The 144,000 are virgins--meaning that they have not been defiled by the religion of "Babylon" nor come out of "Babylon".
P.S. -Like Doug Batchelor says--this is nothing to be dogmatic about - in other words nothing to argue over which view is the correct view.
These are they which were not defiled with women;
for they are virgins.
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
Revelation14:4
The 144,000 are thought to be a literal number of the leaders of God's people worldwide in the end by some within God's Church while others see it as a symbolic number of all of God's people in the end.
On thing of note--Moses, (a type for Christ) went up to stand on the mountain, took 72 elders (leaders) with him. In the end, those who are standing on the mount with God, the 144,000 is 72x72 taken then times a thousand.
A: Possibly ALL of God's people in the end times? (Symbolic Number?)
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.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,
which no man could number, 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 7:2,9
----OR----
B: Possibly the leaders of God's people after the mark of the beast (Literal Number?)
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
Exodus 24:9,10
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.
Revelation 14:1
Within the Church today, Doug Batchelor is of the mindset of point B & Steve Wohlberg of the mindset of the majority view within Adventism today, point A.
"It is not His will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand. Those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question." Selected Messages vol.1, p.175 E.G.W.
[The following letter from C. C. Crisler, leading secretary in Mrs. White's office, addressed to Elder E. E. Andross, president of the Pacific Union Conference, was called forth by a request from him to Sister White for any light she might have bearing on the teachings of Dr. B. E. Fullmer of Los Angeles, that the 144,000 will be made up of Americans only, none from other lands.]
'On the matter of the exact meaning of the 144,000 Sister White has repeatedly instructed us that "silence is eloquence."P.S. -Like Doug Batchelor says--this is nothing to be dogmatic about - in other words nothing to argue over which view is the correct view.