(1) 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. (2) And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, (3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
This is a most sweet and interesting Chapter. Between the close of the events of the sixth seal, and before the seventh seal is opened, the Lord was graciously pleased, to manifest his watchful care over his Church and people, by sealing them. See that blessed scripture, Isaiah 27:3. A new state of things was now to arise. The heathen world, that is, the Roman Empire, and called the world, Romans 1:8; Colossians 1:6, was now under the sixth seal become Christian, that is, professing Christianity. A belief in Christ was now openly avowed. The Emperor himself, professed his faith in Christ. But amidst this national creed, deadly heresies were now arising to afflict the Church. Arius had now sprung up with his awful doctrine in denying the Godhead of Christ, though professing his belief in Christ. And under what a variety of different shades hath his heresy, from that hour to the present appeared, in what is called the Christian world? Christian only in name. Reader! pause and adore the Lord for his grace, in causing his Church to be sealed at such a period, as if to say, when errors of a more than ordinary nature are springing up, then the Lord will appear for his people, and have his servants know how secure they are, for he hath sealed them. And take one thought more with you on the subject. God the Spirit hath graciously caused this record of the Lord's care over his Church to be handed down through all ages of his Church, as if to say, let this comfort the Lord's people in perilous times, they are also sealed. For as the Lord watched over them then, so doth he now. And this one record, is in the place of a thousand arguments, to teach the Church these precious truths, Let men or devils rage, at one time more than another, nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; the Lord knoweth them that are his, 2 Timothy 2:19. And the sealed servants of the Lord know also whose they are, and to whom they belong. For after that ye believed, saith the Holy Ghost by the Apostle, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, Ephesians 6:24
By the four Angels which John saw, I am not inclined to think anything particularly is intended from their number. As there are four corners spoken of, and four winds, alluding to the several directions from whence the various winds blow, so it should seem probable, the four in number of Angels, only mean one for each department. But, by the other Angel so called, whom John saw ascending from the east, it is evident could mean none, but the Lord Jesus Christ; and though here called an Angel, or Messenger of the Covenant, as he is called, Malachi 3:1. yet the office he is both there and here said to perform, could belong to none but God. Him hath God the Father sealed, John 6:27. And his office as God-Man Mediator, is to seal his people. Indeed, everything is here said of him, implies it. His command to the four Angels prove it, being the head of all principality and power, and whom the Angels worship, Colossians 2:10; Hebrews 1:6. And his having the seal of the living God no less shows it, for who should have the seal or use it, but He who alone was found worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof, Revelation 5:5. He who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his Person, and who upholds all things by the word of his power, Hebrews 1:2-3. And what a volume of the richest blessings, are included in this view of Christ sealing his people? I hope the Reader will indulge me, with mentioning a few of the gracious contents.
First. The Person sealing, is the great and leading point to be regarded in this account. And this, as hath before been observed, could be no other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And there is a very blessed consideration, connected with this view of Christ sealing his people. It was not to inform him, for all the names of his people are in his book of life. Luke 10:20; Isaiah 4:3; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27. And his flock must again pass under his hand. Jeremiah 33:13. And all he hath received of his Father he hath undertaken for, John 6:37-38 and John 10:28. But the sealing of his people seems to have been with a special eye to their comfort. It is, as if the Lord had said, behold the love I have for you, I hereby acknowledge you for mine, Isaiah 43:1-7
Secondly. Who they are that are sealed; namely, the servants of our God. Such, as the Lord by electing grace, chose from all eternity; and by sovereign grace, are called in time. They were once, when in the A dam-nature, servants of sin; but by regenerating grace, are brought into the family of God in Christ. And because from all eternity they were sons, they received in the fulness of time the call of adoption by the Holy Ghost, whereby they cry, Abba Father, Galatians 4:6; Colossians 1:12-13
Thirdly. This sealing of God, not only confirms whose they are, but their high privileges also Given by the Father, betrothed and redeemed by the Son, and regenerated by the Holy Ghost, they carry about with them, both the outward sign of their seal, and the inward testimonies in the effect of grace in the heart. For as seals are worn in sight, and rings on the finger, are tokens to bring to remembrance the friend or giver, so, the sealed soul makes manifest, by every suitable and becoming testimony, his love and attachment to Jesus. I have set the Lord (said one of old) always before me. He, is on my right hand, I shall not be moved, Psalms 26:8. And the child of God desires, that Christ shall have the whole affections of the heart. The Lord Jesus, may be supposed to have all these things, and much more in view, when he called to his Church and said, Set me as a seal upon Mine heart, as a seal upon thine arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave, the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame, Song of Solomon 8:6
Fourthly. There is somewhat very, expressive, in what is said in the place of sealing, namely, in their foreheads, that is, it shall be open and not concealed. The world shall know whose they are. And although the marking here made, was intended as preparatory to very awful times coming on, yet, God would have his people known. Their seal shall be in their foreheads. Now, as the Arian heresy was then opening, and beginning to shed its baleful influence, and God would bring his redeemed out of great tribulation, (as verse the fourteenth showeth), it should seem to be very plain, that this sealing took place chiefly, if not altogether, to guard against this most awful heresy, which however little thought of by some, and considered as of small moment with others, will be found a much greater apostasy, than the religion of the beast, or the false prophet. The Godhead of Christ is the whole bottom and foundation of the faith. The man that denies this, may as well relinquish all that belongs beside to Christianity, for there is nothing left worth retaining. And tremendously awful will be the state of all such at the last day. I would say to everyone, under this awful delusion, as Tertullian did to Marcion, whom he called the Murderer of Truth; Spare said he, the only hope of the whole world! But blessed be God, the hand of man might sooner snatch the sun of the natural world from its orb, than take Jesus the Sun of Righteousness from the firmament of his scripture, by denying his Godhead, neither would the darkness of the former be half so great as the latter.
I need not dwell long on that part of those verses, by way of explaining, which speaks of not hurting the earth, or the sea, or the trees. These are well known to be figurative expressions. Winds imply wars. And the earth seas, and trees mean people. And the winds or wars, are said to be held until God hath secured his people. Thus, in the days of Noah, before the Ark was ready to, receive the Church, the fountains of the great deep were not broken up. These waters were restrained, as those winds are said to be held. But as soon as Noah and his family were housed in the Ark, the deluge followed, Genesis 7:1-16. In like manner by Lot. Yea, to show the Lord's watchful eye over his people, the Lord said to Lot, haste thee and escape thither, for I cannot do anything, till thou be come thither, Genesis 19:22-25. Reader! depend upon it, the same is now, as much carrying on, as then. God's care over his people, cannot for a moment cease. Sweetly the Holy Ghost saith by Peter, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you! 1 Peter 5:7. Yea, the Lord saith by Moses, he loveth the people, all his saints are in his hand, Deuteronomy 33:3. The Church is engraven on the palms of his hands, her walls are continually before him, Isaiah 49:16. And it must be so. For God the Father hath given the Church to Christ. Jesus hath taken the Church into union with himself. He hath loved her with an everlasting love. He hath given himself for her, he hath died for her, he hath washed her in his blood, and the Holy Ghost hath sealed her to the day of redemption. One of the Prophets felt the strength of these blessed truths so forcibly, that under the impression he cried out, the Lord is good, a strong hold (or strength itself) in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him, Nahum 1:7.