Brown, North Carolina Folklore, song 539, collected in 1922, is related.

JOHN SAW DE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND

John saw de hundred and forty-four thousand (three times)
And I can't stay away.

I only have the music in vol. 5. There could be more to the song in vol. 3. Vol. 3 also has lyrics to "John Saw the Holy Number," but has no music for it.

A verse in Courlander, Negro Folk Music, U. S. A., seemms to join the song "John Saw" with Ezekiel and the wheel. It is in a long gospel piece about John the Baptist.

John done saw that number
Way in the middle of the air.
John done saw that number
Way in the middle of the air.
Ee-ay-hay-ay.

Another verse from the same song:

And John saw the number
Way in the middle of the air.
John done saw that number
Way in the middle of the air.
Cryin' how long, how long, how long my Lord, oh, how long.