Illuminating The Outer Darkness

I’ve written about outer darkness before, but while researching a completely different topic, I stumbled upon Unger’s definition of darkness, which includes being a symbol in Scripture of ignorance and spiritual blindness.¹

In this post I discuss why I do not believe that outer darkness is hell, but is a place for believers — whose works do not withstand the test of fire at the judgment seat of Christ — during Christ’s thousand-year reign in His Millennial Kingdom.  These believers do not lose eternal life, but will spend those one thousand years being on the outside and looking in on the Kingdom (for more on this, read Jim Harman’s book The Kingdom).

  

If a believer’s ignorance and spiritual blindness were revealed at the judgment seat of Christ, it would certainly explain the weeping and gnashing of teeth that are mentioned in the three Bible passages that describe the outer darkness (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).

In Matthew 8:12, Jesus says:

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

Would Jesus describe unbelievers as children of the kingdom?  One could argue that He was referring to the Jewish people in Israel, who were presented with His offer of the kingdom, but refused it.  The context of this passage is the great faith of the centurion.  Matthew Henry writes: “But when the Son of man comes he finds little faith, therefore he finds little fruit.  An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we shall be cast out.”

The only time the phrase “children of the kingdom” is mentioned again is Matthew 13:38, Jesus’ parable of the sower:

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one (emphasis mine).

In this passage, the children of the kingdom are clearly believers. 

The next parable where Jesus mentions outer darkness is the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:13).  Henry writes that the “doom of the guest that had not the wedding-garment, the danger of hypocrisy in the profession of Christianity.”

Outer darkness is mentioned a third time in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:30).  Of this parable, Henry writes: “1. The Master is Christ, who is the absolute Owner and Proprietor of all persons and things, and in a special manner of his church; into his hands all things are delivered. 2. The servants are Christians, his own servants, so they are called; born in his house, bought with his money, devoted to his praise, and employed in his work.”  In his commentary, David Guzik writes: “…our readiness for Jesus’ return is determined by our stewardship of the resources that He has given us.”  Ray Stedman refers to Matthew 25 (and 24) as “instructions to the believing remnant on what to do until he comes again.”

To those who believe that outer darkness is hell, how is it possible for believers to be sent there?  That would mean that the gift of salvation (of the spirit) could be lost. 

Scripture does not say that the gift of eternal life can be taken away from a believer.  What Scripture does say is that believers can lose rewards based on their works while in the body (1 Corinthians 3:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10).  I believe this includes the reward of ruling and reigning with Christ during His Millennial Kingdom.  

I urge you to read Harman’s book.  It will open your eyes to all of this — and time is running short.

1. Merril F. Unger and R.K. Harris, ed.  The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary  (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1988),179-180.