Matthew Poole Commentary - Revelation 9:3 - 9:3

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Revelation 9:3 - 9:3


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:





And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth; 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 easy to resolve. The locusts were an insect with which God sometimes plagued the Egyptians; they are much in the Eastcrn countries. It was an east wind which brought them upon Egypt, Exo_10:12,13. God often hath punished people with them, they are therefore threatened, or mentioned as a judgment in case of disobedience, Deu_28:38,42 1Ki_8:37 Joe_1:4 Joe_2:25. Two things are to be remarked of them:



1. They were wont to go in infinite numbers: Pro_30:27: They go forth by bands: Nah_3:15, Make thyself many as the locusts: without number, Psa_105:34.



2. The mischief they do is expressed there, Psa_105:35, 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 caterpillars in times of drought, usually caused from the wind hanging long in the east. The psalmist, Psa_105:34, joineth the locusts and the caterpillars together. By the following description of these locusts, and the mischief which they did, Rev_9:4,7-10, 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 of 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, nipping religion, in all places, in the bud.



But I cannot see how two or three things can agree to them:



1. That they do no hurt to the Lord’s sealed ones, whenas their particular malice is against the purest and strictest profession.



2. That they do not kill, but only torment men, Rev_9:5.



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 though all these things agree to the Romish clergy in later ages, especially since the Jesuits grew numerous, which is not much above one hundred and twenty years since, yet these three did not so agree to the Romish clergy in the sixth and seventh age. Their Benedictine orders began but in the year 530, and their orders of Dominicans, much more mischievous, not till upwards of the year 1200; the Jesuits, after the year 1500. I therefore rather agree with the learned and judicious Mr. Mede, with whom I also find John Napier and others agreeing, that by these 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 grasshoppers 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.



And unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power; that is, such a power as scorpions have. We shall have a more particular account of this, Rev_9:10.