Based on an erroneous understanding of the scripture in Revelation 7:4, a certain religious group claims that only one hundred and forty-four thousand people will qualify to be in heaven. This cannot be further from the truth because the Bible says in verse nine of that same chapter:
“After this I behold, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
Further debunking this wrong teaching, Apostle John in Revelation 19:5-9 heard the voice of a great multitude shouting Alleluia in worship of the omnipotent God. They were rejoicing because they were numbered among the participants at the marriage supper of the Lamp. The question for our consideration today is, what qualified them to be numbered among these very important guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb? The answer to this question is found in Revelation 7:13-14:
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to shed His blood for the remission of our sins, so that we can qualify as citizens of heaven and be numbered among the saints. What is required of us is to accept the offer of his atonement and live by the articles of the new covenant, which He sealed with His Blood. Doing this will surely attract persecution and tribulation in this world. The challenge with some contemporary Christians is that they don’t want to experience persecution or undergo tribulation for the sake of their faith in Christ. They want the world to accept them, and so they adjust their message to what the world likes. We often forget these words of Jesus in John 15:20c:
“If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
In other words, just as the world did not like the teachings of the Master, they will also not like ours. However, when we introduce gimmicks not found in the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ and His apostles into our message, the message loses its power. How shall we be numbered among the guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb? The answer lies in these words from Acts 14:22: “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” There is no other way.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.