Revelation 7:1, commentary and pictures

Four angels stand at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds so that they do not harm the earth, the sea, or any tree. The winds are destructive powers that would bring havoc and death if released, including violent forces of nature, strife and war among angry nations, and satanic agencies seeking to break loose against truth. Only God holds them back through angels acting at His bidding under Christ's command, and this restraint is mercy giving a gracious respite while Jesus pleads His blood for the unsealed remnant. The holding continues now until the servants of God are sealed and the last warning has been given to every nation, and when intercession ends and the angels are commanded to loose, unprecedented trouble, war, and the seven last plagues will burst upon the earth. The brief pause is therefore to be improved by earnest prayer for the winds to be held, by giving the final warning in all fields, and by self-examination and transformation into Christ's character, which alone gives shelter in the coming crisis.

Meaning of Symbols

The vision places four angels at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind blows harmfully upon the earth, the sea, or any tree. They are commissioned for this earthly work and must keep holding until they receive the summons to release, which is until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. That holding is already at work and continues now, restraining destructive trouble and giving space for the final warning and for the sealing to be completed.

The four winds are the destructive forces of the earth, and if allowed to blow they would bring havoc, desolation, injury and death. Their restraint explains why so many are preserved from calamity, for the tempestuous winds are kept from going forth on their death-mission of vengeance until the sealing is done. After that work the agents of vengeance are to bring calamities upon the earth.

Those winds include forces of nature, such as threatening hurricanes, tempests, tornadoes, earthquakes, thunder and lightning, fire and flood, with disasters by sea and land following in quick succession. Local disturbances in nature are permitted as signs and symbols of the worldwide havoc and desolation to be expected when the angels loose the winds. They are not capricious outbreaks of unregulated mechanical forces, but all nature remains under physical law as the expression of a higher sovereign will.

The winds also represent strife, war, bloodshed, dissension and fierce human passions breaking out among angry nations eager for conflict. They are the winds of strife held from bringing destruction until the world has been warned of its coming doom, and when released they will burst as a storm of conflict with unprecedented violence and severity beyond description. At the same time they represent satanic agencies seeking to break loose in decided violence against righteousness and truth, held in check so that without this restraint there would be no hope. Those powers of destruction and death are pictured as an angry horse seeking to break loose and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path, and as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

The four angels are sentinels given charge over earthly things and given power to hold the powers of earth, standing ready to act and yet restraining harm. They are mighty angels belting the world with sleepless vigilance, keeping the armies of Satan at bay and refusing his claim to supremacy. They were on their way to do their work and were about to let go, with hands loosening and winds about to blow, when they were commanded by another angel crying with a loud voice to hold until the sealing is complete. That holding cry passes from angel to angels equal in power, for the nations have no power to hold themselves.

God's Control and Mercy

All nature stands under God's sovereign rule as Maker and Sustainer, expressed through physical law, so earthquakes, tempests, tornadoes with thunder and lightning are not capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated mechanical forces but are permitted for a purpose to call men and women to their senses and to display what His Word already reveals of His power to gather the wind, make the clouds His chariot, walk on the wings of the wind, bring wind from His treasuries, sit as King upon the flood, set the sea its decree, and make earth tremble and hills smoke. The four angels holding the four winds are symbols of troubles to come upon earth, sea and trees, mercifully held back until God's servants are sealed in their foreheads. Present local disturbances in nature are permitted as symbols of the worldwide havoc and desolation to be expected when the angels loose the winds.

Only God's power holds the winds, for the machinery of the world runs under the Lord's supervision as Protector of those who fear Him and keep His commandments, and threatening hurricanes are kept under control and tempestuous winds are not let go on their death-mission of vengeance until His servants are sealed. The four angels are commissioned sentinels to do a work upon earth by holding the winds in check so they do not hurt earth, sea nor trees, acting under God's authority and at His bidding, and they must keep holding until they receive His summons to release. The restraining order comes from Jesus Christ, who purchased the world by giving Himself for its ransom, the Restorer and Redeemer with superiority over the hosts of angels, and the representation is given for consideration and comfort and encouragement. This restraint gives time to press to the front with decided testimony, with workers exerting themselves to the utmost to proclaim truth with clearness and energy and not letting the work rest on a few, while remembering that God's power alone converts the heart.

