A Revelation Invitation

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. (Revelation 7:1 ESV)

Having lived in southern New England most of my life, I have experienced a small handful of hurricanes, none of which were particularly devastating by Gulf Coast standards, but hurricanes none-the-less. Life is disrupted. Everyday activities comes to a halt. Trees and branches crash to earth blocking roads and damaging property. Coastal areas are swamped. Rivers flood. Power is cut off. Travel is unwise even if necessary. Lives are sometimes lost. You can’t hide from a hurricane. You can only endure it.

John employs the windstorm as a symbol of God’s impending judgment on the earth. Like a hurricane judgment is coming on the Roman world, on John’s world. It may come in the form of natural disasters. It might strike as deadly pestilence. It sometimes emerges as the invasion of foreign armies. Like the winds of a storm there is no escaping it. Life is disrupted. Great damage is done. Lives are lost. People just hope to survive it. When God’s patience runs out, he acts. It’s not good news.

However, John’s attention in the verse above is focused on four angels holding back the four winds. John is reminded of God’s sovereignty over all that transpires on earth. Who can hold back the wind but God alone. He has sanctioned a pause before administering his punishment so that he can intervene on behalf of his people even as he afflicts the world. Subsequent verses reveal God assuring his people that they will not only survive it but that no harm will come to them. Regardless of the chaos we observe in our world, God’s sovereignty over all of its affairs should never be in doubt. His rescue of his creation takes forms that we may not appreciate at the time. His acts of judgment may be severe while our protection won’t necessarily prevent suffering. That’s why a vision of four mighty angels with the power to hold back the wind is such a powerful image. Our God is able. He cares for his own. We may suffer, but God will protect. He will rescue.

O God who controls the winds of the storm, protect me from harm. Preserve what I have entrusted to you by faith. Thank you for this assurance of your great power and constant care for one like me as weak and powerless as I am. Amen.