Answer #7

               They would have to be the Jewish nation of Jesus’ day as they were the ones that were “slaughtered” by the Roman Armies in 70 C.E.  At Matthew 3:12, John spoke of two outcomes for this nation, either a baptism by spirit or one by fire.  The baptism by “spirit” occurred at Pentecost and the one by “fire” occurred in 70 C.E.  A second group would also be included in this baptism by fire.  These are the ones that Jesus took their mina from because they did not increase it.  Their “fire” was their being abandoned in 70 C.E. by Jesus to spiritual darkness forever.  (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)