Revelation 7

The winds

The four winds are another perspective on the four horsemen from the previous chapter. They are given power to harm and destroy the world. They are part of God's judgement on the world, and we might see their impact around us.

But see that the winds are being held back. The angels hold back the wind until those who stand up with God are stamped - marked and confirmed as people of God. Who are those people?

The people of God

There is a number mentioned, but it's likely all the people who trust God. There is not a limited number (like 144,000) and if you look at it's mention in other parts of Revelation, there are many ethnic groups represented here. The number 12 symbolises the people of God (the tribes, the apostles) 144 is 12x12 and times by a thousand to represent a lot of them. This in essence symbolises the complete people of God, from all ages. Look at verse 9 and see what John is being told about actually looks like. Not an army but a multitude of peaceful people celebrating the victory of their God. The people are washed clean, their sins dealt with by the blood of the lamb. Salvation belongs to us who count ourselves in that number and because of that we can stand in His presence, full of joy and worship.