John Gill Commentary Revelation 14:9

"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand," — Revelation 14:9 (ASV)

And the third angel followed them The two preceding ones, and that very quickly; by whom is meant not Luther, and his associates in the Reformation, as some think; nor his successors, or the ministers of the Gospel in general from his time till Christ's second coming, as others have thought; but a set of Gospel ministers in the spiritual reign of Christ: the first set of them publish the everlasting Gospel, which leads on to the ruin of antichrist; the second set proclaim the downfall of Rome, and this third set denounce the wrath of God upon all that have professed the Popish religion: saying with a loud voice ; as the first angel did, with like authority and vehemence, in order to strike terror, and express indignation: if any man worship the beast and his image ; give in to the idolatries of the church of Rome, and embrace, maintain, and defend the Popish religion, which bears a resemblance to the worship of the Heathens, and is the very image of Rome Pagan; see (Revelation 13:4Revelation 13:12Revelation 13:15) and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand ; openly profess Popery, and swear allegiance to the man of sin, and do all they can to support his interest; see (Revelation 13:16Revelation 13:17) .