GOD’S COMMAND TO HOLD BACK “THE FOUR WINDS”

“And after these things I saw four angels 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

     This one verse from the Holy Bible carries tremendous importance for us in our day. It signifies (by Biblical symbols drawn from the Old Testament) that the stability of this sinful world rests in the commanding hands of four angels who oversee the multiple legions of holy angels. There is a warfare hidden from human view. And should the eyes of men be opened they would see the fierce conflict raging between the angels under Christ’s command and those under Satan’s rule. Men are sheltered from this view for one simple reason: “faith.” Either GOD is righteous or sin is righteous; and all are called to choose—one or the other.

     The number four is significant in that “the four corners” point to the compass headings of north, south, east, and west. “Holding the four winds” corresponds to GOD’S command to hold back the calamities of nature, strife and bloodshed that Satan merely waits for divine permission to unleash through his arsenal of “natural disasters” and his immoral agents who rule among men. Little do men realize the restraint GOD has placed on the evils of this world. As “the prince of this world” Satan cries “foul!” But without GOD’S intervening hand, none would be saved. And in obedience to His own Sacred Law this gives Him the legal right “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him [Jesus Christ], seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb.7:25.

     This is the great blessing that GOD has provided the whole human race. It is His All-Sovereign Authority that continuously commands Satan: ‘This far and no further!’ Little do men realize Who preserves life, and for whom it is preserved. When the LORD told Abraham of the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleaded for the LORD’S mercy to be shown to his nephew Lot and his family who lived in the city. “And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Gen.18:26.

     The LORD watches over His chosen, and even those who at this time have no desire to learn of GOD or to walk in His path, “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt.5:45. In our generation this preservation is in answer to the prayer of Jesus for His saints: “Neither pray I for these alone [the Apostles], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Jn.17:20,15. Little do men realize the value of Christ’s prayer for us that the Father continues the world’s day-to-day living, and how legally it can only be for the few faithful ones within the church. If only men could see the glory of GOD’S love and come under The Shelter of His Wings.

     But this is where Satan puts his powers to the stretch, to assault any and everyone who comes to GOD through Christ: “Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” Job 1:9-12.

     Immediately, Satan led the Sabeans and the Chaldeans to attack and seize the possessions of Job, and then Slaughter all of his workers with the exception of one who would come to tell Job of the atrocities. Satan then sent fire down from the sky to burn alive Job’s flocks and the shepherds who cared for them. Lastly, Satan created a tornado to kill Job’s children in their home. All of these calamities occurred simultaneously! And within one day, Job lost everything except his wife and home. All this was done to one purpose: to tempt Job to “curse God and die.” Job 2:9. But the faith of Job stood unshakeable. And so, it will be with the faithful saints "at the end of the age."

     These events displaying Satan’s capabilities are to be repeated in our day. And the nations of the world stand ignorant to the threat! But when these things rise from obscurity the people will tremble for their survival. It is always the blind drive for self-preservation that has led people to take desperate measures and commit some of the most inhumane deeds whether of hunger or just plain greed. When hunger has reached a certain level, men have eaten leather and mothers their own children! As this sinful world comes to its climax strange developments will pave the way. And as to the greed, the LORD addressed this: “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” Isa.56:11

     But GOD’S protecting hand has always been and will ever be with “they that fear him.” “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Ps.34:7 Several times when Jesus was threatened with death, the Father withheld evil men from carrying out their determination: “Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.” Jn.7:30. And this divine protection is readily seen in our day, for the Father loves us as He loves His Own Son.

     The wickedness in the hearts of men today is ready, eager and able to do Satan’s bidding. As a result of this sinful lust for power seen throughout history, men will be judged on the sins they would have committed had they been given opportunity, as it is written: “Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.” Jer.3:5.

     One day soon the saints will be sealed, and GOD will allow Satan to spread desolation everywhere: to one objective: remove Christ from the Earth in the person of His saints. And the carnal world will blindly follow not realizing that in their attempt to force the saints into committing sin or face the death penalty (Rev.13:15) they will have in fact decreed that very fate of death upon themselves. The Bible addresses every aspect of GOD’S blessings and warnings. But most will not hear. “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” Jer.2:19. Many prayers of David desired that those who plotted his death would backfire on them. And each time it did. The watchcare of the LORD sees to this, for “this is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isa.54:17.

     But all of the Bible’s warnings, the tender entreaties of Jesus Who knocks on the door of every heart, the perfect logic of living a life of love for GOD and man, all of these will be despised and trampled under foot: “And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.” Est.3:13. These words do not apply to literal Israel of old, but Spiritual Israel today: "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh." "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Rom.2:28; 9:6-8; Gal.3:29.

     Solomon, in the book of Proverbs laid the foundation of the sinister nature of men: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse.” Prov.1:10-14.

     In closing: Although every Christ & Bible obedient saint will face great tribulation from the wickedness of unrepentant men (both in and out of the church), and “they cry unto the LORD” they are assured of being secure the stronghold of safety: “in the shadow of the Most High” as they pray: “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” Psalm 64.

     This psalm along with Psalm 91 will be fulfilled during “the seven plagues” (Rev.ch.16). It is this final event that causes “the bridegroom” to come. And He will rescue His bride from all that despises and assails the holiness of GOD. He comes to “gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven” and “destroy them which destroy the earth.” Mk.13:27; Rev.11:18.

“But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.” Ps.69:13.