“Heaven's Maximum Capacity”

Thursday, October 18, 2012

I have heard from different websites that only a few people will be saved.  I know what it says in the Bible about the path being narrow that leads to heaven, but some people say that only a certain amount of people will be saved.  Is this true?  I have forgotten what passage they are talking about, but I think it says something about 144,000 people being saved… or something like that.  Please help me understand this because it scares me to think only very few will make it.  Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,
Rumor Has It

Dear Rumor Has It,

The religion most famous for saying that only 144,000 will go to heaven is the Jehovah Witnesses.  They get this from Rev 14:1-5… however, they use those verses completely out of context.  The Book of Revelation is a highly symbolic book full of figurative speech and metaphors.  It is rarely appropriate to take the language in that book as literal.

The rest of the Scriptures are very clear that anyone can be saved.  Jesus died for the sins of all the world (Jhn 3:16).  If only 144,000 are allowed to be saved, Jesus really didn’t die for everyone’s sins.  Furthermore, Peter said that the promise of salvation was to the Jews, their children, and all the rest of mankind (Acts 2:38-39).  Salvation is available to all who turn to God.

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