Outer Darkness

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A good friend asked me a good question today, based on a passage I taught on last night (City on a Hill). I thought it was helpful:

Question: How is it that we know that outer darkness is for believers and is not hell?

Answer:

These are the three passages in the gospels that refer to outer darkness:

Matthew 22:12-14 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Matthew 8:12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Matthew 25:30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The first passages describes a man IN the wedding room...meaning he made it through the rapture! BUT, he is not clothed in glory, and he is sent to a place further away with regret.

The second passage calls those in outer darkness "sons of the kingdom"...they are legal heirs...they have citizenship, but they weep and gnash their teeth over their living condition

In the third passage, Jesus refers to the man in outer darkness as a "servant", yet unprofitable...an evil servant is how Jesus describes this condition in Matthew 24...

All of these passages describe belonging and ownership in the kingdom.

Here is a good passage to understand regarding the human experience of hell, or "hades":

Luke 16:22-30 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' 27 "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

The words for "outer darkness" are exturo (outer or outside) skotos....which means to be "obscured or shady"... the "darkness" in the term "outer darkness" is not complete

From Strong's:

skotos

skot'-os

From the base of G4639; shadiness, that is, obscurity (literally or figuratively): - darkness.

Another word synonymous with obscure would be "unimportant"...

"outer unimportance" in the kingdom of heaven... that is much different than the place of torment

Hades is COMPLETE darkness, or "unseen"

G86

ᾅδης

hadēs

hah'-dace

From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell.

Obscure is less than complete darkness. Here is the dictionary definition of obscure:

[uh b-skyoo r]

Spell Syllables

Synonyms Examples Word Origin

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

adjective, obscurer, obscurest.

1. (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain:

an obscure sentence in the contract.

2. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive:

obscure motivations.

3. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.

4. indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.

5. inconspicuous or unnoticeable:

the obscure beginnings of a great movement.

6. of little or no prominence, note, fame, or distinction:

an obscure French artist.

7. far from public notice, worldly affairs, or important activities; remote; retired:

an obscure little town.

Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Matthew 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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