Revelation 7:1: ... 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.

The four angels of the restoration in Revelation 7:1¹ are also destroying angels.² That is, they have power to "save life and to destroy [with] power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness."³ This pairing of life and death⁴ reflects the power of the gospel to save the spiritual and temporal lives⁵ of those who are obedient;⁶ and to destroy the spiritual and temporal lives⁷ of those who are disobedient.⁸

As the end of the sixth seal approaches, the four angels of the restoration have power to hold back⁹ the worldwide destruction symbolized by the four winds of the earth.¹⁰ Even now, these destructive winds are ready to sweep across the earth and the sea¹¹ to destroy wicked people represented by any tree.¹² The four winds represent universal destructive judgments¹³ in the form of natural calamities¹⁴ and warfare.¹⁵ The four angels control the timing of the final destruction at the end of the sixth seal,¹⁶ which they delay until the 144,000 servants of our God are sealed in their foreheads.¹⁷

The 144,000 Servants can be sealed in great numbers by the end of the sixth seal only after the gospel is first restored and preached as a voice of warning¹⁸ and witness to all nations.¹⁹ Relatively few people will heed this warning and repent.²⁰ Therefore, a second voice of warning will come in the form of thunderings, lightnings, worldwide calamities, and a great earthquake at the end of the sixth seal.²¹ The current calamities, commotions, and wars are merely a prelude to the end of the sixth seal when the four destroying angels will unleash the four winds of the earth with great intensity.²²