Will Heaven Be Filled with Lots of People?
Yes. In fact so many that no one person can count them! In Revelation we see the dramatic scene of those redeemed by Christ, the promise to Abraham fulfilled: “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” (Rev 7:9)
To understand this answer, look at God’s purposes for the universe in terms of Jesus Christ. The letter to the Ephesians, chapters 1-3, gives a wonderful summary of God’s plan: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6) All things created will serve to bring honor to Jesus Christ. The greatest “honoring” of our Lord will come by means of the redeemed portion of humanity. We are a living model of the incredible kindness of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf.
Since the kindness of God in saving sinners will be displayed into eternity, and if His self-sacrificing goodness is that quality which best illuminates the tender heart of God, would that not anticipate a great multitude being found in heaven?
Jesus on How to Get to Heaven
Dallas Willard once said, “God will look for every possible excuse to save someone.” This makes sense given all the effort God made in sending His Son to save the world. We have no idea really what that cost Him. Would the “travail of his soul” be satisfied with only a few being saved?
Yet, it must be said that our Lord Jesus was asked this exact question and His response, at first glance, does seem to run counter to the idea of a vast majority of human beings in heaven. Someone once asked Him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” (Luke 13:23) What are we to make of this response?
Understanding the Narrow Gate
If we read the Gospels closely, we’ll find that Jesus almost never dealt in generalities. He was always specific to the people at hand. Jesus does not answer their question. Instead, He turned the focus right on the questioners.
Whether or not there will be large amounts of people in heaven is not the issue Jesus cared to address. The issue for the questioner, and the issue for you and me, is not whether the probabilities will land us as part of a majority in heaven. No—the issue Jesus addressed is whether YOU will take the steps to enter by way of the “narrow gate.” What is that “narrow gate?” The narrow gate is becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The step of surrendering our lives utterly to Jesus Christ, with the intention of trusting and obeying Him in all things, becomes a lone choice—usually one that often places us in the minority of our family and present circle of friends. Once we enter through that door though, we discover to our amazement that we are now part of a “great multitude.” But prior to that step, from the seeker’s point of view, choosing Jesus Christ will seem a lonely step indeed. This is our Lord’s point. Are you delaying your discipleship until it seems more popular with your family and circle of friends? That day will not come. You, and you alone, must choose the narrow way.
