Revelation 7:4-8: 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. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

The seal of the living God mentioned in Revelation 7:2¹ is inseparably connected to the twelve tribes (families)² of the children of Israel.³ This seal is the unconditional promise of eternal life and exaltation⁴ given to Israel conditionally in the premortal existence.⁵ The family of Israel was known to God in premortality,⁶ and he foreordained them to eternal life.⁷ Exaltation has been their calling and election⁸ on a conditional basis since that time.⁹ When these same Israelites make their calling and election sure, either in this life or in death, then their conditional promise of exaltation becomes unconditional.¹⁰

Exaltation also requires the temple sealing ordinance (eternal marriage).¹¹ This ordinance is also a conditional promise¹² of eternal life given in this life to Abraham's natural seed¹³ and to his adoptive seed.¹⁴ As Abraham's natural or adoptive seed receive the sealing ordinance and also have their calling and election made sure,¹⁵ they are then numbered among the 144,000 Servants mentioned in Revelation 7:4-8.¹⁶ They are sealed up to eternal life in the house of Israel¹⁷ as one great family.¹⁸ Those that receive the seal of the living God will be exalted in the celestial kingdom.¹⁹ Their exaltation fulfills the conditional promise made to many in premortality.²⁰

Some scholars believe that Revelation 7:4 literally identifies the 144,000 Servants as a specific number.²¹ However, the vast majority correctly conclude that the number is both indefinite²² and symbolic.²³ To arrive at the symbolic number of 144,000 Servants,²⁴ the priesthood number of twelve (12)²⁵ is symbolically squared²⁶ and then multiplied by 1,000 as a sign of superlative greatness.²⁷ The 144,000 represents only a portion²⁸ of all the children of Israel.²⁹ Many Israelites will qualify for celestial glory, but to be numbered among the 144,000 Servants they must also qualify for exaltation in and through the fullness of the priesthood.³⁰ Not every Israelite will do so.

Some scholars accept that the 144,000 is a symbolic number, but incorrectly interpret that number to include the sum total of all believers from any and all religious denominations.³¹ However, the 144,000 number in Revelation 7:4-8 identifies only exaltation-worthy people that will be sealed before the Second Coming³² so they can stand with Christ as saviors on mount Zion at the time of his Second Coming.³³ After the Second Coming, these 144,000 Servants will rule and govern with Christ in the millennial kingdom of God on earth called the Church of the Firstborn, and it is their duty to bring as many others as will come to the Church of the Firstborn.³⁴

John's list of the twelve tribes in Revelation 7:5-8 must have a symbolic meaning because the list does not identify the literal sons of Israel (Jacob).³⁵ For example, the tribe of Dan (thought by some to be associated with the country of Denmark)³⁶ is omitted in John's list.³⁷ Scholars explain the absence of Dan's name in symbolic terms and conclude that his omission–which is not uncommon in other Old Testament lists–stems from a tradition that the antichrist would come through the tribe of Dan.³⁸ Other anomalies in John's list also favor a symbolic interpretation rather than a literal listing of names. For example, John lists Judah first among the tribes instead of Reuben, even though Judah was not first in order of birth or birthright. The tribe of Ephraim (and holder of the birthright) is also notably absent, while Manasseh is retained.³⁹ These and other anomalies confirm that John's list only symbolically describes the exaltation-worthy saints from the house of Israel who qualify to stand with Christ on mount Zion at the Second Coming.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:11 states that the 144,000 Servants in John's list are "high priests, ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people."⁴⁰ The tribal listings therefore indicate that the 144,000 high priests are members of the house of Israel gathered from all parts of the world,⁴¹ rather than the literal family of Israel as it was known anciently.⁴² The list includes Gentiles from among all nations that are adopted into the family of Israel as they accept the fullness of the gospel⁴³ and are worthy to become exalted members in the Church of the Firstborn before the Second Coming.⁴⁴

Some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints imply that John's list indicates that the Lost Ten Tribes will return from the north to be sealed in the temple before the Second Coming.⁴⁵ However, John's list only symbolically describes Israelites that will have the guarantee of eternal life as of the Second Coming.⁴⁶ The list is not an account of all Israelites that will yet be sealed in the temple after the Second Coming.⁴⁷

The Lost Ten Tribes will physically return in their translated condition to the gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman which will occur 3½ years before the Second Coming.⁴⁸ They will help construct the temple in New Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation.⁴⁹ At the time of the Second Coming, the Lost Ten Tribes will stand on mount Zion with the Savior as his bride in their translated condition.⁵⁰ Thereafter, they will attend the marriage supper in New Jerusalem.⁵¹ Finally, after the Second Coming, the Lost Ten Tribes will receive their temple sealings from Ephraim in the temple at New Jerusalem.⁵² Their resurrection will follow only after their temple sealings have been completed to comply with the Law of Earthly Ordinances and the Law of Resurrection.⁵³