As was stated earlier, this discussion took place sometime back on another forum in which several x-Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as some active members who had joined the Bible Students forum were asked to explain the Societies teaching that those who perish during the great time of trouble (specifically Armageddon) will have been adjudged to be worthy of Second Death. Most of what we received was merely hear say, and a few vein attempts at taking scripture out of context and twisting it to make it appear to support something it does not.

We continue now with Victor’s statement.

Victor states:

“Rev 16:14 states that “the kings of the entire inhabited earth” form a united front at “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” In his inspired prophecy, Jeremiah stated that “those slain by Jehovah” will be scattered “from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth.” (Jer 25:33)

“A noise shall come even to the end of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah. Thus, saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth. And the slain of Jehovah shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the face of the ground.” (Jer 25:31-33)

We provide a few more supporting scriptures to this end.

“The day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” (Mal 4:1)

“For, behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isa 26:21)

“In that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones and the kings of the earth.” (Isa 24:21)

“The day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” (Isa 13:9,11)

“I will bring distress upon men that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.” (Zep 1:17)

“For by fire (trouble) and by his sword (truth) will the Lord plead (inter into judgment) with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” (Isa 66:16)

As can be seen there are many Scriptures which prophesize along similar lines as that of Jer 25:31-33 in regards to “the day of the LORD’s fierce anger, “The Day of Vengeance” (Isa 13:13; 34:8) however, not one of these texts implies specifically that those slain during this time, suffers Second Death.

Note closely the following as taken from Isaiah’s prophecy in regards to the Day of Vengeance, Armageddon, especially the last few verses.

“Behold, Jehovah makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him. The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.

“All strata of society—the whole earth—are affected by this calamity (the great Time of Trouble). Activity will cease in the commercial as well as in the religious realm. The various goods and artifacts will lose their charm and appeal because everyone will be brought to a common level of distress.”

The earth (Society) mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, and the lofty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.

“They have … broken the everlasting [Adamic] covenant.” When Adam disobeyed, the death penalty came on the human race through him. However, if individually tested, no one (except Jesus) could have kept the covenant perfectly. All would come short.”

Therefore, hath the curse (the Adamic curse) devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty (there is none righteous no not one): therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left…

The earth (Society: the present order) is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, the earth is shaken violently. The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit (hell, Sheol), and shall be shut up in the prison (in other words they shall die, perish, but); and after many days shall they be visited (i.e., resurrected released from the prison which holds them). Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion (the earthly phase of the kingdom, through his earthly representatives, the Ancient Worthies), and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory (the spiritual phase of the kingdom through Christ and the glorified Church).” (Isa 24:1-6, 19-23)

In our next post we should like to consider a few more questions namely,

Who do the Scriptures imply shall perish during Armageddon? Only the wicked, or is this simply what the Organization teaches? Is this what the Scriptures state? Shall the good (according to this world) escape?

Who are the good, the just, the righteous and according to whose estimation?

Who are the wicked?

The Elect?

The non-elect?