Identifying the 144,000 sealed Bond Servants as "firstfruits" recalls the apostle Paul’s statement about
the order of completing the process of resurrection ("made alive"). "Firstfruits" appears to be a term that
applies to those who died in tribulation.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have
fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam
all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after
that those who are Christ’s at His coming. (1 Cor 15:20-23)