What are the 4 winds mentioned in Revelation 7:1?

Jesus shared His revelation vision with the Apostle John so that John could share that message with the church. Revelation 2:7, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  Chapters 2 and 3 describe the seven churches (seven historical periods of the church through our Lord’s second advent) and their unique messages. Revelation 4 symbolically represents the throne scene in heaven.  Chapter 5 symbolizes Jesus as the Lamb of God holding a sealed scroll. Jesus is identified as the only one worthy to break the seals and unroll the scroll.  Since our Lord’s first advent, He has broken each seal in order (Revelation 6), slowly revealing the plan of salvation for mankind, and identifying the mystery of God (the Lamb’s wife). When the last seal is broken (the 7th), the Lord is present and the scroll is open to all who love and follow the Lamb.  

Chapter 7 describes the breaking of this final seal (albeit the announcement is found at the end of the chapter in Rev. 8:1).   The scene opens with the four angels, holding back the four winds (preventing a whirlwind), so that the remaining earthly saints can be sealed in their foreheads and the full number of the sealed ones established (144,000). These remaining saints are still on the earth at the return of the Lord.   

The four angels are not necessarily spirit beings, but may represent mighty spiritual forces having control over and restraining the four winds.  These mighty spiritual forces are controlled by the four attributes of God, namely Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power (the four living creatures of Revelation 4:8).  

The four corners of the earth would represent the foundations upon which earth’s civilization rests. These may be identified as the financial, religious, social and political parts of society.  The four winds refer to forces that cause trouble in each of these areas. The trouble could be punishments, wars, anarchy, famine, and pestilence (see Ezekiel 5:17 & 14:21.) We should not be surprised that the prince of the power of the air, the adversary, has an interest and control in these earthly institutions. Consequently, he and his angels may well be involved.

The winds are prevented from harming the final members of the church (the servants of our God, Revelation 7:3) until they have obtained a seal in their foreheads. The earth (organized society), the sea (the restless masses) or any tree (the household of faith) are also spared for that period of time.  

In the Old Testament, we are told Elijah was taken away in a whirlwind.  Was that a preview of the saints in Revelation 7:3 who are finally taken in the whirlwind when the four winds are loosed? 

What is going to happen at the end of the world?

The “…ends of the world…” (1 Corinthians 10:11) is the ending and transitional period of the world as we know it. It is called, “…the great day of Jehovah…” (Zephaniah 1:14 YLT).  The righteous Kingdom of God, under the authority of Christ, will be gradually established on earth as the unjust governments and systems of the present world pass away.  Isaiah 61:2 lists this period as, “…the day of vengeance of our God…".    Psalm 110:5 describes this as "…the day of His wrath."  Daniel 7:9, 13, & 14 (KJV) states, “…the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit…and behold, one like the Son of man came…And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people…should serve him:  his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away…shall not be destroyed.”

Various prophecies describe this ending period of the old evil world order. It overlaps with transitional events required to fulfill the promise in Acts 3:21 (NIV), “…for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”   

There is a prophecy detailing the fall of false Christian systems. These systems are Christian in name only (meaning not true at heart, not holy spirit-begotten, unfaithful).   Revelation 18:21 prophesies, “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”  As the literal Babylon fell to ruin, so symbolic Babylon (nominal Christianity) will fall.  It will be raised as though it were a giant stone. Then its sudden, violent fall will bring total destruction of its unjust practices. This will forever be a forceful example of why and how God will eliminate all hypocritical systems.    

The prophecy describing future mourning of those responsible for Jesus’ death is found in Zechariah 12:10. “…and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as…for his firstborn.”  When Jesus, our Lord and redeemer, awakens ALL mankind (John 5:28,29), people will be taught God’s plan and instructed in righteousness (Hebrews 10:16). They will know that Jesus is “…a ransom for all…” 1 Timothy 2:6.

The Bible describes the end of the world as a time when Christ removes all manmade, unrighteous systems.  Temporary, severe upheaval will lead to the fulfillment of God’s wonderful promise for mankind found in Revelation 21:4.  ”…God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes…death shall not be any more,  nor sorrow, nor crying,  nor…pain, because the first things did go away.” (YLT).