So the answer to the question “who are the 144,000?” will depend on which interpretive approach you take to the book of Revelation. With the exception of the futurist approach, all of the other approaches interpret the 144,000 symbolically, as representative of the church and the number 144,000 being symbolic of the totality—i.e., the complete number—of the church.
Hivyo jibu kwa swali "144,000 ni akina nani?" Itategemea ni mbinu gani ya tafsiri ambayo utachukua kwa kitabu cha Ufunuo. Kando na mtazamo wa mbinu ya matukio yatakayo tokea, mitazamo mingine yote hutafsiri 144,000 kuwa ya mfano, kama mwakilishi wa kanisa na idadi 144,000 kuwa ishara ya ujumla -yaani, idadi-kamili ya kanisa.