How many Christians are really saved??? Read Below and Decide.?

Question

It is true that Christianity has spread widely but how has this happened? Until the 15th century Christianity was largely confined to Europe. After this, European armies spread throughout the world forcing their religion on the people they conquered. In most conquered countries (e.g. Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Taiwan and parts of India) laws were passed banning all non-Christian religions. By the late 19th century brute force was no longer used to enforce belief but, under the influence of the missionaries, colonial administrators tried to hinder non-Christian religions as much as possible. Today the spread of Christianity is supported by lavish financial assistance which missionaries get largely from the U.S.A. So Christianity has spread not because of its inherent superiority but because of violence in the past and wealth today.

Whether Christianity is the world's largest religion is a matter of definition. Can we consider the Mormons, the Moonies and the Jehovah's Witnesses to be Christians? Can we consider the numerous strange cults and sects that flourish in South America and Africa, and which account for many millions of people, to be Christian? Most Protestants don't even consider Catholics to be Christians! If we deny that all the heretical, heterodoxist, cultic and bizarre Christian groups are 'real' Christians, this would probably make Christianity one of the smallest religions in the world. This would also explain why the Bible says that only 144,000 people will be saved on Judgement Day (Rev 14:3-4).

Answer 1

All Christians are saved.

Answer 2

Mahfuz R,
I was entertained by your rendition of history.

It is true that Christianity is diverse in it's focus on belief and interpretation.

But here is the thing, why would it matter if 200 were saved or 200 billion?
Either number is probably way off, but the point is, who gains brownie points for being the most numerous? The numbers mean nothing.

"So Christianity has spread not because of its inherent superiority but because of violence in the past and wealth today."
That is your most errant statement. Christianity wouldn't even have been born if God's Spirit wasn't involved. The Israelites back in Moses time would have made Judaism a dead religion.

And all those that wanted to kill the Jews throughout history may have had only a handful of people to worry about.

Be there is something else going on. There is something driving the events that are occuring even today. Israel is back. Israel is strong. No one nation has taken Israel out of the picture. Not one.

So what is all of this? Why is Israel able to do so much? That's because God has not forgotten them. They still as a nation do not recognize the messiah, but even that was prophecied, the lack of recognition, and the return of Christ, when the Israelites will then recognize the messiah.

God says it was Him!
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced,

That verse says 'me.'
They pierced God, His Son. Jesus.

One example of how people get all weird with interpretation and differ with it, is you. You're rendition od Revelation 14 was .. . . . . . . .interesting.

Answer 3

Oh my Gosh you are all over the place.
Alot of generalizations and half thoughts and theories, and ubsubstansiated stated "facts". Right?
In most conquered countries laws were passed banning non-Christian religions? Really? Where and when?
And Christianity started in the Mid-East so it would spread out of there and Europe, because, you know, they did not have TV or the internet. That is how it would spread ( and you use it as some sort of basis against Christianity).
And you also suggest it spread by force... really? The Gospel of Christ spread like fire because it is true and people accepted in their lives, and their lives were changed.
To suggest the spread of Christianity because of money is the same fallacy.
I am a Protestant and I consider Catholics Christians, and so does my church. I know of no Christians that do not. Did that come from you?
You are also completely off on the interpretation of the 144,000 reference.
Please show a grasp of the facts before you go off... because it exhibits something that is less than legitimate or knowledgable.

Answer 4

Greetings,
Well you are kind of mixed up aren't you? The 144,000 are from the twelve tribes of Israel and are to be witnesses inthe millenial reign of Christ to convert as many unbelievers before the final conflict of God and Satan is accomplished. The rest of the saved will come from those that believe in Jesus Christ and obey His Father's commandments.
If you were a little more knowledgeable about christianity you would be aware that there is a Peshitta manuscript that predates any that is used in the western nations that christians from Iran to India and China use as their christian bible. This supposedly is written in Syriac language and spread to them by the Apostles after Christ's dipersion of them to go and preach the gospel to all nations. Remember that Jesus said to love thy neighbor as well as our enemies not to persecute ,torture or kill them. The only organization that has involved themselves in this venturee is the Catholic Church and they also included christians that had differing doctrines than they accepted. You can not blame christians that adhere to the teachings of our saviour Jesus Christ for the problems abounding in trhe world today. Possibly these problems stem from an organization that would elect a former member of the Nazi SS as their leader.
You are correct in the fact that though many will follow the road to God the way is narrow and many will fall off to the wayside,but there will be those that do achieve the Kingdom of God through their Faith and obedience to God.

Answer 5

"faith without works is dead" James 2:26
you can say all Christians will be saved just by 'believing in Jesus'
on account, this Scripture shows how wrong you are, unfortunately, true Christians must not only have faith, but work on that faith, and do the will of god.
also,
matthew 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it;  whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it."
not all christians will be saved, not all people will be saved, FEW are the ones finding it, many are the ones goign to distruction. All christians that beleive in jesus, is a very large number, at least half the world no?. this scripture also proves, not all christians will be saved, not all people will, only true christians doing god's will.

true Christians outlined by the bible, must act and do all the commands of Jesus and god, including the world wide preaching work. (Matthew 24:14)
otherwise, all the faith they have is truly 'dead in itself' and god finds no favor in it or them.

Answer 6

Well I don't know about the 144,000 thing because revelations is prophecy of events yet to happen I am very cautious of interpreting it.

However you do bring up a great point. Any one can say they are christian.

There's the saying "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making people believe he doesn't exist." I think it's the second greatest trick

The greatest is muddling up what it means to be christian. If those who aren't can't tell the difference who are they to believe?

Answer 7

I gotta say one thing first: sin is sin. It doesn't matter what you've done or how much you've done of it; if it's anything you think, say or do that doesn't please God- it's sin. So no matter how much your friend has done or you've done- it doesn't matter. It's by God's grace that any of us are here. That doesn't give us a license to sin. We all still need to work on our relationship with Him. It's about the relationship, not the religion and traditions, etc. It's about your personal relationship with Christ. As far as Bible verses I don't really have any at the moment. But I can say that you should pray for your friend. Sin catches up with you- believe me. It's only fun for a season. If he is a true believer he'll come back.

Answer 8

The Bible never says ONLY 144,000 will be saved read: Rev 7 and Rev 14.. never once do they say these are the only saved people, infact it says this- 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

Those are exactly who they are... if they're not "literal" Jews then the number of them should not be taken literally.

Did you miss this part of the Bible? Rev 7:9 (which btw is AFTER the 144,000 appear)
9After 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. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

A GREAT MULTITUDE that no man can number has to be more than 144,000 since obviously, its numbered ;)

One verse wonders like you are why so many people are lost today.

Answer 9

Some people claim to be christians but if they don't truly believe in Jesus then they just aren't. that is the harsh reality of it, they may study up on the Bible and know everything, but still not truly believe. So in essence, yes, true christianity is a small bunch of people!

Answer 10

It is true that the bible clearly indicates that there would be true Christians and false Christians, and Jesus himself indicated that the majority would not practice true Christianity:

(Matthew 7:13-21) “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it. 15 “Be on the watch for the false prophets... 17 Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit... 20 Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men. 21 “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.

Sadly, anti-Witnesses repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. For example, Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.

The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".

In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"

(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”

(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name


So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded

Learn more!
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/w/1996/2/1/have_you_been_saved.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm