Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Question: What is the prophet John referring to as the four winds of the earth? [The Great Controversy pp 439] Winds are a symbol of strife…. [Last day Events pp 239] Angels are now restraining the winds of strife that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom, but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth, and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.
Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.
Therefore, the 144,000 are depicted as coming into view, just before the time of trouble. John also says that he heard a specific number, not a figurative one and the characteristics of history also bear witness to the fact…. Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelation 7:Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!