them, I leave to be further considered in the next Verses.

That is, Such a Power as Scorpions have: We shall have a more particular Account of this, v. 10.