He lieth in wait secretly as a lion
The first beast in ( Revelation
13:2 ) ; is said to have a mouth like a lion, and the second
beast in ( Psalms 10:11
) ; spake like a dragon; and both design one and the same,
antichrist, in his twofold capacity, civil and ecclesiastical;
this metaphor of the lion lying in wait secretly for his prey
denotes the insidious methods used by antichrist to destroy the
faithful witnesses of Christ; who lies like a lion
in his den,
in the temple of God, now become a den of thieves;
he lieth in wait to catch the poor:
to snatch and carry them away captive as his prey; see ( Revelation
13:10 ) ;
he doth catch the poor when he draweth him into his
net;
this metaphor is taken from fowlers, who spread nets, into which
they allure and draw the birds and catch them. The allurements,
snares, and nets, which antichrist lays to catch the poor saints
and people of God in, are the riches and honours of this world,
great pretensions to holiness, devotion; and religion, and many
lying signs and wonders.