Is the 144,000 a literal or figurative number?

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This is a figurative / symbolic number for the following reasons: In Rev. 1:1 we are told that God signified the book of Revelation ‘by His angel to His servant John’. The Greek word semaino (signify) primarily means ‘to show by signs or symbols.’ Thus the very first verse of Revelation tells us that the primary way to understand Revelation is symbolically. The context in which we find first reference to 144 000 (viz., Rev. 7) indicates that it is symbolic and not literal. Here are a few for example: Rev. 7:1 speaks angels standing at the four corners of the earth – a clear symbolic reference to the four compass points (Dan. 8:8; Mark 13:27) The four winds (7:1) symbolise destructive forces, which God uses to execute judgments upon the wicked (Isa. 66:15–16; Jer. 23:19–20; Hos. 13:15). Earth, sea, and tree (vs 1) — point to the universal nature of the threatened destruction. The seal of God (vs 3) is a symbol of ownership [Gen. 17:7-11 cf. Rom. 4:11 where the words ‘sign’ and ‘seal’ interchangeably], protection (Eze. 9:4-5), and genuineness (Matt. 27:66; John 6:27) The number 12 is a symbol of completion associated with God’s people: “In the Old Testament, twelve is the number of tribes in Israel, who are God’s people. In the New Testament, it is also the number of the church built upon the foundation of the twelve apostles (Eph. 2:20). In the vision of the New Jerusalem, John observed the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on the twelve gates of the city and the names of the twelve apostles inscribed on its twelve foundation stones. Thus, 144, made from 12 times 12, stands for the totality of God’s end-time people, not a selected group that is separated from the body of Christ.” (Ranko Stefanovic) The list of tribes in Rev. 7:5-8 poses a problem to a literal interpretation: Those tribes do not exist today, and therefore cannot be literal. The 10 northern tribes disappeared with the Assyrian captivity (2 Kings 17:6–23), and the 2 southern tribes in AD 70 - when lost their national existence and were scattered across the Roman empire. The list is not a regular one of the tribes of Israel. E.g. For example, Dan and Ephraim are missing, while Joseph and Levi are included instead. This shows that Revelation 7 does not refer to literal historical tribes of Israel. Dan and Ephraim are most likely excluded because of idolatry (Judg. 18:27–32; 1 Kings 12:28–31; 2 Chron. 30:1, 10; Hosea 4:17; 8:11). The unfaithfulness that characterised the tribes of Dan and Ephraim has no place among the sealed people of God. The 144 000 thus represent the true Israel who remains loyal to God. Finally, if we interpret the number literally, it would mean that the 144 000 can only be virgin Jewish males – everyone else would be excluded. Why Jewish? Because only Jewish tribes are mentioned in Rev 7? In Rev. 14:4 the 144 000 are called virgins (according to the original language). Why only males? Rev. 14:4 says that they did not defile themselves with women, thus they would have to be males. This surely cannot be the case because the gospel invitation goes out whoever wants to take hold of the water of life (Rev. 22:17). So who are the 144 000 then? The 144 000, consisting of 12 000 from each of the 12 tribes, symbolise God’s people right before the end. In the Old Testament war scenes, one thousand (Hebrew ‘eleph) is a basic military unit (Num. 31:3–6; 1 Sam. 8:12; 22:7). In describing God’s end-time people standing on the threshold of the great tribulation, Revelation uses the language of war. The 144 000 consist of 12 tribes, each having 12 military units of 1 000 and a total of 12,000 soldiers. Note that James 1:1 refers to the church as the twelve tribes of Israel (James 1:1) while Paul calls the church “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). In Gal. 3:29 we are told that Christians are of Abraham’s seed, i.e. they constitute spiritual Israel. So, the number 144 000 is a symbolic reference to the church militant, which is organised like ancient Israel into military units about to enter the final and greatest battle in the world’s history: the battle of Armageddon (cf. Rev. 16:16). Furthermore, the Great Multitude of Rev. 7:9-17 that no one can count is actually the same as the 144 000 but at different times in earth’s history. There is a literary technique that John uses in Revelation. What he hears and sees, even though under different symbols, points to the same thing. For e.g. he hears about the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5 – the elder said to him), but sees a Lamb 9 (vs 6). In Rev. 7:4 he hears the number, but sees a great multitude (7:9). Thus they are the same group. So the 144 000 are portrayed as the church militant, organised into 144 military divisions and entering the final war of this world’s history. The Great Multitude, on the other hand, is portrayed as the church triumphant, coming out of that war (Rev. 7:14) and celebrating the victory (Rev. 7:9). The war is over, and they are no longer organised into military divisions, and thus impossible to count.