Revelation 7, 8 & 9

During the time that John wrote this book people believed that the earth was flat. (and it was generally accepted belief until about the 1800's - mainly because anyone who spoke up about the shape of the earth was killed) At each of the four corners of earth there was an angel waiting to unleash the winds of destruction. Isaiah speaks of gathering the outcasts of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Ezekiel describes how the end will come upon the four corners of the earth.

Ancient people believed that the winds which came from the north, south, east and west were all favourable winds; but the winds which blew diagonally across the earth were harmful. That is why the angels stood at the corners of the earth ready to unleash the diagonal winds. It was also common belief that all the forces of nature were under the control of angels.

The Old Testament is full of interesting accounts of the winds. Especially, the Sirocco, the dreaded wind that blew from the southeast. The Old Testament prophet Nahum speaks of the Lord who has way in the whirlwind of Sirocco and the storm. So terrible was the effect of the Sirocco that it gained a place in the events of the last days. God would destroy His enemies as stubble before this wind.