Outer Darkness

[salt and light]

I always thought that "outer darkness" was "hell". I'm not too sure now, because "hell" isn't out, and "outer darkness" is mentioned in Matt. 8:12, and it says, "But the CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The "children of the kingdom" isn't unsaved people, that is refering to christians. Matt. chapter 22:13 says, "Then said the king to the servant, Bind him hand and foot,and take him away,and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." I believe the reason for the "children of the kingdom' being cast into outer darkness as stated in Matt. 8:12,is because, outer darkness is not hell. The light of God is in the kingdom, there is no sun,moon or stars in the kingdom,so I believe at judgment day when rewards are given, the saved people who were not doing all that they could do for the Lord, such as witnessing etc. will not be allowed in the kingdom,except to go in to worship and praise God, but they will live outside the kingdom where the light of God is not. They will weep and gnash their teeth when they realized what they could have had. They will suffer loss as 1 Cor. chapter 3 speaks of. If outer darkness was hell, they will be doing more than weeping and gnashing their teeth, they will be screaming and begging for mercy in extreme torment. As far as Matt. 22:13 goes, that guest who didn't have a wedding garment on, well, that is probably an allegory, because no unsaved person will be allowed at the wedding in the first place. Matt.25:30 speaks of "outer darkness", and we know that can't be refering to hell, because it says, "And cast ye the UNPROFITABLE SERVANT into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." We know that an unsaved person is not a servant. We know that an unprofitable servent is a saved person who isn't serving the Lord like he or she should. I don't think "outer darkness' is hell, I don't think it has anything to do with hell. Somebody once said that hell has black flames and that's why the darkness, but I doubt that. Any opinions from anybody who believes what "outer darkness" might really be?

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings S&L,

There may be more, but check these verses out:

Isaiah 60:18-19 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Revelation 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[angels4u]

I don't think that the Bible by outer darkness talks about hell alone.

I believe the meaning of outer darknees is deeper and that the Bible refers to this as to be seperated from God forever ( I know the word being seperated from God is the worse thing that can happen to a person.

Angels

[His son]

I always thought that "outer darkness" was "hell". I'm not too sure now, because "hell" isn't out, and "outer darkness" is mentioned in Matt. 8:12, and it says, "But the CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The "children of the kingdom" isn't unsaved people, that is refering to christians. Matt. chapter 22:13 says, "Then said the king to the servant, Bind him hand and foot,and take him away,and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." I believe the reason for the "children of the kingdom' being cast into outer darkness as stated in Matt. 8:12,is because, outer darkness is not hell. The light of God is in the kingdom, there is no sun,moon or stars in the kingdom,so I believe at judgment day when rewards are given, the saved people who were not doing all that they could do for the Lord, such as witnessing etc. will not be allowed in the kingdom,except to go in to worship and praise God, but they will live outside the kingdom where the light of God is not. They will weep and gnash their teeth when they realized what they could have had. They will suffer loss as 1 Cor. chapter 3 speaks of. If outer darkness was hell, they will be doing more than weeping and gnashing their teeth, they will be screaming and begging for mercy in extreme torment. As far as Matt. 22:13 goes, that guest who didn't have a wedding garment on, well, that is probably an allegory, because no unsaved person will be allowed at the wedding in the first place. Matt.25:30 speaks of "outer darkness", and we know that can't be refering to hell, because it says, "And cast ye the UNPROFITABLE SERVANT into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." We know that an unsaved person is not a servant. We know that an unprofitable servent is a saved person who isn't serving the Lord like he or she should. I don't think "outer darkness' is hell, I don't think it has anything to do with hell. Somebody once said that hell has black flames and that's why the darkness, but I doubt that. Any opinions from anybody who believes what "outer darkness" might really be?

Don't lean to your own understanding on this. The first part of the chapter tells you that Jesus is telling the religious leaders that Those who enter The Kingdom of God will come from every nation of the world, and those who God originally called His children the physical Jews who refue Him will difinitely go to hell (outer darkness). The Jews had accepted a false sense of security based on the fact that they were physical Jews and therefore assured of salvation. This is the forerunner of the false doctrine of today that is leading a lot of the Christians into the same false sense of security that they had.

[jabner]

Amen to HIS SON.

