How were the righteous in this judgment saved, and why did they help the 144,000?
The righteous in this judgment were not saved by good deeds, since good works save no one. They were saved by faith in the message, and after salvation they willingly helped the 144,000 who brought it to them, because it is a Christian's nature to help.
Les explains that the righteous are believers gathered from all the nations. They ask when they saw the King hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison. The King answers that whatever they did to the least of His brethren, they did to Him. Since Jesus in the flesh was a Jew, His brethren must be Jews, and He is referring to the 144,000. It was not their good deeds that saved them; good works never save anybody. They were saved by faith in this message, and as soon as they experienced salvation, they were willing to help the people who had brought it to them. Les gives the example of believers and Christians in Europe during Hitler's terror against the Jews, who hid Jewish people and helped them escape, because it is a Christian's nature to do such things.