Here is another explanation I came across, but be aware it appears to be from
Jeff Pippenger, but it has some good points:
"Since the commencement of the Third Angel’s Message which began in 1844, God has been calling out a people to stand under the banner of the third angel. These people are described in Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
All false doctrines that came over from Paganism and the Roman church during the ‘falling away’ are repudiated and they stand on a solid Biblical foundation, free from all that has no higher authority than man’s ideas and traditions. They make the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus the ruling principle of their existence. Those who fully come into this condition receive the Seal of God.
GREAT MULTITUDE
Those who die in this faith, are sealed, and become part of the “Blessed Dead” and will be raised to hear the covenant of God with His people announced and see Jesus come in the clouds of glory.
INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT
Since 1844, the Investigative judgment has been taking place. It began first with the dead and prophecy and events in the church and world indicate that since 9-11-2001 it is turning to the judgment of the living. The Latter Rain is sprinkling. God is preparing a people to stand in the crisis soon to hit, and all who are willing to co-operate with Christ and the heavenly agencies, will be prepared to receive the Seal of God when the Testing time of the Sunday Law goes forward.
CLOSE OF PROBATION
During that test, all who know this message will show what character they have prepared—they will either stand obedient, in the power of the Lord, and be Sealed, receiving at that time the full measure of the Latter Rain, or they will capitulate to the worldly powers and receive the Mark of the Beast. At that time there will be no second chance for Sabbath believers as their probation closes first.
Those sealed at the time of this crisis will go forth in the full power of the Latter Rain and proclaim the Loud Cry to the people of the earth, whose probation continues during this time. Many of them will come out of the fallen religions and stand with the saints and through the power of the Holy Spirit they will learn in a very short time what it took the Advent Believers years to learn. They will receive the Seal and the Latter Rain and join in the proclamation of the final message to the world. These are called the eleventh hour workers in the parable.
“The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have had no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter.” Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 97.
LIVING THAT ARE SEALED AT SECOND COMING ARE 144,000
During this ‘Loud Cry’ period, some of the sealed will die, many will be martyred, but a group will remain until the final close of probation for the entire world. This occurs when the powers join together to pass a decree that all the saints are to be put to death at a certain time. Those who remain alive at this time will constitute the 144,000. They will go through the ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ and witness God’s wrath upon the wicked in the Seven Last Plagues. They will be translated when Jesus comes, without seeing death.
These stand as evidence of the power of the plan of redemption—precious trophies of the Lamb. Though tried fiercely, they will stand without sin during the time when Christ has ceased His intercessory work and has left the sanctuary. Prophecy is clear that they are the first fruits and the 2nd coming cannot happen until this special group is demonstrated to the universe.
The Biblical Description:
Revelation 7:2 “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
Revelation 14:1 “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” {wise: or, teachers}
Daniel 12:10 “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
We are to Strive to be Among Them
Although we do not know which of us will make up the final 144,000, we have been told we are all to strive to be among them. There is no separate standard that is lower for those who die before the final close of probation. We all need to be prepared for the Seal of God and this preparation is to be the focus of our lives. The most important aspect of the 144,000 both in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy is their character.
Revelation 14:5 “And in their mouth was found no guile: [no hypocrisy; no dishonesty or falsehood.] for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
“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…… “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. 2 & 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}
“On what foundation are you building? This question comes home to us all. We are living amid the perils of the last days. The law of God is almost universally disregarded. Satan is not idle; he walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may turn from the right way. And he does not always appear as a lion; he has the power to come as a lamb, and then his voice is soft and low. But shall we allow him to control our hearts? Under his direction, shall we build upon a foundation that will not stand the storm? We can not afford to do this. Shall we not rather strive to be among that number of whom John writes, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"? {ST, September 24, 1896 par. 8}
“The path to freedom from sin is through crucifixion of self, and conflict with the powers of darkness. Let none be discouraged in view of the severe trials to be met in the time of Jacob's trouble, which is yet before them. They are to work earnestly, anxiously, not for that time, but for today. What we want is to have a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ now, and a personal experience now. In these precious closing hours of probation, we have a deep and living experience to gain. We shall thus form characters that will ensure our deliverance in the time of trouble.” {OHC 321.2}
“One of the marked features in the representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth there was found no guile. The Lord has said, "Blessed is the man . . . in whose spirit there is no guile." They profess to be children of God, and are represented as following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are prefigured before us as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven will first have followed Him on earth, in trustful, loving, willing obedience, followed Him not fretfully and capriciously, but confidently, truthfully, as the flock follows the shepherd. . . .” {3SM 424.2}
“John saw a Lamb on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 having His Father's name written in their foreheads. They bore the signet of heaven. They reflected the image of God. They were full of the light and the glory of the Holy One. If we would have the image and superscription of God upon us, we must separate ourselves from all iniquity. We must forsake every evil way, and then we must trust our cases in the hands of Christ. While we are working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, God will work in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure.” (RH March 19, 1889)
What other fact identifies this group?
The 144,000 are those who live through the seven last plagues after the close of human probation and at Jesus Coming are translated without seeing death.
“God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation, and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. And oh, what a triumph it would be for his satanic majesty, to have power, in the last closing struggle, over those who had so long waited to behold Him whom they loved! Those who have mocked at the idea of the saints' going up will witness the care of God for His people, and behold their glorious deliverance.”--EW 284 (1858). {LDE 263.3}
“The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation, and suffer for want of food, they will not be left to perish.”--GC 629 (1911). {LDE 264.1}
“If the blood of Christ's faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God.--GC 634 (1911). {LDE 264.2}
“A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob's trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The one hundred and forty-four thousand triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God.” {LS 117.1}
“Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down from Mount Sinai.” {CET 58.1}
“The 144,000 were all sealed, and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, "God, New Jerusalem," and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.” {CET 58.2}
Why are they needed:
Before the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan can be fully brought to an end, it is necessary that a people be demonstrated that fully keep ALL of God’s commandments and have been cleansed of all rebellion and sin, to the point that the full power of the Holy Spirit can be poured out on them without measure, and dwell within them. They must be so fully restored to holiness that they will at the end be able to stand, sealed unto God and without a mediator in the heavenly sanctuary.
Many faithful people lived and died in Old Testament times; but this special group could not have come from the times before Christ, because the covenant had not at that time been ratified by the blood of the Lamb of God. The ‘Wave Sheaf’ that Christ took with Him when He ascended was from among these.
There were many faithful during the long years of Papal supremacy, many of which were martyred for their faith. But the 144,000 could not be raised up from among them.
Only as the reformation was completed by a full and complete return to Biblical doctrine, laying aside all the Pagan and Papal errors fully, and a people raised up to repair the Breach in God’s Law by restoring the Sabbath to its proper place, could we expect to see this group arise. They could not arrive in history until the third angel’s message went forth at the opening of the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844.
Although many saints that have died in the past will be raised to be among the redeemed, because they fully, with an honest heart, lived up to all the light they had, the 144,000 are raised up when the full light of God’s truth is shining on their pathway, including the testimony of Jesus—the Spirit of Prophecy, and they accept and obey the light in its complete fullness...." my notes are in caps.
