When the angels began to pour out their vials, the harpers began their song, and they continued to sing during the whole period of the vials, filling up the pauses of the storm with their melody, which might be heard at times mingling with its thunders. They are described as they who had gotten the victory, or, more literally, are getting the victory, over the beast, which marks them out as the Protestant remnant, who, having escaped the pollutions of Popery, are now preserved by God from its plagues.