Revelation 7:2-3

Revelation 7:2. And I saw another angel, &c.— This chapter, says Bishop Newton, contains a description of the state of the church in the time of Constantine; of the peace and protection which it should enjoy under the civil powers; and of the great accession which should be made to it both of Jews and Gentiles. Four angels are ordered by another angel to restrain the four winds from blowing with violence on any part of the world; to shew that these were quiet days, wherein the former wars and persecutions should cease, and peace and tranquillity be restored for a season. Winds are emblems of commotions, and very properly, as they are the natural causes of storms. See Jeremiah 49:36. To hold the winds that they should not blow, is a very proper prophetic emblem of a state of peace and tranquillity. Eusebius and Lactantius, who were cotemporary writers, bear their testimony to this completion of the prophesy; and some medals of Constantine are still preserved, having on the reverse,—Beata tranquillitas, "Happy tranquillity." The other angel spoken of in Revelation 7:2 seems to have been Christ himself, who is spoken of as a mighty angel (ch. Revelation 10:1.), and the angel of God's presence (Isaiah 63:9.), and is called by way of eminence, his angel that bears his name, and the Angel, or Messenger of the covenant (Exodus 23:20.Malachi 3:1.), and who rose as the Sun of righteousness and the Day-spring from on high (Malachi 4:2.Luke 1:78.), and came from Judea, the eastern part of the Roman empire. He appeared with an eminent ensign of honour, as having the seal of the Living God upon himself, with power to seal his servants; and spoke with the authority of a God in commanding the other four angels to refrain from executions of judgments, till he had done this important work of sealing. Now, to whom can all this be so properly applied, as to Christ himself? He is the Head and Lord of all the angels, and is in his office-capacity sealed by God the Father (John 6:27.); and he only, together with the Father and the Spirit, knows his sheep (John 10:14. 2 Timothy 2:19.); and so he only, exclusive of all creatures, had a certain knowledge of them, and sufficient power and authority to seal them with his HolySpirit (Ephesians 1:13). And as in sealing his believing people, he acts in the character of Mediator, and makes use of gospel ministers in that work, he is fitly represented as an angel; and they may be supposed to have been included with himself in a subservient way of operation, when he said, Hurt not the earth, &c. till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.