Tim ...You mentioned that the translation of Rev. 14's 144,000 still didn't clear much up for you...and wondered "why are they among only undefiled virgin women or why is that noteworthy."
 
   I have wanted to write an article on the 144,000 for quite some time now, but never felt it was quite the right time.  I had already come to many of the conclusions Dr. Jones has, but he was able to fill in some of the blanks for me on this subject, and I think I have a few insights to add. Because he has a vast amount of teaching on his site, I will simply include the article we have been referring to in our posts, for anyone interested and they can negotiate the area they are interested in, from there.
   The Lord says He declares the end from the beginning.  The understanding of final stages of redemption, I believe, is in going back to Adam and Eve in the garden....finding out what we lost in the fall, having a good look at the curses that were placed on Adam and Eve, and then finding out what will happen as redemption enters it's final stage. (demonstrated in  the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles).
   God made man in His image, male and female.  God is both male and female.  There is no male or female(in the spiritual realm) in the Kingdom of God, because the dividing wall has been brought down.   The first manifestation of the Sons of God (I believe the manifestation takes place is stages...every man in his own order) are, I believe, the 144,000.  They will, I believe, express the image of God, with the dividing wall down.  They(144,000) will be male and female physically, because they will be ministering in the physical realm of earth, but in Spirit,  they will be  walking as "one"  expressing God's image, which is both male and female.  It will be the first time since the garden, that the undivided "image" of God has been seen on earth and it will release His power in fullness. Their virginity, I believe, expresses not just pureness of heart, but their "oneness" as well(which is not possible without pureness of heart).    Just as the dividing of the "atom" released a devastating power on earth...so did the dividing of God's image in Adam at the fall.  But so much more the redemptive power be released,  when the "Adam" is made One.
  While "Eve"  hasn't, for the most part,been given any authority in the church, not able to teach a man, (though her heart be full of revelation and the desire to share) she has been pressing in to know her Heavenly Husband, for He had shown her long ago ,His true heart towards women.  It has been the prayers of the grandmothers and mothers for their children, down through the ages, that have, I believe, primarily kept the men standing.  It was spirit of Rachael (another Eve) crying from the ground, refusing to be comforted,I believe, that brought the Redeemer to earth to save her "children".
  When Rev. 14 speaks of "among women not defiled" I believe this is what it is referring to: the undefiled heart of a mother for her children.(a woman shall be "saved in childbirth" has been a verse greatly misunderstood)  Many men might take exception to this, but I believe it has been the women of this age, who have been waiting, as only women can wait, for the "baby" to be born, praying in the night hours for the "manchild" to manifested healthy and whole so that "he" could go forth and save the rest of her "children".  As it was Mary, whom the Lord first revealed Himself to, after His resurrection, it has been the 3rd day "Marys/Eves" whom He has revealed Himself to, in a special, unique manner(not more so than men, just "unique")...and it is those "Marys" who have "prayed in" their male counterpart, in the 144,000. ( a distant grandmother perhaps, a mother or a wife..or daughter?)  In redemption, Eve has been given another chance to redeem herself, and in doing so, will usher her Adam back to the garden of their oneness.  Joseph and Asinath are a type and shadow of this, I believe, as well as the male/female nucleus of the 144,000.  Joseph was given a new name at his commissioning and marriage to Asinath. (note the commissioning and marriage occurred at the same time.) The name means: Treasury of the Glorious Rest... and pictures Eve(the glorious rest) brought back into Adam. (and of course, the larger picture, of Christ and His Bride)  The woman is the "glory"(glorious) of man and the Sabbath (rest)is a type of "bride" . Asinath also means "full store house". Joseph is the Treasury that encompasses her "storehouse".  I believe there will be 144,000 "treasuries of the glorious rest" released on the earth, not too soon in the distant future.(as they are "paired" as "one", the 144,000 actually express 288,000..please see Dr. Jones comments on this number)  You will notice, I have said "I believe" throughout this post.  For those who believe the 144,000 are Jewish male virgins who have remained un-defiled by women...please don't hurl too many missiles my way.  My convictions are quite firm but  I urge you first to read Dr. Stephen Jones article to give you the foundational information that will then help you to understand this post.  He may not agree with anything I have said, so please don't accuse him of endorsing me!  Kathryn LeCorre   http://www.gods-kingdom.org/ffi/2004/April.htm