There are two places in the scriptures where there is mention of 144,000. The first is in Revelation 7 where 144,000 were sealed so that they would not be harmed by the judgments God was bringing on the earth during the Roman persecution. The second is in Revelation 14 where the 144,000 are standing victoriously on Mt. Zion as an ally to Christ. As we have already noted in Question 9, Revelation was written in signs and symbols (Revelation 1:1). The symbolic nature of the book is especially seen in its numbers. Revelation 2:10 has the church at Smyrna suffering tribulation 10 days and then told to be faithful unto death. Ten days is obviously symbolic just as the seven heads and ten horns on the Dragon or the Gentiles tread down the holy city for “42 months.” In context, the number 144,000 is symbolic of the saved on earth. (You may remember that the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the 144,000 are the only ones going to heaven. Note the contrast in Revelation 7 between the 144,000 who are sealed on earth (v. 1-8), and the great multitude who are before the throne in heaven (v. 9-13).
To be consistent, consider the interpretation of the 144,000 if we understand this number to be literal:
- They are Jews only, no Gentiles are in the number (7:4).
- They literally have the Father’s name written on the foreheads (14:1).
- They are males because they are not defiled by women (14:4).
- They are virgins and therefore never been married (14:4).
Now, who on earth fits this criteria?