1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

symbolic. The thought is that the winds from thefour quarters— North, East, South and West—are being held back, and that when the restraintis withdrawn they will rush together, and theresult will be a whirlwind. Certain Scriptures tellof a whirlwind that will be raised up from thecoasts of the earth. See Jer. 23:19; 25:32, 33;30:23, 24. We do not understand that this will bea physical whirlwind, but this symbolicexpression is used to convey the thought of asevere strife of the powers of the air. These‘powers of the air,' or ‘winds,' are not powers ofnatural air, but are the powers referred to by St.Paul when he speaks of Satan as ‘the Prince ofthe power of the air.' (Eph. 2:2.) Those spiritswho have been under the control of Satan— thefallen angels— were to be restrained until theJudgment of the Great Day. (2 Peter 2:4.) Theletting loose of these winds, or air powers, wouldseem to show that God will let go His hand ofrestraint; that He will have to do with thepermission of the terrible trouble that will come.This outside influence will exercise a banefuleffect upon men, when finally granted theliberty. These fallen spirits have been underrestraint for these many centuries, but they haveexercised their influence to whatever extent theyhave had permission. If they had had unlimitedpower they would have wrecked the world longago; but they have been restrained. ApparentlyGod will soon cease to restrain the fallen angels,and they will then proceed to vent their furyupon humanity, so that the whole earth will befull of violence, the same as in the days of Noah.FM124The power manifested by the demons whenloosed, will, we believe, be with a view to theinjury of mankind. We do not know but thatmany of our readers will have a share in thatinjury. We have every reason to suppose that, ifthese fallen angels shall get loose, they will venttheir first anger upon the Lord's people."—Z.'14-166.That the wind should not blow.— "As soon asthe power that is now controlling them shall be