The Watchtower teaches that only Jehovah’s Witnesses will make it through Armageddon, while billions of others will face death during this catastrophic event. The reasoning behind this belief is that only Jehovah’s Witnesses worship the true God, Jehovah, and have His support.
According to the official teachings, being a Jehovah’s Witness is crucial for salvation when Armageddon arrives. They emphasize that:
“Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, including the anointed remnant and the ‘great crowd,’ united under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the end of this doomed system ruled by Satan the Devil.” (Watchtower, September 1, 1989, p. 19)
In fact, they assert that with God’s day of judgment looming, everyone should “keep silent before the Sovereign Lord Jehovah” and listen to His message conveyed through the “little flock” of Jesus’ anointed followers and their companions, the “other sheep.” (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) Those who refuse to listen are said to face annihilation for opposing God’s Kingdom.” (Watchtower, February 15, 2001, p. 14)
At the 2023 Annual Meeting, a new change was introduced that allows people to convert or return during the great tribulation. However, it’s still expected that billions will perish at Armageddon.
A steady stream of subtle ideas and direct quotes from the Watchtower suggests that salvation during Armageddon hinges on being an active Jehovah’s Witness and being part of the Watchtower Organization. They warn,
“Soon the Devil will use powerful propaganda to mislead entire nations into taking sides against Jehovah.” (Rev. 16:13, 14) They stress the importance of training ourselves to discern truth from falsehood, as our survival during the great tribulation depends on it!” (Watchtower, July 2024, pp. 8-9)
They also remind us that
“Jesus conveys Jehovah’s voice to us as he directs the congregation through ‘the faithful and discreet slave.’” (Matt. 24:45) It’s crucial to take this guidance seriously because our everlasting life relies on our obedience.” (Watchtower, August 15, 2014, p. 21)
“Just as Noah was a faithful preacher during the Flood, Jehovah’s people today are sharing God’s standards and the good news about surviving into the new world. (2 Peter 3:9-13) Like Noah and his family, survival today depends on faith and loyalty to Jehovah’s organization.” (Watchtower, May 15, 2006, p. 22)
“Is it presumptuous for Jehovah’s Witnesses to claim they alone have God’s backing? The Watchtower argues it’s no more presumptuous than when the Israelites in Egypt or the first-century Christians claimed the same.” (Watchtower, June 1, 2001, p. 16)
They assert that
“Jehovah is using only one organization to fulfill His will today, and to gain everlasting life in paradise, we must identify and serve as part of that organization.” (Watchtower, February 15, 1983, p. 12)
Their worship is presented as the only acceptable way when God is searching for those worthy of everlasting life.
The Watchtower emphasizes that the Bible does not support the modern idea that there are many acceptable ways to worship God. Ephesians 4:5 states there is “one Lord, one faith.” Jesus himself said, “Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.” Because Jehovah’s Witnesses base their beliefs and practices on the Bible, they feel confident that what they have is the truth, and they don’t see this as arrogant. (Reasoning from the Scriptures, pp. 203-204)
They even claim that the millions who have died in wars are nothing compared to the number that will perish at Armageddon. “Yes, blood will run deep under the hand of God’s executional forces. The 69 million deaths of two world wars will pale in comparison to those slain in God’s war of Armageddon.” (Watchtower, February 1, 1985, pp. 3-4) It’s a heavy message, and one that leaves many of us grappling with our beliefs and the implications for humanity.
Shall I go on?
Watchtower goes as far as to state that there are billions in line for destruction.
“There are billions of people who do not know Jehovah. Many of them in ignorance practice things that God’s Word shows to be wicked. If they persist in this course, they will be among those who perish during the great tribulation.” Watchtower 1993 Oct 1 p.19
The billions slaughtered at Armageddon will not get a resurrection; theirs is said to be an everlasting destruction.
“Yes, the destruction of the gross sinners in those cities was eternal, as will be the destruction of the wicked at the end of the present system of things.” Watchtower 1990 Apr 15 p.20
“The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those that are destroyed then.” Kingdom Ministry 1968 Mar p.4
As a Jehovah’s Witness, have you ever thought about how fair it really is to believe that God would destroy you simply because of the circumstances that led you to a different faith?
