14. devils--Greek, "demons."
working miracles--Greek, "signs."
go forth unto--or "for," that is, to tempt them to the battle
with Christ.
the kings of the earth and, &c.--A, B, Syriac, and
ANDREAS omit "of the earth and," which clause is
not in any manuscript. Translate, "kings of the whole habitable world,"
who are "of this world," in contrast to "the kings of (from) the East"
(the sun-rising),
Re 16:12,
namely, the saints to whom Christ has appointed a kingdom, and
who are "children of light." God, in permitting Satan's
miracles, as in the case of the Egyptian magicians who were His
instruments in hardening Pharaoh's heart, gives the reprobate up to
judicial delusion preparatory to their destruction. As Aaron's rod was
changed into a serpent, so were those of the Egyptian magicians. Aaron
turned the water into blood; so did the magicians. Aaron brought up
frogs; so did the magicians. With the frogs their power ceased.
So this, or whatever is antitypical to it, will be the last effort of
the dragon, beast, and false prophet.
battle--Greek, "war"; the final conflict for the kingship
of the world described in
Re 19:17-21.
JFB.
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