The same restraining power that held winds and tempests and piled up the sea to make a path to deliver Israel from Egypt, then released it to destroy Pharaoh and his host, still shields lives from storm, lightning and peril at sea because angels hold back winds and waves from destroying. The order of nature is under God's rule over nations and He works through orderly laws, with the elements put under the power of angels acting at His bidding. The winds and fountains of waters are in His hands under His control, and He can withhold high winds and rain in answer to earnest prayer to protect tents and give favor to a campground meeting, using this control to advance His sacred cause to His own name's glory in wicked cities where truth has found no entrance and labor is hard, so that precious souls there can hear His message and decide whether to obey truth or choose darkness of error and satanic falsehoods.

The holding back is mercy mixed with judgment and present forbearance, explaining why so many are preserved from calamity, for if the winds were allowed to blow they would bring havoc and desolation. It is an act of mercy amid pending judgments, giving time for those who love God and keep His commandments and have the faith of Jesus to receive the seal of the living God, and while the restraining hand has not yet been withdrawn mercy is still open and time remains to work. While the restraint continues God still moves upon hearts of kings, rulers and great men in behalf of His people, drawing them toward light and truth.

The restraint is unseen by men, for the four mighty angels belt the world with hands linked about it and with sleepless vigilance keep the armies of Satan at bay, refusing him his claim to supremacy because of his many adherents and holding back his raging power as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour so that God's plans are not thwarted. The nations are eager for conflict and the world is unsettled with nations angry and mustering forces and making preparations for war, yet they are held back from action by an unseen power and kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon. The restraining Spirit is already being withdrawn, and hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, and disasters by sea and land following each other in quick succession thicken around as signs of the near approach of the Son of God, though science seeks to explain them and men attribute them to other causes, and when God bids His angels loose the winds there will be a scene of strife that no pen can picture and a time of trouble and anguish with deadly instruments of warfare invented and vessels with living cargo entombed in the great deep, while the Lord remains a refuge bidding all who trust Him to hide in Him for a little moment until the indignation is overpast before He comes out of His place to punish the world for iniquity.

Jesus, clothed in priestly garments, gazes in pity on the remnant not yet sealed, raises His hands and pleads His blood shed for them to the Father on the great white throne, with bright light shed about Him, asking that the angels hold until God's servants receive the seal of the living God in their foreheads. God gives the angels charge over earthly things and power to restrain the destructive powers, and they were on their way to do their work and about to let the winds go, with hands loosening and winds about to blow. Jesus then commissions another angel who flies swiftly to the four angels, waving something up and down in his hand and crying with a loud voice to hold, hold the four winds that they blow not upon earth until the servants of God are sealed. The holding back is a prolonging of time so all people dwelling on the face of the whole earth may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice and be converted.

Present Holding and Limit

The holding is happening now and continues, with the winds restrained so they do not strike earth or sea or tree until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. Even while nations are angry and mustering forces, and while kingdom rises against kingdom and there are wars and rumors of wars and agitation throughout the world, there is as yet no determined general engagement because the four winds are still held back. The chapter belongs to the immediate future when wonderful things are about to transpire, full of intense interest for every soul living on the earth. The little remaining period of holding is the remaining moment of probation, to be improved by earnest self-examination, studying and living the Word, oneness with Christ as He is one with the Father, and transformation into the character of Christ which alone gives safety.

The holding is brief, temporary and short, almost finished and just ready to end, with only a little moment of probation remaining. It is the short sealing time before the time of trouble, when the winds are still restrained and about to be let go, and when Jesus’ work in the most holy place is nearly over. This present forbearance will not continue long, though how long is uncertain, and few recognize the time of visitation or understand the signs of the times and what must be experienced before the end. It is therefore the time to hide quickly under the covering, to keep God’s law and the testimony of Jesus in mind and heart, to turn from worldly cares, to make calling and election sure, and to walk wakefully and carefully amid enchantment on every side lest slumber give prey to Satan.

The four angels are commissioned to do a work upon the earth by holding the winds in check so they do not hurt earth or sea or trees, and they must keep holding until they receive His summons to release them. That summons is specifically tied to the sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads, who are the chosen few keeping all the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus. The sealing takes place before the plagues are poured out and before the slaying begins, marking mortal saints for protection through the terrors of God’s wrath. While the restraint holds, the time has not yet fully come for religious liberties to be restricted, giving a period of grace for missionaries to reach the world and warn against disobeying God’s law. The representation is given for consideration and comfort and encouragement, marking a time of opportunity to work while intercession continues in the heavenly sanctuary.

