agents, the dragon, (ch. xii. 3, 9,) the beast, (ch. xiii. 1,) and the false prophet,—­the same as the two-horned beast, (v. 11,) and (ch. xix. 20.) These “unclean spirits” succeed in gathering the kings of the earth, by “working miracles,” “lying wonders.” (2 Thess. ii. 9; 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2.) They are the agents of antichristian Rome, spiritual wickedness in high places,” (Eph. vi. 12;)—­“like frogs,” living in moral filth; garrulous and impudent, stealthily gaining access into the bedchambers of the kings, “after the manner of Egypt.” (Exod. viii. 3.)—­Surely the policy of Rome is here portrayed, her cardinals, archbishops, Jesuits, etc., gaining entrance into the councils and cabinets of princes, inciting them to debauchery, tyranny and blood.  Hellish hosts are thus “gathered to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,”—­the day of the seventh vial, of the “vintage,” (ch. xiv. 18-20,) and of the seventh trumpet, (ch. xi. 15;) for all these agree in point of time.—­This will be an “hour of temptation,” as intimated in the 15th verse, which is a parenthesis, interrupting a little the narrative of the effects of the vial.  There is danger of apostacy, of “falling away to these Chaldeans,” of temporizing with the enemy in order to escape suffering.  Thus Christian soldiers of the cross, losing “the armour of righteousness,” would be exposed to “shame.”  But “blessed is he that watcheth,” that looks to the Captain of Salvation, to his cause, as elucidated by his providence,—­the signs of the times; for so shall he “keep his garments,” when others are “found naked.”—­“And he gathered them” or rather “they gathered,” (for the singular verb agrees with its nominative plural neuter as usual,)—­the “unclean spirits gathered the kings of the earth” to the destined place.  This hinders not but that these antichristian enemies of the church are brought together by the Almighty.  Just so he sent the king of Assyria against “a hypocritical nation.” (Is. x. 5-7.) And doubtless the prophet Joel prophesied of this great and decisive battle, (ch. iii. 11-14.) “Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.”  Compare vs. 1, 2.  The place is called “Armageddon,” the mountain of destruction, suggesting the issue of the battle in the final overthrow of Antichrist; for it is not necessary to suppose that any place is literally pointed out; but as this is a compound word in the “Hebrew tongue,” allusion may be made to the slaughter of Sisera’s army, (Judges v. 19;) or to the mournful death of Josiah, (2 Chron. xxxv. 22.)

17.  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18.  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19.  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.