1 At the ends of the earth, I observed twelve portals open to all quarters of the heaven, through which winds blow across the earth. 2 Three of these portals face east, three face west, three face south, and three face north. 3 The first set faces east, another set faces north, the next set faces south, and the last set faces west. 4 From four of these portals come winds that bring blessing and prosperity, while the other eight portals release harmful winds that, when sent forth, bring destruction to the earth, the waters, all who dwell upon them, and everything within these realms. 5 The first wind, known as the east wind, emerges from the first eastern portal, leaning towards the south and brings desolation, drought, heat, and destruction. 6 From the second, central portal comes what is needed, bringing rain, fertility, prosperity, and dew; while from the third portal, which is towards the north, come cold and drought.

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea: 3 “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Now I heard the number of those who were marked with the seal, 144,000, sealed from all the tribes of the people of Israel: 5 From the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000, from the tribe of Gad, 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000,from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000, from the tribe of Levi, 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar, 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000 were sealed.