[Adstar]

Salt and light

You have recieved some good replies to your post. I would suggest to you that you read Revealtion chapters 20 and 21 they detail the end times and the New Jerusalem. they will leave you in no doubt that people will have access to the New Jerusalem or they will be in the eternal fire.

All Praise They Ancient Of Days

[salt and light]

His Son,

I still wonder if outer darkness is hell. I don't think it is. There are a lot of verses that mentions "weeping and gnashing of teeth", or "wailing and gnashing of teeth", but only three of them that has "weeping" or "wailing" "gnashing of teeth", has outer darkness,and two of those three verses mentions "children of the kingdom", and "unprofitable servant",and those are saved people,and saved people aren't going to hell, so outer darkness in Matt.8:12,and Matt. 25:30 can't be hell. Maybe "outer darkness" is one step away from hell. The unprofitable servants go there,and the unsaved go further {into hell fire}.

Adstar, Thank you. I'm familiar with Rev. 20 and 21, but I just read them again, and yes, all saved people will have access to new Jerusalem,but I'm just curious about Matt. 8:12,and Matt.25:30. Jesus can't be talking about hell in those two verses,unless an unprofitable servant is an unsaved person,but an unsaved person is not a servant,not even a unprofitable one. It is interesting.

[Catsmeow]

This isn't an area I can claim great wisdom in..so I defer to those more learned than I.

However, I have wondered if "outer darkness" is a degree of hell, indicating certain separation from God but exclusive of physical agony of fire.

Many people have wondered if "hell" isn't a condition in which the soul is subject to separation from God and the suffering experienced is mandated in degrees according to what was done in the body, whether bad or good.

For instance, apart from Christ...one is eternally separated. However, would not a person who never receives the gospel be held less accountable? Or perhaps one who is younger and had less opportunity to realize their sins and repent from them.

In other words, judgement based upon the opportunities one has had and the degree of "light" or understanding they received, they would be held accountable and judged accordingly.

Also, I wonder....and please know I'm just speculating and nothing more...but when Jesus tells the parable of the man who the King forgave a great debt went out and beat and imprisoned another man who had a small debt which he couldn't repay..the King then recalled the man who's debt He forgave and sent him to prison. My understanding leads me to believe that those who refuse to forgive their brother from their heart is denied the King's forgiveness.

Jesus said, "Forgive and you shall be forgiven."

I wonder if that doesn't play a big part here...

[salt and light]

Hello Cats Meow,

You might be right. It makes sense. I was going to ask my pastor about it,and I keep forgetting,but I am going to ask him and hear what he thinks.

[Guest saw]

You guys should be real careful about this. Salt & Light, your thoughts are VERY disturbing to me. How can you be saved, but not be "in the light"? I believe "outer darkness" might really be hell.

If nothing else, consider this. It is believed and even pictured in a Bible I once saw that Hell and Lake Of Fire are two different places (but in close proximity). That Hell will eventually be emptied on judgement day for the lost. They would then be judged according to their works and opportunities and then cast into THE LAKE OF FIRE. IF anything, maybe the difference in "outer darkness" is Hell and Lake Of Fire. I don't know. I do believe though that there will be degrees of punishment as you suggested. Otherwise, why judge the lost if they will all pay equally. But the Bible clearly says ALL the lost will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Perhaps they just won't equally be punished.

NONE of us, and I said NONE of us will have taken every opportunity we have ever had in life to do what we should have done. Now you're offering an alternative testiment that borders severely on the "salvation by works" sideshow.

The Bible CLEARLY says that all things will be made new (for those saved). That there will be no more pain, tears, etc for the saved person. But you are suggesting that some will be weeping and gnashing their teeth.

I could say a lot about this, if I thought long enough. Be VERY careful with this line of thought.

Also, Catsmeow, you mentioned about losing the king's mercy if you yourself did not forgive. Again, bordering on salvation by works and the idea of "losing salvation". I know you were just speculating, but Jesus clearly said salvation is ETERNAL. It can't be eternal if you could lose it before you died.

From a number of verses mentioned below, it is quite evident that the Bible is referring to gnashing of teeth and fire in the same place (look at Matt 13:42). How can this be interpreted any differently? It SAYS "fire WHERE there will be gnashing of teeth). I'd focus more on that combination of wording rather than how the word "servant" is used.