I mean, would a loving God really plan to condemn billions of people to a violent and eternal death? It’s hard to reconcile that idea with the God that C.T. Russell described when he first started the Bible Students. He left the Presbyterians because he couldn’t accept the notion of a God who would wipe out the majority of humanity.
He once said, “We reasoned that if Christ’s coming was to end probation and bring irrevocable ruin upon ninety-nine in a hundred of mankind, then it could scarcely be considered desirable. Neither could we pray with a proper spirit, ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!’” (Supplement to Zion’s Watch Tower, July 1, 1879).
Russell also struggled with the idea that only Adventists would be saved. He expressed his concerns, saying, “We felt greatly grieved at the error of Second Adventists, who were expecting Christ in the flesh and teaching that the world and all in it except Second Adventists would be burned up.” (Proclaimers, p. 45).
Back in Russell’s day, the Watchtower taught that, regardless of their religion, most people would survive Armageddon. He believed that humanity would get a second chance to learn and grow under Christ’s guidance during a thousand-year reign before facing judgment. He even thought that everyone who had died, including Adam, would be resurrected. But now, the organization he founded claims that even more than “ninety-nine out of a hundred will be destroyed.” With only one Witness for every 1,000 people on the planet, the current teaching suggests that Jehovah will actually destroy 99.9 out of 100 people.
This shift in doctrine really took shape under Rutherford’s leadership. He introduced ideas like ‘irrevocable ruin’ and ‘judgment periods’—concepts that Russell had tried to steer clear of. In the Watchtower from 1923, it was stated that clergy wouldn’t be saved. Then, in 1930, Rutherford declared that anyone who disagreed with him, labeled as apostates, would face everlasting destruction. By 1939, the Watchtower claimed that people from previous judgment periods, like those from Sodom and Gomorrah, wouldn’t be resurrected either, nor would Adam and Eve, Solomon, or the Scribes and Pharisees.
It’s a lot to unpack, isn’t it?
The 2023 Annual Meeting made the change that people can convert or return during the great tribulation. See Geoffrey W. Jackson: What Do We Know About Jehovah’s Future Judgments? 16 June 2025 starting 6:18.
Jackson stated:
“The first question is, once the great tribulation starts … is there a door of opportunity for nonbelievers to actually join us in serving Jehovah? Is there a door opportunity? … So let’s think about some whom we know – perhaps unbelieving relatives, disfellowshipped ones, others who have heard the message and perhaps have studied with us. Could some of them, once they see the destruction of Babylon the Great, decide that what Jehovah’s Witnesses were saying is correct after all? Could they take a stand for the truth? Well, if they changed their hearts and joined us, would we be disappointed? Now we can’t be dogmatic, but we don’t want to be like Jonah and say: “Oh, no, no, the door is closed, no, no.” … But could it be that once the great tribulation starts, many who have heard the message that Jehovah’s Witnesses have preached may be in a position then to make the right decision, the right choice? Well, again we can’t be dogmatic, but we certainly hope that that would be the case.” jwb-108-19.v
This was later released as an article in May 2024
“Even after the great tribulation starts, it is possible that some who see the destruction of “Babylon the Great” will recall that Jehovah’s Witnesses had long spoken of this event. Might some who see these events have a change of heart? … If a similar development should occur following the destruction of Babylon the Great, would we be disappointed that people were able to join us shortly before the end comes? Of course not! We want to reflect the personality of our heavenly Father, “a God merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love and truth.” Watchtower 2024 May pp.11,12
” … Jesus’ words found at Matthew 24:14, which indicate that people may have the opportunity to respond to the good news until just before the final end at Armageddon.” Watchtower 2025 Aug p.31
While this suggests that some people who were Jehovah’s Witnesses or who have heard their message might decide to join the organization at the last minute and find salvation, it doesn’t change the reality for the billions of others who have never encountered Jehovah’s Witnesses and don’t have that same opportunity.
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