June 19: PULLING BACK THE VEIL

After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Revelation 7:1

The four corners of the earth is a phrase that signifies the global scope of what is happening. Chapter six closed with a question, and the entirety of chapter seven is devoted to a solid answer to it. But to help us better understand that answer, a veil is pulled back to reveal unseen spiritual realities. It is a fact that the divine agency of the Lord—which includes His faithful angels—is constantly at work on our behalf. We are no match for the horrendous evils that work against us. A great faith-builder comes when we truly grasp just how closely we must abide with Him who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

What are these four winds, that they should be held back? Remember that four is symbolic of creation. There are several meanings associated with wind. In this context, the four winds refer to strife in our fallen world (Daniel 7:2, Matthew 7:24-27). This strife results from disobedience toward the Lord along with a failure to be anchored in His word. The Holy Spirit is also compared to wind (John 3:8; Acts 2:2), and we are firmly admonished not to allow ourselves to be tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). This is a clear indication of an encroachment of unseen forces that Paul calls spiritual hosts of wickedness (6:12). This is why we are instructed to test the spirits (1 John 4). The standard of testing is the word of God. The Holy Spirit is the author of God’s word (2 Peter 1:21) and He will never, in any way ever, contradict the written word. Do not allow yourself to be led away from the precepts of God given in His written word.

Wind can also refer to the darkness of sin. We are all like an unclean thing . . . and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away (Isaiah 64:6). If we look around in earnest, we can see that all the forces of evil are arrayed, like a great invading army, against the world…pressing in from every angle with a force intended to consume humanity. This is what we will find in these four winds. The angels of God are still under instruction to restrain them, that they should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. These symbolize creation (see Exodus 20:11), but that symbolism is further developed in Revelation 13. In our day, there is a growing consolidation of power and cooperation between the beast from the sea (13:1) and the beast from the earth (v.11). These two systems will exercise great power over the whole world. Nearly everyone on the planet is connected to one or both of these, and the mention of any tree is a very important reference to individuals. God is saving people individually. Each of us, regardless of the “system” we are born into, is valued as an individual by our Creator. Make particular note of the difference between the old and new covenants: it is the location of the covenant writing! Have you chosen to let Him write it in your mind and heart? (see Jeremiah 31:31,33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16)

BLESSED is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the LORD…he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3