Revelation 13:14

“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, etc.] The Complutensian edition, and two of Stephens's copies, read “mine”, instead of “them”; creatures of God, and professors of Christ, carnal and unregenerate men; not the elect of God, and true believers in Christ, these cannot be deceived by the signs and wonders of false Christs and false prophets; antichrist's deceivableness of unrighteousness only operates in them that perish: by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; the secular power of the Papacy encouraging, confirming, and giving a sanction to those lying miracles, and obliging all to believe them, and come into the things, doctrines, or…”

“deceiveth them that dwell on the earth--the earthly-minded, but not the elect. Even a miracle is not enough to warrant belief in a professed revelation unless that revelation be in harmony with God's already revealed will. by the means of those miracles--rather as Greek, "on account of (because of; in consequence of) those miracles." which he had power to do--Greek, "which were given him to do." in the sight of the beast--"before him" (Rev 13:12). which--A, B, and C read, "who"; marking, perhaps, a personal Antichrist. had--So B and ANDREAS read. But A, C, and Vulgate read, "hath."”

“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles - Nothing could possibly be more descriptive of the papacy than this. It has been kept up by deception and delusion, and its pretended miracles have been, and are to this day, the means by which this is done. Anyone in the slightest degree acquainted with the pretended miracles practiced at Rome, will see the propriety of this description as applied to the papacy. The main fact here stated, that the papacy would endeavor to sustain itself by pretended miracles, is confirmed by an incidental remark of Mr. Gibbon, when speaking of the pontificate of Gregory the Great; he says: “The credulity or the prudence of Gregory…”

“13:14-15 he was allowed. . . . He was then permitted: God never relinquishes ultimate authority. These creatures of evil have been allowed to rebel against God, but they are not in control.”

“deceiveth: Rev 12:9, Rev 18:23, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:3, Rev 20:10; Kg2 22:20 \*marg. Job 12:16; Isa 44:20; Eze 14:9; Th2 2:9-12 dwell: Rev 13:3, Rev 13:8 they: Rev 13:3, Rev 13:4, Rev 13:11, Rev 13:12, Rev 13:15, Rev 14:9, Rev 14:11, Rev 15:2, Rev 16:2, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:4; Kg2 20:7; Eze 8:10; Eze 16:17; Dan 11:36; Th2 2:4 Revelation 13:15”