THE STAYING OF THE WINDS OF WAR.
By T.
THE first part of the seventh chapter of Revelation presents a prophecy that is very interesting just now. Four angels are represented as “standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.” Rev. 7:1. It is a proven fact of Scripture interpretation that “winds” in symbolic prophecy represent the strife of war. Then here is a commission to angels to stand on the “four corners of the earth,” thus representing that they have control of the whole world, and hold these winds of strife and war. But they are not to hold these influences for war in check indefinitely, for the next verses say: “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Rev. 7:2, 3. Thus is the time limited for holding the furies of war in check. God has a definite work of gathering out those that will accept Him, and the angels are commissioned to hold the evil powers in check till this work is done. With these facts of Scripture before us, let us look at things as they exist in the world today. It would seem impossible to hold the nations back from the most horrible wars that the world has ever known. For a number of years the great question with the statesmen has been how they could contrive to keep their countries from war. Wars have been brewing all over the world, and here and there would appear an outbreak, but it would soon be suppressed. If these men could only have realized that angels of God have been holding with them in this great work of keeping the world at peace, how much more sublime would their work have seemed to them! How inspiring would have been the task! But, while the world has been kept back thus far from the great crash of all the nations, yet it would seem that the time for the angels to hold these winds was about at an end, and that the awful war of the great day of God was about to be let loose. For when the time comes that the restraining hand of God will be withdrawn, there are other scriptures that show that there will be a world-wide war that will be beyond the powers of description. Is not this time right upon us? How do the events of the present day impress you? Is it not perfectly clear that the dove of peace is departing from the world? And where is the prospect that she will ever return? These are momentous times, and momentous events are unfolding right before our eyes. Will we see them in the light that God throws upon them, so that we may not be destroyed in the ruin that is even now upon the world? And we should not forget that peace is departing from the earth, in those only who do not accept the Prince of Peace. All who know the Lord, will have the profoundest joys of peace through all the strifes incident to the closing days of time. His peace, that passeth all understanding, we may truly have to-day as never before in all the world’s history; but for the wicked world, peace is departing, nevermore to return. And you know that, as you read these words, there comes the irresistible conviction that they are true. T.