The 144,000 to be redeemed from the Earth are NOT symbolic; they are literal. Christ said these times would be “as the days of Noah” (Matt. 24:37-39), when out of the entire world only Noah and his immediate family (8 souls total) were saved. That was a very small percentage of the total population that believed Noah then, and 144,000 out of 7-8 billion is likewise a very small percentage of the total population now that actually believe Christ.
The verses themselves really don’t leave room for interpretation, as they are very descriptive. Further, with the restoration of the missing section of Revelation that was wrongfully removed from it by the church (its final 8 chapters), there really shouldn’t be any doubt (if there was any even from the first two references).
Revelation 7:4-9
7:4 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.
7:5 Of the tribe of Judah [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:6 Of the tribe of Asher [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:8 Of the tribe of Zebulun [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph/Ephraim [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could count (which is why he was told in verse 4), of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Revelation 14:1-4
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.
14:2 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:
14:3 And they sung as it were a New Song (Isaiah 42:10) before the Throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that “Song” except the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the Earth.
14:4 These are they which were not corrupted by women; for they are pure. These are they which follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb (obeying God NOT women).
Revelation 23:12 And the priests of the Earth will come forth and call The Book evil and make pain of the 144,000 who are of the Light. But The Priest (Heb. 6:20-7:4) will read of The Book and the Word will turn the stomach sour, but in the mouth it will be as sweet as honey (Rev. 10:6-10).
Revelation 26:9 “They are of the 144,000 children, the first born and are of every tongue and of every nation (1 Cor. 15:20-30). For the risen Christ is in their heart, that the Word (Matt. 8:10-12) may be fulfilled”.
What this should do is inspire those who genuinely want to heal and eventually leave this awful place to recognize that we NEED to be on our best behaviour; NOT according to our own, faulty standards and judgments, but the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments found in Father’s Law (in the first five books of the Bible).
We will all be judged according to our works (Matt. 16:27), whether they are good or whether they are evil (in God’s Eyes, NOT our own - Deut. 12:8).
Keeping the Commandments is the key to defeating the “new world order” (Rev. 12:10-12), which isn’t new, nor orderly. It’s been around for at least 2600 years, and most are still being duped by it through its variety of corporate fictional organized religions, franchised throughout the world to deceive their paying customers.