Summary
In this chapter John sees four angels poised at the earth's corners, holding the winds, to prevent any destructive gusts. An angel from the east, bearing the seal of the living God, commands them not to harm the earth until the servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. The sealed count is given as 144,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing complete covenant inclusion. After this, John witnesses a vast, uncountable multitude of all nations, tongues, and peoples in white robes holding palms, standing before the throne and the Lamb, proclaiming salvation. The angels worship and bless the divine, while an elder inquires about the white-robed figures; John explains they are those who emerged from tribulation, washed in the Lamb's blood, and now serve God day and night. The passage ends with promises of endless rest, nourishment, and the wiping away of tears for these redeemed.