How about 2 Esdras chapter 2? It’s an informative read where Ezra describes a sealing of a people who are numbered. He says that they are sealed in the feast. I think we should consider what that means and whether it teaches us something about whether the 144,000 will be honoring God’s Holy Convocations as they are sealed, or whether they would be indifferent or willfully ignorant about them. He sees mount Zion and the seven mountains surrounding it covered in lillies and roses and children taking joy upon picking the flowers – that should sound familiar to anyone who has read Sister White’s first vision in Early Writings. He sees a scene with an innumerable host that are crowned by a “young man” who is taller than the rest. He asks the angel guiding him who is that young man and the angel says it is the Son of God. I take it back, it’s more than an informative read, it’s eye opening.

The book of revelation is symbolic and referring to the texts literally would be wrong.

And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, “Only the 144,000 enter this place,” and we shouted, “Alleluia.” {CCh 35.4}