Having in our last post seen the general view on this issue as stated by the Society we now would like to see what Victor had to say.

Victor states:

“The war of Armageddon will cleanse the earth of all corruption and wickedness and open the way for a righteous new system of things under the rule of God’s Messianic Kingdom. (Isa 11:4, 5) Instead of being a frightening cataclysmic end, Armageddon will signal a happy beginning for righteous individuals, who will live forever on a paradise earth. (Psa 37:29).”

In general, we agree with the foregoing statement accepting of course that it will be corrupt and wicked systems NOT the people, who will be cleansed from the face of the earth during the time of Armageddon.  That is not to say that many will not perish as many will, however not everlastingly.

The wicked themselves (that is as individuals) will eventually be eradicated (cut off) at the close of the Millennial age, but not until after they have been brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth and will have had sufficient time to adjust their course as alluded to in our Lord’s Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46). Now while it’s true that a few of these will meet this end a little sooner as the kingdom progresses, specifically the incorrigible (Isa 65:20), yet the vast majority of the wicked will not see their demise until the end of the age during the “little season” which closes out the age of sin and sinners.

In respects to the corrupt and wicked systems of the present world they will meet their demise prior to the Mediatorial reign, during the great storm, Armageddon viz.

“But the day of the Lord will (Greek, heko) have come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens (the ecclesiastical heavens, both the seen and the unseen) shall pass away with a great noise (turmoil and confusion), and the elements (composing these systems, the various parties, both civil and religious, viz. the various denominations, sects, and organizations) shall be dissolved with fervent heat (the heat of public discussion, disclosure and investigation will in the end lead to open strife and bitterness against the elements), and the earth (society as now organized under Satan’s control and influence, i.e. the present order of things) and the works (pride, selfishness, envy, deceit and etc.) that are in it shall be burned up (destroyed, overthrown in the fire of anarchy).” 2 Pet 3:10

Let us now consider Isa 11:4, 5

First and foremost before considering any Scripture it is always prudent that first we rightly divide the Word of God into its proper times and seasons thus distinguishing when precisely the Scripture is to be applied, the following Scripture applies to the Day of Judgment that is to the entire Day of Judgment (the 1000 years), but specifically beginning with the judgment of nations (i.e. systems of government, institutions both religious and civil) subsequently to be followed by the judgment of individuals in and during the Mediatorial reign.

“But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth (with the force and spirit of his truth he will render a verbal reproof to the nations, Compare Rev 19:15); and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.”

“The sword of truth going forth out of Messiah’s mouth will expose human depravity and all corruption in business, government, and religion, resulting in anarchy that will sweep away the refuge of lies, leaving bare the foundation for a new order. He who wounds to heal “shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips [pursed to furnish added vigor and spirited thrust to the truth] shall he slay the wicked” (“The Keys of Revelation”, Page 492).

But what specifically does it mean that with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips, he shall slay the wicked?

Does this imply that they are destroyed?

His word assures us that the slain of the Lord’s shall indeed be many, “but he smites to bless, he wounds to heal“, as the physician may lance a wound, so God sometimes wounds, but he wounds to heal (Isa 19:22).

If all the wicked be destroyed (sentence to Second Death) how shall they be healed?

Truth shall be the judge even as it was the truth “the breath of the Lord’s mouth” which eventually consumed (uncovered and exposed) the Great Antichrist, the Lawless One (2 Thess 2:8) “If the verbal reprimand is ignored, the person will be considered incorrigible and go into destruction, Second Death (Acts 3:23). However, an individual will be given every opportunity before being rendered (judged) incorrigible.”

This implies that the individual must first be made aware of what the truth is, that in acknowledging it they might be given the opportunity through divine assistance to conform to its standards. This thought is expressed in the following Reprint extract (R 2374).

“The Lord, through the Prophet, shows the means by which the righteous reign of the Messiah shall be inaugurated–the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation, predicted by the Prophet Daniel, — saying, “He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” It is evident, then, that there will be not only poor, needing assistance and equity, but there will be wicked at the time the Kingdom is established. (Compare Mal 4:1, 6; Rev 19:15)

The rod of Messiah’s mouth signifies the judgments which he has already expressed, and which have very largely gone unheeded by Christendom. We remember his declaration,

“He that rejects me and receives not my words hath one that judges him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Christendom in general has admitted the righteousness of the Lord’s Word, but those who attempt to live according to that Word are remarkably few. Consequently, when the time shall come that judgment shall be laid to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and when this judgment shall begin at the nominal house of God, the nominal system in general will fall–will fall condemned under that Word. Only the faithful few, the Lord’s jewels, shall be “accounted worthy to escape those things coming upon the world,” when the Lord shall smite the earth, Christendom (Great Babylon), the present social order, with the rod of his mouth, when, as elsewhere described,

“The Lord shall speak to them in his anger, and vex them in his sore displeasure“–when he shall render vengeance to his enemies, and recompense to those who have known the Master’s will and have done it not. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” “Wait ye upon me saith the Lord, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”

And THEN will I turn unto the people a pure language (an accurate knowledge of the truth not polluted by the creeds of men) that they may ALL call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” (Psa 2:5; Rom 12:19; Zep 3:8-9)

It is self-evident from the last Scripture quoted here that although the various corrupt systems of this present evil world are to be done away with (destroyed) nevertheless the people, both those who endured Armageddon and those subsequently resurrected afterwards will still remain, this would include both the good and the wicked, for the Scriptures inform us that there is to be a resurrection of BOTH the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15).

We will continue with this discussion in our next post.