The holding lasts until the world has been warned of its coming doom and the appointed work of warning has been given to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. It gives the church opportunity to spread the message, enter new fields including distant lands, support missionary work, and gather souls to Christ while the time to labor is not yet past. The restraint is temporary while the storm gathers, and when God commands release a storm of conflict will burst with unprecedented violence, taking many by surprise as a thief in the night. It continues until people have decided for the truth, with the honest-hearted convicted and converted, and until probation closes with every case decided.

The holding lasts while Jesus finishes His work in the heavenly sanctuary; when He completes that work, leaves His priestly role, lays off priestly attire and stands up as Michael, the restraint ends. The winds are ready to blow but are checked because the saints are not all sealed, though the time of trouble has commenced and is increasing. Upon release the seven last plagues follow and God’s wrath is no longer delayed, with the nations’ anger, God’s wrath and the judgment of the dead occurring in distinct order. Then trouble will be all over the earth, neighbor against neighbor and brother against brother and sister against sister, increasing until the earth is rid of the wicked, while the seal as the last-rising truth of the exalted trodden-down commandment carries the receiver through. During the plagues the wicked blame the saints and a decree to kill them brings Jacob’s trouble, but God delivers the saints and the 144,000 triumph, and when the winds let go Christ will set up His kingdom.

The sealing time is delayed and prolonged because God’s people hinder the work as ancient Israel did, being disobedient, unthankful, unholy, indolent, unfaithful, unclean and polluted, and not prepared for the crisis. Another angel flying through heaven cries, Hold, hold the four winds that they blow not upon the earth until the servants of God are sealed, prolonging time so all upon the face of the whole earth may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice and be converted. The angels are as it were just loosening their hold but cannot yet let go, while God waits for tardy movements. Had His people believed, been doers of the word, kept His commandments and walked in His counsel, the work would have advanced and truth borne to all sooner. Preparation now requires lying before God in humility without self-exaltation, having eyes opened to Christ’s glory, rendering all glory to Him alone until His glory fills the soul, being one with Christ and one with each other in love, and standing shoulder to shoulder with Christ as Captain against a confederacy of evil unseen by the natural eye.

Disasters already occurring, with hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood and disasters by sea and land following in quick succession, show the restraining Spirit of God being withdrawn and restraint loosening. Local disturbances in nature are signs of the worldwide destruction to be expected when the angels release the winds, and God’s restraint is also what still protects lives as when He holds back the sea’s waves. A sentinel angel still restrains the winds so they do not blow until God’s servants are sealed, and men cannot discern this work, yet when God bids loose them there will be strife beyond description. These signs thicken around to tell of the near approach of the Son of God, though science seeks to explain them and men attribute them to other causes. The Lord has long held His own powers in restraint so sinners might have opportunity to be converted and become zealous workers, and the restraint will end when the limit of His forbearance is reached and Christ’s coming is near.

Release and Coming Crisis

The loosing comes only at God's command to the angels who now restrain the four winds until His servants are sealed in their foreheads. While the restraint holds, disaster and conflict are held back and probation is still closing with cases nearing final decision, though disasters already occurring show the Spirit of God being withdrawn. When the command is given to release the winds, a storm of conflict and a terrible scene of strife will burst upon the earth with unprecedented violence and severity beyond description and beyond human words.

Kingdom is already rising against kingdom and the nations are eager for conflict, yet there is no determined general engagement because the winds are still held. Four mighty angels belt the world with sleepless vigilance, holding Satan's raging power at bay and keeping his armies as a roaring lion from devouring, refusing him supremacy despite his many adherents. The holding lasts only until the sealing is finished, and when the restraining power is removed there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle, kept under control till the time for the great battle of Armageddon, with deadly instruments of warfare invented, vessels with their living cargo entombed in the great deep, and all without the spirit of truth uniting under satanic leadership. The little remaining period of holding is the remaining probation, to be improved by earnest self-examination, oneness with Christ, living the Word until Christ's character becomes the individual character, which alone gives safety so nothing can separate a living Christian from God.

