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Rev 7:1 After his I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.

Now I read this and my mind recalls another passage in the Old Testament wherein is mention of the four winds of heaven.
Zec 6:1 And again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
Zec 6:2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
Zec 6:3 and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled strong horses.
Zec 6:4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
Zec 6:5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
This is what they did; Zech 6:7… Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. This is a vision the God is speaking to Zechariah the prophet through. Scripture seems to indicate that it is these “winds” that are now “restrained” The Hebrew word used for winds is Ruach or wind or spirit. They might not be blowing winds and that kind of meteorological thing doesn’t seem to be what is spoken of here. In the Revelation the word sounds more meteorological. Strongs Greek #417 anemos From the base of (#109 aēr From aēmi (to breathe unconsciously, that is, respire; by analogy to blow); “air” (as naturally circumambient): – air. ); wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth): – wind. So these winds are not Zechariah’s winds are they? Suffice to say, it will be quite stifling while what happens next is going on.

The next thing we see is interesting and there are many opinions on it. The seal mentioned in 7:2 is just that, a seal. Strongs Greek #4973 sphragis Probably strengthened from (5420 phrassō Apparently a strengthened form of the base of (5424 phrēn Probably from an obsolete phraō (to rein in or curb; compare( 5420 phrasso (see above)); the midrif (as a partition of the body), that is, (figuratively and by implication of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extension [also in the plural] the mind or cognitive faculties): – understanding.); to fence or inclose, that is, (specifically) to block up (figuratively to silence): – stop.); a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively: – seal.

Usually we think of a seal as a mark or a sign of authority but this seems to be a mark of protection and maybe even a means of preservation until the time for use has come. From the “sunrising” or anatole helios in the Greek. Some translations just say East, but it is the particular direction of from the “sunrising” which might typify where in the East the angel ascends. This just might thought also be a moot point. So from the East comes and angel bearing on his person the “sphragis” or seal of the Living God. Now that’s really impressive. We know we are sealed unto the day of our full redemption (bodily) by the Holy Spirit. But I gather this is a different seal.

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