AE 418 - holding the four winds

AE 418 

Holding the four winds of the earth,
(Revelation 7:1)

signifies the moderation of its influx.
This is evident from the signification
of "the four winds of the earth"
as being everything Divine in heaven;
also from the signification of "holding them,"
as being to moderate its influx.
. . . Without revelation,
who would not think that "winds" here
mean winds held back by angels,
since it also follows
"that the wind should not blow upon the earth,
nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree."
But "the winds of the earth,"
here as elsewhere in the Word
signify everything Divine that is from the Lord in heaven,
in particular, Divine truth,
and because Divine truth flows from the Lord as a sun
into the whole heaven,
and from that into the whole earth,
so "holding the winds" signifies to moderate influx.