Now, the number of reported anointed isn't a problem for the Tower Witnesses . . . but . . . the number 144 thousand IS. They'll always have problems with this teaching because it's so stupid. If it's true, it discredits itself, if it's false, it discredits itself. They can't win with this one.
Maybe the Society writers could visit the Bible Students and let the Bible Students explain it to them.
in some time they will change the 144.000 to a symbolic number instead of a literal. but not now. it still works.