There are so many different aspects to this issue and frankly, when one asks this question it is often asked from only one of them…
It is good that we are concerned, even saddened, by the prospect of the many going to hell and the few going to heaven. Such concern bodes well for our own spiritual life. After all, does not God wish that all could be saved?
I’m reminded of a quote in the NT, I forget just where, but in it Jesus looks upon the crowds with pity. Why did He pity them? because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
If Jesus could both look upon these people and pity them - and yet make the statement that few would find the gate to eternal life, how much more should we take pity on those who we can see taking the wrong path?
That is the more emotional aspect of the question - and why it is of concern to us…We Love as God Loves and so we are sorrowful that so many will perish.
The historical aspects of the question get a bit more complex, for we often get into conversation over who has and who has not heard and then embraced the good news of Christ and Salvation. Questions are asked, “well what about all the people who die without ever hearing about Jesus…”, or…“What about all the people who are basically good but not religious…” and so forth.
These ARE good questions and yet we often have trouble finding satisfactory answers.
We are left with a mystery…something we must leave to God. And indeed we MUST leave it to God for our intellects, our emotions, our pity do not prepare us to truly discern this mystery.
This does not mean that we need lose hope, or despair of our own salvation or that of those near to us. Our God is a God of Love. Scripture tells us that God IS Love, and so it is through Love that we are saved. Those of any persuasion, denomination, time, place, or whatever will be saved if it is Love that is the source of their being and their lives. Will that be many or few of those alive today??? Of those who have lived in every place or time??? Only God knows.
The best thing that we can do is to live Love. To be Love, and through that Love take pity on the masses who cannot see. To pray for them. To intercede for others as Christ and the Saints intercede for us. Surely we can do no better than this.
Peace
James