Partake of the Waters of Life Freely

When John saw the events of the sixth seal, he beheld that there were “servants of our God” who were sealed “in their foreheads.” He wrote, “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 7:4). He beheld twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes. The student manual comments, “It is not, as some people believe, the total number of people who will be exalted.” Rather, the Lord explained in our dispensation, “We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn” (Doctrine and Covenants 77:11). Thus, these 144,000 are those meant to “administer the everlasting gospel,” helping others to come unto Christ and obtain salvation. It is clear from this chapter in Revelation that these are not the only ones saved by simply reading the subsequent verse after the list of all of the tribes from which twelve thousand will come: “After this I beheld, 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; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10). Thus, John saw not just 144,000 but also “a great multitude” that could not be numbered who worshipped the Lamb and were dressed in white robes, a symbol of their purity and sanctification. There is no limit to the number of God’s children who can be saved.

                Other passages in the book of Revelation confirm that there will be many saved in the kingdom of God—there is no arbitrary cap on who can come. John described His vision of the Savior opening the book this way: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:9-12). Ten thousand times ten thousand is one hundred million, but surely that was not meant either to be a cap on the inhabitants of heaven either. But it does indicate that heaven will not be a place for only a few to come. Towards the end of the vision John wrote, “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:5-7). There will indeed be a “great multitude” who will be saved, and all of His servants that fear Him will sing Alleluia there. In the final chapter we read, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city…. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:14, 17). As Alma similarly put it, “Whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely” (Alma 42:27). All who choose to keep His commandments will eat of the fruit of the tree of life; there is room in heaven for all who will come unto the Lamb of God and partake of the waters of life.