Dearest Pureheart... may you have peace... and may I respond? Thank you. Because you have cited so much information, I will address them separately, if I may:
Is 144,00 a literal number?
Indeed, it is. It is the number of those of Abraham's seed, those of fleshly Israel, who are 'sealed' in fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.
What a lot of folks don't understand, though, is that while initially Israel was to be a 'nation of kings and priests', their rejection of the One appointed by God as their 'leader', resulted in their 'stumbling'... and losing out... as a nation... on that blessing. So that, rather than Israel ALONE become a nation of kings and priests to God, a 'great crowd of people of ALL nations, tribes and tongues', have been been 'called and chosen' WITH them to make up this kingship/priesthood. That is why AFTER seeing those of Abraham's seed, 144,000 "from among the sons of ISRAEL", John ALSO saw this 'great crowd'... 'standing before the throne of God... and "rendering SACRED SERVICE IN HIS TEMPLE... day and night." Only priests can 'render sacred service' in a temple, dear one.
Revelation 5:9, 10
Revelation 7: 4, 9, 13, 15
Romans 9:27
Romans 11:13-25
Ephesians 2:19-22
Ephesians 6:5, 6
That is why although my Lord named 12 apostles to Israel, to be witnesses of him 'throughout Judea (Jews; 2-tribe kingdom of Judah) and Samaria (Samaritans; 10-tribe kingdom of Israel), he named Paul... as 'an apostle TO THE NATIONS'... to call THEM into his household.
The Lamb (Symbolic)
Actually, it is not totallyl symbolic, but, in a sense, yes. Symbolic in that, true, my Lord is not a member of the mammal sheep species; however, he is the Lamb in that he was the one sacrificed, the one that 'carries away the sins of the world', the one that is obedient to the Father. Lamb, therefore, is a fitting
description of his... mannerisms... attitude... countenance... role.
Mount Zion (Symbolic)
Actually, Mount Zion is NOT symbolic, and in fact there are/were two: the one on earth, on which sat the city of Jerusalem; and the one in heaven on which sits the city of New Jerusalem. You see, all that had to do with Israel HERE... in the physical realm... was 'patterned' after what is THERE... in the spiritual realm: the Ark, the Covenant, the priesthood, the tabernacle/temple, the kingship/kingdom/throne... manna and 'water'... and many other things. We only THINK them symbolic because we think them not LITERALLY because they are not PHYSICAL. However, they are VERY literal, as the literal is not restricted to the physical.
144,000 (Literal)
Again, yes.
Name on forheads (Symbolic)
Okay, you're gonna have to trust me on this one: it is also literal. How do I know? Because I have been 'given' such a name. Yes, I can 'see' it; no, I cannot read it, for it is written in a language I do not yet know. How can I prove it to you? I am sorry, but I can't. Truly, I cannot. I can only tell you what is true and hope that you are able to put faith in it. However, I do not ASK you to believe it or put faith in it; you must do what you feel you must do. But I am not lying to you, such a name IS literal.
Sound of many waters (Symbolic)
This, too, is not symbolic, but QUITE literal. I have heard the voice of both my Father (only twice) and my Lord (many, MANY, times...), and it is exactly as John... and Ezekiel... described it. However, they ARE separate and distinct; you really can tell the difference.
Ezekiel 1:24
Ezekiel 43:2
John 10:3-5, 27
Hebrews 12:25
Harps (Symbolic)
Now that could be; I have no knowledge of this. While there is ALWAYS 'noise' in the spirit realm, what I hear is primarily voices. They do not sleep, so they don't have any 'downtime' in that realm.
New Song (Symbolic)
Actually, this, too, is literal. You see, our voices can be likened to 'song' to God... or 'clashing cymbals'... depending on what those voices are saying. The 'new song', however, is not musical... it is praise to JAH... which is 'music' to His ears... a beautiful 'song', indeed.
Psalm 147:1
Psalm 149:1
Four living creature (Symbolic)
No, these, too, are quite literal. VERY real. They are, in fact, 'seraphs', or 'fiery serpents' that stand in the vicinity of my Father's throne. And they represent all that He have a covenant with:
Head of man (man)
Head of lion (beasts of the field)
Head of bull (domestic animals)
Head of 'bird of prey' (flying creatures of THIS realm)
What is not represented are the creatures of the sea, as there was not need to make a covenant with them... as the flood did not effect them.
Elders (Symbolic)
Nope, these are literal, too. 24 of them... of the 'older men' of my Lord's 'belongings', faithful servants of old.
Bought from the earth (Literal)
This, too, is literal. All of these... the 24 elders, the 144,000 and the great crowd were BOUGHT... with the blood of my Lord. He 'paid' for them, 'repurchased' them from Death (who Adam had sold them... and ALL of us to), and so 'ransomed' them (and us). Thus, those who 'belong' to the Christ, are BOUGHT and paid for.
Not defiled by women (Symbolic)
Well, yes, I can see how from a human point of view this would be symbolic. But that is because we apply the word 'woman' and 'women' to only one thing: female humans. But my Father applies the word 'woman' to many things: His 'wife', Jerusalem Above; Israel; and religion/false 'christs'. In this case, it is religion, and it says of those who belong to my Lord that after being cleansed... thus, becoming VIRGINS (again), they do not 'defile' themselves with 'women'. Meaning, once they are called OUT of fornication and adultery with such 'women' (false christs; false 'brides' of Christ), these ones don't go back and defile themselves again. Rather, they stay true to their one 'husbandly owner', the Christ, the One they will 'marry'... or become truly one spirit with... in the future.
Virgins (Symbolic)
Again, no, this is literal. See above.
Firstfruits (Symbolic)
And no, this is also literal. To understanding, you must understand that my Father is not so much a soldier/warrior God, as He is a farmer... cultivator. He... sows seed... plants... and makes things grow. The world is the field, and WE are the seeds. However, we are not seeds that stand alone, but are part of a 'vine' or 'root', which is the Christ. He is the 'tree' of Life, the 'happy man' that is planted by streams of water. We... are the branches in that 'tree', so that as long as we remain IN the 'tree'... connected to it... we will live. If separated from it, though, we WILL die. Eventually, eternally.
Does this add up?
Well, yeah, it does. But not all know how to do 'math'. Many of us try to solve spiritual 'equations' using physical formulas. No can do. In order to solve that which is spiritual, one must CONSIDER it in a spiritual context. Does that mean it is not literal by means of being spiritual? No, indeed. The things in the spirit realm, while not PHYSICAL, are JUST as LITERAL... as that in the physical realm.
I hope this helps, and I bid you peace.
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ
