TheologyThoughts

I originally wrote this in response to the standard dispensationalist interpretation, but it has application to the JW view as well:

Rev 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,
holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or
sea or against any tree. 7:2 Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of
the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the
four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 7:3 saying, "Do not
harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our
God upon their foreheads." 7:4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred
and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, 7:5
twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe
of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad, 7:6 twelve thousand of the tribe
of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naph'tali, twelve thousand of the
tribe of Manas'seh, 7:7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand
of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Is'sachar, 7:8 twelve
thousand of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph,
twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin. 7:9 After this I looked,
and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from
all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the
Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 7:10 and crying
out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne,
and to the Lamb!"

First, I think we can all agree that however we break up the details, this is a
tremendous picture of the future for those who love the Lord, and we can all
give a hearty amen to the victory that has been won by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do I hear an amen...?

Secondly, I think the very structure of Revelation argues against the
dispensationalists' interpretation of this passage. While it is possible that
two different groups are in view, note that Revelation tends to go in "nested"
patterns, with the outer layers of the "nest" interpretating the inner layers.
This means that the who the 144,000 are is interpretated by the next layer, the
great multitude. The first mention is in highly symbolic terms, rife with
redemptive historical significance: the second mention is in more general terms,
to reinforce the nature of this group and the praise that they offer to God and
the Lamb (note both God and the Lamb are equally praised, which reinforces the
absolute equality of the Father and the Son).

That the 144,000 is intended symbolically, and not literally, should be clear
from the fact that 12,000 are chosen from each tribe, tallying up to 144,000.
12 is a number representing the establishment of God's rule and his sovereignty
expressed through his people: note that there are 12 tribes, 12 apostles, 12
pillars in the New Jersualem, and so forth. Also, note that Dan is omitted from
the list, and Joseph substituted for Ephraim. In the same way the Matthew and
Luke edit their respective genealogies to make them fit their theological
purpose in writing, so John here "edits" the list of the 12 Tribes to make them
fit his purposes here, part of which is to demonstrate the perfected and
complete nature of the church. It may be that the 144,000 demonstrate the elect
from ethnic Israel, and the great multitude the Gentiles as all the families of
the earth that have received blessing through Jesus as the descendent of
Abraham, but in either interpretation they function as one elect people of God.