CitizenofEarth,
The first question i will pose is: What is the scriptual basis for interpreting the 144000 as a figure to be taken literally? Almost everything else in Revelation 7 is interpreted symbolically, as fx. the 144000 coming from the 12 tribes, and that 12000 will be taken from each. All other descriptions in connection to with the 144000 such as virginity, that they originate from the 12 tribes, that they are wothut defilement and that the lamb and the fathers name is on their forehead is interpreted as symbolic, but the figure is taken literally. Why?
It is accepted amongst Christian eschatologists that the 144,000 represents Jews who converted to Christianity in contrast to Christian Gentiles which form the Great Multitude (Great Crowd).
Further more, the reading in most translations depict the "virgins" as "..."those who did not defile themselves with women" (Revelation 14:4) meaning that they're all men. So much for being a female amongst the anointed.