The winds are held until Jesus finishes His work in the heavenly sanctuary and every case is decided for salvation or destruction, delaying God's wrath while He intercedes. When He completes that work, leaves His priestly role and the most holy place, and puts on the garments of vengeance, the restraint ends and the winds are released and the seven last plagues come. The sealing takes place before the plagues are poured out and before the slaying begins, marking mortal saints for protection during the terrors of God's wrath. The anger of nations, God's wrath, and the judgment of the dead occur in distinct order, and the time of trouble comes after the sanctuary work is finished. During the plagues the wicked blame the saints and a decree is issued to kill them, bringing Jacob's trouble, but God delivers the saints and the 144,000 triumph, with the wicked turning against the righteous before the saints are delivered.

The present holding is a brief restraint of calamity amid the perils of the last days and an opportunity to seek the Lord most earnestly before trying times when everything that can be shaken will be shaken so only what cannot be shaken remains. When the winds are let loose there will be no peace any longer upon the earth, but dissension, strife, war and bloodshed in every part of the globe with Satan stirred with intensity from beneath. Sword, famine and pestilence will come speedily, and drought, famine, pestilence, earthquakes and casualties by sea and land will multiply while the winds are held and after restraint ends. Life will be unsafe anywhere except for the life hid with Christ in God, with truth as the only shield and buckler and front guard and rearward. God's power therefore defends His people until their warning has been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, while they must pray for covering, put away idols, press together in love as Christ loved them, deny self until self is dead, and learn to agree together here so they can reign together in heaven.

The seal is the sign placed by God's angelic messenger upon overcomers registered in heaven, marking the loyal who sigh and cry for abominations among professed people rather than those engrossed in selfish amusement, to stand with the 144,000. God has begun to draw that covering over His people for the day of the Lord and will very soon draw it over all who will have shelter, but those not planted firmly and stiffly on present truth, whose knees tremble and feet slide, cannot have it drawn over them. If held in that state until the sealing ends and the covering is completed over the sealed, they will be left without protection in the time of slaughter. After the sealing the ministers of destruction are commanded to smite without sparing or pity, slaying utterly old and young beginning at the sanctuary, but not coming near any upon whom is the mark, and this is speedily to be fulfilled for the end of all things is at hand. The short delay is the time to receive the seal with everything finished on this side of Michael's standing up, implanted in a clear mind bearing the image of Jesus with no room left when the mind is engrossed with other things, so those established now are fully established not to falter. Those sealed remain sealed even if they die, coming up at the voice of God to stand upon the earth with the 144,000, their death being rest during the time of trouble when the winds are loosed.

Message to All Peoples

The seventh chapter belongs to the immediate future when wonderful things are about to transpire. What it brings to view is full of intense interest for every soul who will live on the earth, and therefore it is to be carefully read and studied. Its message is to be given to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people upon the earth. The opening scene shows four angels holding back the four winds so they do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, and calls for preparation to be among the number who will be sealed.

The main business of life set here is eternal life in the kingdom of glory, warring the good warfare for eternal life and for the crown of glory that fadeth not away with a heart open to understand. It will not profit to bury talents in worldly business or commercialism and to become so engrossed in the things of this world as to have neither time nor thought for preparing for Christ's coming. The important work now is to make sure robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Together with the sixth chapter it reveals the terrible judgments of God. Seven angels stood before God to receive their commission, and to them were given seven trumpets. The Lord is going forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain.

When the plagues come upon the earth, hail about the weight of a talent will fall upon the wicked who would not obey God but insulted Him and despised all His mercies. Questions about who will be sealed, how many will be sealed, and other prying questions about the sealing are side issues on which salvation does not depend and are not to be encouraged as subjects for curiosity, speculation, and the originating of new and strange ideas from human imagination. Only what is plainly revealed about the sealing is to be read and spoken, and foolish questions beyond that are to be answered by waiting until what is essential to know will be known, with the promise that those who walk humbly with God will receive instruction. The opening of the sealing of God's people holds back heaven's judgments on the wicked.

Urgent Work and Readiness

The holding back of the winds means religious liberty is not yet fully taken away and time to work remains before the appointed hour for trouble, so no conflict with worldly authorities is to be forced prematurely and no open door is to be closed by unwise action. While the restraining hand is still upon the earth, God still moves upon the hearts of kings, rulers, and great men in behalf of His people, drawing them toward light and truth, and therefore leaders are to bide their time hidden in Christ, to move as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves, to plead kindly and courteously without bitterness before legislative councils for the right to worship according to conscience, and to seek wisely and receive favors, gifts, and opened avenues through unbelievers for the advancement of the work rather than binding up means God would set free. The claims of the holy law are thus to be brought in providence before men in highest authority while mercy is still open.

