metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
With all due respect, I have read the works of many a theologian, and I have read your many posts here at RF, and between the two it is they who by far seem more familiar with the scriptures-- not even close. One thing you are lacking is knowledge dealing with traditional Jewish literature and how it was written and interpreted back then. Let me post where the 144,000 is covered and why your interpretation is unlikely:If they do not know these bible facts--they are not theologians.( 2Corinthians 11:12-15)
Rev.14
[1]Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
[2] And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpers playing on their harps,
[3] and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.
[4] It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb,
[5] and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are spotless.
[6]Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;...
Notice the symbolism (some I underlined) used throughout the narrative, so isn't it much more logical to view the 144,000 as also being symbolic? And what reinforces this symbolism is the fact that 144,000 could not have been written as such, so the most likely breakdown would be twelve twelves thousands, which is symbolic for completion upon completion with great numbers.
Therefore, the interpretation that you have been taught is really quite illogical in the context of known traditional Jewish literature, and what I have seen many times coming from your leaders is an ignorance of that literature plus an ignorance of even basic archaeology and science. As long as you blindly follow them, you will never break away from their ignorance and/or disingenuousness on this and numerous other issues.
Anyhow, take care, and I hope you really do some serious studying on your own instead of blindly following the Watch Tower Society's teachings.