ACC ~ Revelation 7 v1

THE JEWS FOUND NO RESPITE. OECUMENIUS: Here clearly what happened to the Jews during the war against the Romans is shown to the Evangelist, which things occurred to them because of the crucifixion and their blasphemy against the Lord. For the four angels who held the four corners of the land of the Jews were keeping guard lest any of the Jews who were deserving of death should escape. And so they either brought upon them a fear of flight or dissensions or an untimely devotion to the fatherland or to their wives and relatives, and it is these things that are figuratively signified by the four corners of Judea being guarded. And that the four winds are restrained so that they blow neither upon the land nor upon the sea nor against any tree indicates that no respite was found by them in the war nor any consolation from their woes, neither for those who fought on the land, nor for those who fought at sea—for, according to Josephus, there were many sea battles—nor for those whose concern is with farming. For these evils wholly overpowered everyone, since the cities were destroyed by fire and the land was devastated and wasted. And Josephus accurately relates all of these events in his account of the siege of Jerusalem. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 7.1-8.

THE ORDER OF CREATION WILL DISSOLVE. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Although these things are thought by some to have occurred long ago to the Jews at the hands of the Romans … how much more will these things occur at the coming of the antichrist, and not only partially in the land of the Jews but over the whole world at whose four corners the angels stand fulfilling a service assigned to them by God, but unknown to us. The holding back of the winds reveals clearly the dissolution of the good order of creation and the inevitability of evil. For by means of wind the plants of the earth are nourished and ships sail the sea. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 7.1.

THE FOUR ANCIENT KINGDOMS. BEDE: [The four angels] refer to the four principal kingdoms, namely, that of the Assyrians, of the Persians, of the Greeks and of the Romans. … Suffocating in some way all things by their might, these angels did not allow anyone to breathe freely of his own right. By “the earth” is indicated the various provinces, in “the sea” the various islands, and among “the trees” the various qualities and conditions of people. Another interpretation: These four angels are to be understood as those very four winds of which Daniel speaks in his prophecy: “Behold, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, and the four beasts came up from the sea.” EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 7.1.

Rev