The way I have had it explained to me was the book of revelation has a pattern.
John would hear something - Old Testament Imagery
John would see something - New Testament Imagery
The premise is Jesus defeated his enemies by dying for them.
John hears the calling of the 144,00- Old Testament military census from the book numbers.
John sees a great crowd no one could number - Gods final convent is open to all those who believe.
It doesn't really matter much to me anyway. Eschatology is the playground of cults and false religions anyway.