Many have asked us about this matter, and it is very important to note that, according to the scripture, we are not speaking of just one group of people here.
There are two different places in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ where 144,000 souls are mentioned.
Chapter 7:
“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.”
And, chapter 14:
“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.”
So, the first group mentioned in chapter 7 are twelve thousand men from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, which shall be sealed in their foreheads during the great tribulation, to be protected from the plagues and preach the gospel to the nations. We can see this clearly by a reading of the whole chapter.
And, the second group in chapter 14 are virgins – that is, men who have not defiled themselves with women throughout the ages, and have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of God’s sake.
As it is written in Isaiah 56:3-5
”…neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.“
These are the two different groups of 144,000 men spoken of in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Amen.