who are the one hundred forty-four thousand - sure answer?

There are two people (whom we trust) who have seen the 144,000, but both of would rather not claim to know exactly. So the sure answer is just to copy their answer when asked.

The questions are in italics, the identity (their answers) are in bold, and the descriptions/attributes are underlined:

1. John

1. Rev 7:1After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
   5of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were [a]sealed;
   of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
   6of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
   7of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
   8of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
   of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
   
   9After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:
   “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
   Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
   Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
   
   Rev 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
   Rev 7:14And I said to him, [b]“Sir, you know.”
   
   Rev 14:1Then I looked, and behold, [a]a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, [b]having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were [c]redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no [d]deceit, for they are without fault [e]before the throne of God. 

2. Ellen G. White

1. Persons, in writing or speaking to me, often ask me questions that I have not liberty to answer. One says, “I want you to tell me, Sister White, Who are the one hundred and forty-four thousand, that are spoken of in Revelation?” I answer, “You have the Word; have you found out? If the Lord wanted you to know, He would have put it in His Word, and you would not need to ask me. When we get to heaven, then we shall learn exactly who compose the hundred and forty-four thousand. Let us take that which the Lord has given us; it is sufficient to tax our mind to its utmost capacity, and if we will study the Scriptures prayerfully, the Holy Spirit will make the correct application to our hearts.” {Ms179-1907.17}
   
   
2. The One Hundred Forty-four Thousand, November 16
   
   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. Revelation 14:1. {Mar 328.1}
   
   Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire—so resplendent is it with the glory of God—are gathered the company that have “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.” With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the harps of God,” they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, “the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” And they sing “a new song” before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance. {Mar 328.2}
   
   None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience—an experience such as no other company have ever had. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. “These are they which came out of great tribulation;” they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault” before God. “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.” {Mar 328.3}
   
   They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” Revelation 7:14-16.38 {Mar 328.4}
   
   
3. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people. {RH June 8, 1886, par. 1}
4. Then the angel said, “You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.”8 {AH 543.2}
5. 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}
6. 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}
7. 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}

I think I know...

• The One Hundred and Forty-four Thousand
  
  Christ says that there will be those in the church who will present fables and suppositions, when God has given grand, elevating, ennobling truths which should ever be kept in the treasure house of the mind. When men pick up this theory and that theory, when they are curious to know something it is not necessary for them to know, God is not leading them. It is not His plan that His people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is not taught in the Word. It is not His will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question. {1SM 174.3}
  
  My brethren and sisters, appreciate and study the truths God has given for you and your children. Spend not your time in seeking to know that which will be no spiritual help. “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). This is the all-important question, and it has been clearly answered. “What is written in the law? how readest thou?”—Manuscript 26, 1901. {1SM 174.4}

More about the one hundred forty-four thousand and about 144,000 from egwwritings.org

the term "symbolical" is not used.