In Revelation 7, the angel is saying to the four angels hold the four winds of strife till we have sealed the servants of our God in their forehead.

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 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. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Question: Is the number made up of only those who are living at the time when probation closes, or does it include any of those who have died since 1844?

The Sealing of the 144,000

The 144,000 have the Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

They also have the “seal of the living God” “in their foreheads”.

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. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Read the rest of this entry →

By Uriah Smith

Review and Herald August 10, 1897. p. 1, Para. 1, [

THE 144,000. — NUMEROUS QUERIES have been received of late concerning the 144,000 brought to view in Revelation 7. Who are they? At what age of the world are they developed? Is the number to be taken in a strictly literal sense? or is it a representative number, meaning a larger and indefinite company, of some particular class? p. 2, Para. 1, [

This number is first mentioned in Revelation 7, and the circumstances under which they are brought to view furnish a very clear indication, in a general way, to the correct application. They are a certain class who are sealed out of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; and they are sealed at a certain time, when “the four winds” are about to blow upon the earth, to the hurt, or desolation, of the earth and the sea (verses 2, 3); and the blowing of the winds is restrained till this number, which the angel calls “the servants of our God,” are sealed. p. 3, Para. 1,  Read the rest of this entry →

The third angel’s message has to do with the investigative judgement, the cleansing of the sanctuary, the Sabbath truth, the seal of God and the disregard of God’s Commandments. What is synonymous with the mark of the beast, the seal of God and the Sabbath truth? All were proclaimed in 1848.

What is the Seal of God?

Revelation7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 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. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Exodus 20:8 Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day

In the holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest gold. On each end of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it. Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt. Jesus stood by the ark, and as the saints’ prayers came up to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father. In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of stone which folded together like a book. Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one table were four, and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious–a halo of glory was all around it. {EW 32.3} 1848 Read the rest of this entry →

“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 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, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Rev. 7:1-4. Read the rest of this entry →

I. The Last Two Church Eras

PHILADELPHIA: When translated means brotherly love. Date of this era are 1833 to 1844.

The city was located about 27 miles from Sardis and 100 miles West of Smyrna, on the Southeast. Attalaus Philadelphus founded it in 189 B. C. Paganism was widespread within and so many altars were erected to Sun-worship. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1317 A. D. while under Roman rule which Tiberius rebuilt. It was again destroyed but this time by Tamerlain in the 1400 Century. The city remains today but has been renamed to Alasehir and it is reported 15-20 thousand now reside there.

The Biblical prophetic time only lasted ten years from 1833-1844. It is during this time that the church era received no condemnation or rebuke, like Smyrna. At the end of this time came a great test to those who called on the Lord and when the Savior did not return; yes, it became an hour of temptation to continue in faith or to leave it alone. Only about 50 out of many remained faithful and searched the scriptures for understanding of why the Savior did not return.

The 144,000 are the only ones who enter the temple, as you will read even the church era of Philadelphia also has this privilege, so they too are given opportunity to be among the 144,000. Read the rest of this entry →

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Rev 14:1-5) Read the rest of this entry →