This is for the good person from Ireland! I also am Irish! Maybe we are related! I am originally from Galway and the family name is on a castle there!
Anyway, what I wanted to say is look at Zechariah! In 3:8, the Lord says
Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
You and your companions who sit before you,
For they are a wondrous sign;
For behold, I am bringing forth
My Servant the BRANCH

Now, obviously Joshua has a group of people with him, and God is addressing the group. The BRANCH is the 144,000, and this is the priestly portion of it, represented by Joshua.

The Lord in verse 3:2 says to Satan, is this not a brand plucked from the fire? He is talking about Joshua here, as being an ordinary person, not someone like Elijah who was holy his whole life. No, this is someone that God has chosen to save, by His grace.
In 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. He goes on to say to take away the filthy garments from him and put a clean turban on him. Then the Lord says " See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."
Their iniquities will be removed, they will be glorified and justified. Not by their own accomplishments, but all is done by the Lord.
Zechariah then goes on to address the Zerubbabels! They are the Kings that are coming.