13, 14. “And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is in the presence of God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels.”] That is, the four corners of the earth which hold the four winds.
“Which are bound in the great river Euphrates.”] By the corners of the earth, or the four winds across the river Euphrates, are meant four nations, because to every nation is sent an angel; as said the law, “He determined them by the number of the angels of God,”44 Deut. xxxii. 8 until the number of the saints should be filled up. They do not overpass their bounds, because at the last they shall come with Antichrist.
EX CAPITE IX.
13, 14. Et audivi vocem unam ex quatuor cornibus altaris aurei quod est in conspectu Dei, dicentem sexto angelo qui habebat tubam: Solve quatuor angelos. Id 0332B est, quatuor angulos terrae tenentes quatuor ventos.
Qui ligati sunt ad fluvium magnum Euphratem. Per angulos terrae, sive quatuor ventos trans Euphratem fluvium, gentes sunt quatuor, quia omni genti deputatus est angelus, sicut lex dicit: Statuit eos per numerum angelorum Dei (Deut., XXXII, 8) , donec sanctorum expleatur numerus: suos non egrediuntur terminos, quia in novissimo cum antichristo venient.