And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Ver. 8. Gog and Magog] That is, pope and Turk, saith Aretius; the pope a covert enemy to Christ; the Turk an overt or open enemy; as Gog and Magog signify,Ezekiel 38:1,23; Ezekiel 39:1,29. These are set forth by Ezekiel as the last enemies of God's people before Shiloh come; and presently after their utter overthrow, the state of the city and temple is notably described. So, after the pope and Turk in that last great battle at Armageddon routed and foiled, the New Jerusalem is in the following Chapter s excellently portrayed and depainted; that being a special type of this.