Here is a post on this subject I made in one of previous discussions here.
144000 and the Great Multitude
The bible also calls the 5000 that Jesus fed "great multitude".
Here is a quote from Maranatha. Note in this quote, the great multitude of Rev 7 is mentioned in a separate group from those "of all ages and were martyred for their faith."
"Nearest the throne are those who were once zealous in the cause of Satan, but who, plucked as brands from the burning, have followed their Saviour with deep, intense devotion. Next are those who perfected Christian characters in the midst of falsehood and infidelity, those who honored the law of God when the Christian world declared it void, and the millions, of all ages, who were martyred for their faith. And beyond is the "great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, . . . before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." Revelation 7:9. . . . {Mar 339.2}
If the great multitude are those who will be resurrected at 2nd coming, then why didn't EGW include them in the first two groups?
Notice in the following quotes, EGW quotes Rev 7 on the great multitude and then followed up by writing we should strive to be among the 144000.
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." {RH, March 9, 1905 par. 1}
Those whom the Lamb shall lead by the fountains of living waters, and from whose eyes he shall wipe away all tears, will be those now receiving the knowledge and understanding revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. To us has been given the privilege of receiving the wisdom that cometh from God, of seeing the beauty and the glories of that Word which lies at the foundation of all true knowledge. The Bible teaches us what a Christian ought to be, and what he ought to do. {RH, March 9, 1905 par. 2}
We are to copy no human being. There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the pattern Man. His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain. His character is our model. Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities and the difficulties of this life, and fix them on him, that by beholding we may be changed into his likeness. We may behold Christ to good purpose. We may safely look to him; for he is all-wise. As we look to him and think of him, he will be formed within, the hope of glory. {RH, March 9, 1905 par. 3}
Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. And let us do all that we can to help others to gain heaven. We are to have an intense interest in Christ Jesus; for he is our Saviour. He came to this world to be tempted in all points as we are, to prove to the universe that in this world of sin human beings can live lives that God will approve. {RH, March 9, 1905 par. 4}
Read the characteristics of the great multitude in Rev 7.
All of them are unique to the 144000. EGW used these to also describe the 144000 and the great multitude interchangeably.
Enter the temple: LS80 217.1, GC 648.3, Rev 7:15
Before the throne: GC 648.3, Rev 7:9, Rev 14:3, Rev 7:15,
Come out of the great tribulation: LS80 217.2, GC 648.3, Rev 7:14
Jesus shall serve them in the banquet: LS80 217.2, Rev 7:17
Have gotten the victory: Rev 15:2, GC 648.3, VSS 464.3
Standing on the sea of glass: Rev 15:2, GC 648.3, VSS 464.3
Having the harp: Rev 15:2, GC 648.3, VSS 464.3
Sing the new song: Moses and the Lamb: Rev 14:3, Rev 15:3, GC 648.3, VSS 464.
Washed their ropes white with the blood of the Lamb: GC 648.3, Rev 7:14
Wipe away tears from their eyes: GC 648.3, Rev 7:17,
Hunger no more, thirst no more: GC 648.3, Rev 7:16
One of the characteristics of the 144000 is that only they can enter into the temple and serve Jesus around the throne day and night. They in fact become the light bearer and replace Lucifer's (light bearer) original position as the covering cherub.
Rev 7
15 Therefore are they (great multitude) before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The hunger, thirst, heat, tears from angerish are thel things they have to experience during a time when it will be no mediator after general probation closes. And they are those that come out of the Great Tribulation. This is the last generation of believers that will be alive in the second coming. And the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.