Exiters of Armstrongism often question, or even blame God, for being in an abusive group, or for letting something bad happen to them while they were in. While they may admit that the "god" of these groups was a false god, which leaders used for the purpose of keeping people from leaving, they don't see that there could be a true God who is just the opposite, is our Creator, and desires to have a personal, loving fellowship with us. They want nothing more to do with any "god."

While spiritual confusion is very common upon exiting a high demand group and is part of the mind control, there are many who permanently lose their faith after being betrayed and find atheism an alternative to escape from their guilt and confusion. Some say they "can't believe" unless they see everything proved logically. They say their decision to become an atheist was the final result of this logical thinking. An atheist may be a brilliant person and appear to have much wisdom, but it is only the wisdom of this world, which is foolishness with God. In fact, God calls one who doesn't believe in Him a "fool." The Hebrew word for "fool" means insane or mad. 

Will atheists have another chance to accept Christ in a "2nd resurrection?" Unfortunately, the Word of God nowhere talks about "another chance" or "their first chance" (as Armstrong called it) for those who have refused in this age to believe in and trust Jesus as their personal Savior. This particular teaching seems to be unique with Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God and similar offshoots, but it is not based on Scripture. For those who knew the true gospel about Jesus and His love and have turned from, or spurned, placing their faith in the One who died for all their sins, there is no more sacrifice for sins. Jesus made it very clear that: 

"...he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)

"...he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

 "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)

In order to try to show there is some type of chance for salvation in the future, some have pointed to verses such as "the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" (Matt. 21:31) and "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation" (Matt. 12:41). These verses do not say that these people are going to be there having their first chance. Jesus was talking to the hypocritical religious leaders who would not believe in Him. He told them that those sinners believed. ("For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." (Matt. 21:32) "...they [The men of Nineveh] repented at the preaching of Jonas"; (Matt. 12:41) Those who lived in the O.T. were saved by faith, just as we are today, and all sins can be forgiven except the final rejection of Jesus Christ. 

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)

It is evident that there were some in WCG who were converted and their fruits bore that out. Some were genuine Christians before they ever became involved with WCG. However, our belief that the Holy Spirit was only a "force" or "power" (and not part of the eternal Godhead), and our not understanding that it is faith in Jesus alone without the works of the Law that saves, greatly hindered our growth and our spiritual walk. Nevertheless, God is a merciful God and He does not desire that any perish. He alone knows who His sheep are and He can bring those who have wandered back to Him--indeed He has brought many back to Him--but the Bible does not say this will be in another age, or in a "second resurrection." Scripture does, however, say that the Holy Spirit draws men to Christ and convicts them of sin (John 16:7-9), and any who do not turn to Him as their Savior in this age of grace, but reject His free offer of eternal life, will have the responsibility of bearing their own sins in the judgment. If they refuse the eternal life God has offered now, they will die in their sins:

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. " (John 8:24)

Once someone places their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior--trusting Him who died for them and rose again--they receive eternal life which cannot be taken away. They are passed from death into life: 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

These are the true sheep and they are eternally secure. No man can take them out of Christ's hand: 

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)

One of the last statements that the atheist Bernard Shaw said before his death in 1950 was that he had pinned his hopes on atheism, but he found that atheism did not solve the problems of the world:

"The science to which I pinned my faith is bankrupt. Its counsels, which should have established the millennium, have led directly to the suicide of Europe. I believed them once. In their name I helped to destroy the faith of millions. And now they look at me and witness the great tragedy of an atheist who has lost his faith." (Too True to Be Good). [emp. ours] 

H. G. Wells also rejected God and the Bible, yet never could find lasting peace, and at the end of his life lost confidence in what he believed. Many well-known atheists ended their life in similar despair. Atheism is a "faith," but it is not a saving faith. It is a faith that gives no hope. 

If you have rejected God in favor of atheism, but finally come to see the futility, emptiness and hopelessness of it all and want to turn from it to the Lord Jesus Christ, He will not turn you away. 

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
October 8, 2003
Updated August 3, 2006

Also read: It Was Tempting to Discard God and Turn to Atheism (6-24-07 letter to ESN)
 

Mike's Answer to an Atheist (includes section at the bottom on, "Are Atheists Happy?" "What About Thomas Paine's Book?" "Refuting Common Atheist Claims" and "Confessions by Atheists")

Why Do Many Exiters of Armstrongism Turn to Agnosticism or Atheism?

How Do I Receive Eternal Life?