Prayer is to ascend constantly for divine aid that the angels may still be commissioned to hold the winds until the last warning has been given to every part of the world, for tremendous issues are immediately upon believers and their warfare is aggressive. Work must go in harmony with that prayer by letting nothing in any institution lessen the force of present truth for this time, by presenting the life-and-death message in all its telling force as the power of God to convict and convert, and by letting the third angel's message do its work of separating from the churches a people who take their stand upon the platform of eternal truth in united Christian faith.

The pause is a God-given respite and period of grace amid agitation and ominous signs, held until the servants of God are sealed and the world has been warned, giving missionaries opportunity to reach the world and warn against disobeying God's law before night comes when no man can work. The threatened restriction on buying and selling because of the mark of the beast is only a warning of what will follow release, for when the angels are told to let go a time of trouble without equal will come, and therefore the present is the last opportunity to labor without delay with every physical, mental, and moral power. That work must still reach all nations, tongues, and peoples, entering new fields and finishing in all fields, including the Southern field and Europe and Australia, proclaiming the final warning to those who are perishing and gathering honest-hearted souls to Christ by their support of missionary effort.

The little remaining period of holding is the remaining time of probation, though kingdom is already rising against kingdom without yet a determined engagement, and it is to be improved carefully by earnest self-examination, by cherishing faith before God, by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God through studying, digesting, and living the Word, by oneness with Christ as He is one with the Father and co-partnership with Him, until by renewing of heart the character of Christ becomes the individual character, which alone gives safety so that nothing can separate a living Christian from God. Mercy's voice is still pleading and heaven's opened door is ready to receive every repentant soul, yet iniquity is reaching unto heaven while souls perish, the name of God is dishonored, vice deepens, and infidelity increases, laying awful responsibility to give first self and then all that can be given to advance the work. The delay is prolonged because the church is far behind her privileges and the people are too indolent, unfaithful, unclean, polluted, and unprepared for the crisis, with the angels as it were just loosening their hold but not yet able to loose, so preparation requires lying before God in humility without exalting self, having closed eyes opened to the glory of Christ, rendering all glory to Him alone as full of grace and truth until His glory fills the soul, standing shoulder to shoulder with Christ as Captain in love against a confederacy of evil unseen by the natural eye, consecrating all powers without reserve or double-mindedness, pressing petitions to the throne, grasping the promises by living faith, holding strongly from above rather than laboring in self-confidence, and working intelligently in accordance with the laws of life and health rather than exhausting power.

God has now begun to draw a covering over His people for shelter in the day of the Lord and will very soon draw it over all who will have it, but everything must be finished on this side of the standing up of Michael and the seal must be implanted in a clear mind bearing the image of Jesus, with no room left when the mind is engrossed with other things. Readiness must be done now and quickly, for the holding is almost finished with only a little time left and the angels will not wait for Israel to get ready, so each one with his children must hide beneath the covering and not stand outside it by putting away self and idols, uncovering the least sin instead of covering it, washing in the fountain open for Judah and Jerusalem, seeking pity and forgiveness with prayers going up, confessing sins, letting self die, pressing together in love as Christ loved, laying down life for the brethren, and learning to agree here in order to reign together in heaven, lest others go in before them. Those not planted stiffly and firmly on present truth, whose knees tremble and feet slide and who sleep in that state until the sealing ends and the covering is completed over the sealed, cannot have the covering of the Almighty drawn over them and will be left without protection in the time of slaughter, while those established now become fully established not to falter, with no danger to them and an eternal weight of glory ahead.

During this brief delay before the Lord does a quick work upon the earth, Satan works with every art more than ever to distract, draw away, deceive, and hold the trembling where they are until the sealing is over, and enchantment surrounds on every side east and west and north and south, so that if he can get a person to slumber now he is sure of his prey. The restraint still continues while time is short, yet each person is tested and an unovercome defect of character can lead to destruction amid peace-and-safety cries, and there is no release from spiritual warfare while souls hang in the balance between the kingdom of God and slavery to Satan's despotism. Therefore God's people must be wakeful and careful how they walk, rely on His Spirit and strength in the appointed work, use all capabilities without delay, disunion, dullness, or slumber, and bear the message that brings moral renovation and preparation of character lest men perish through theoretical errors calculated to counterwork the gospel.