What is Outer Darkness?

I think that now would be a good time to pause in our study of the typology of Cain and Abel to interject a word study on Outer Darkness. In reality, this interjection is quite appropriate because we are just about to discuss the end result of Cain's lack of faithfulness to God, and by typological implication, the end result of an unfaithful believer's life that was lived for themselves.

Too many teachers of the Word fail to grasp the full weight of what awaits a believer at the Judgement Seat of Christ when they have lived a life of unfaithfulness. Many believe that the Judgement Seat of Christ is just a rewarding seat. They believe that the believers that will stand before Christ after the Rapture will only be congratulated, or at the most scolded for lack of service. They see no real loss at that judgement. The scriptures speak of something a lot more serious.

To begin with, lets look at some relevant verses to help support the case that I will be making.

1 Corinthians 3:11 - 15 states:
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

It is very clear from this verse that our works will be judged by the Lord. Only those works that are of quality (works done by faith) will remain, while those that are worthless (not of faith) will be burned. Not only that, the unfaithful worker suffers loss. This loss isn't consignment to hell, because the Bible is very clear here. He is saved, but suffers loss of reward.

The fact that the works of Christians will be judged by Christ at the Judgement Seat can be established quite easily. Look at the following verses:

Romans 14:10 - 12 states:
"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

2 Corinthians 5:8 - 11 states:
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether if be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persaude men; but we are manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in you consciences."

It is undeniable that every Christian will have to give an account of their faithfulness to God at the Judgement Seat of Christ. We like to think of only the good things that might flow forth from this judgement of God, and not the things that might not be so pleasing to us. But, whether or not we like to think about it or not, it is possible that each of us could hear something that will make our very beings quake. This could be placement into Outer Darkness.

Now, lets turn to the subject of Outer Darkness. The phrase "Outer Darkness" comes from two Greek words:
exteros (G1857) - exterior: -outer

skotos (G4655) - shadiness, i.e. obscurity: - darkness.

So, the definition would be "the darkness the outer" - darkness outside the limits of a lighted palace. The idea that this imagery should bring to you will be very clear if you imagine a wedding or party that is being held at night. In the center of the festivities would be the bride and groom (Jesus and His most intimate followers), around them would be their friends and relatives (faithful Old Testament Saints, and faithful followers of Christ), and on the outside of the party you would find those that had been excluded from the marriage feast (unfaithful believers). These unfaithful believers can see the festivities, but they cannot participate in them. They can see the lighted palace, but they themselves are on the outskirts. The guests on the inside may be laughing and enjoying the joy of the marriage along with the bride and groom, but not those on the outside. They may even be crying over what they could have been a part of.

Before you reject the notion out of hand, see what the Bible has to say. Then judge for yourself what it really says. I know that many of us have been told that in heaven there will be no tears. This isn't the case. Tears are not wiped away by God until after the 1000 year reign of Christ (Revelation 21:1-4) So, please, stay with me a little longer and consider what I have to say.

There are three occurrences where the words for Outer Darkness are explicitly used. There are several more where it is implied. My intention will be to focus more on the places where it is actually used. All three occurences are in the gospel of Matthew. The first is Matthew 8.

Matthew 8:5 - 13 says:
"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou has believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the same hour."

The centurion knew his place. He knew who Jesus was (Savior and King). He believed that Jesus was capable of healing the servant with just a word. The centurion understood what an authority structure meant. Jesus had supreme power, therefore, whatever He said would happen. So, the centurion believed God and his actions were directed by that belief. Jesus in response says to the Jews that He was preaching to about Himself, that Gentiles who show this kind of faith will be able to enter into the kingdom (remember the party I spoke of earlier). Those saved Jews that didn't believe that Jesus was the King, or didn't want to allow Him to be their King would be cast out of the kingdom (but not into hell). They will be cast into outer darkness. The weeping and gnashing of teeth comes from their realization of what they could have had. You must make a distinction between the Kingdom of Heaven and Heaven. They are not the same thing. The parallel passage in Luke 13:24-30 has some very interesting things to say as well.

The second occurence is in Matthew 22.

Matthew 22: 1-14 states:
"And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remanant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy, Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered to gather all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen."

This parable is a very thinly veiled description of what was happening, and was going to happen after Jesus' first advent. The Father is preparing for the Son a wedding feast. He has sent servants (Old Testament Prophets, John the Baptist, the Apostles, and other Servants) to bid the Jews to the feast. The Jews didn't think much of the offer that had been presented them, and in fact they killed the Prophets, John the Baptist, and the Apostles. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, which was an instrument of God's divine Judgement. God then turned to the Gentiles and is presently calling them to come to the feast. Entrance into this feast requires Gentiles to first be saved, and then have proper wedding attire. Wedding attire is "fashioned" from the good works that are done out of faith. (Revelation 19:7-10, and 1 Corinthians 15:35-50) Guests that are not properly clothed, aren't allowed to be at the feast. The guest that the King finds in the parable is speechless. He has nothing to say because he has no excuse for not being prepared. As a result of being unprepared, he is cast into the darkness outside the wedding feast. In the same way, any believer who is unprepared (by having done no good works out of faith) will also find themselves in the darkness outside the kingdom of God.

The last occurence is in Matthew 25.

Matthew 25:13-30:

"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delievered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delieveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou delieveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then, he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou has not sown, and gathering where thou has not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance : but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

In this last parable, we see the full transition. Only Christians are in view. Many teachers teach that only two of the servants were saved. This can not be the case and the integrity of the passage remain intact. These people in view are all described as "servants". They are all given the Lord's goods. No unbeliever can thus be described. Once more, each servant is called into question as to how they worked with the Lord's goods. Faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus isn't the basis for judgement. Being profitable or unprofitable to the Lord is the basis. It is clear from the passage that when the Lord returns, He will bring us into account for how we have handled what He has entrusted us with. Reward will follow for those who have handled the things of the Lord wisely, while outer darkness and loss of reward will be the fate of those believers who have been lazy and wicked.

These are the passages where the words "outer darkness" are actually used. But I believe that there are several more where it is implied. One such passage is found in Matthew 24.

Consider Matthew 24:44-51:
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made him ruler over his houshold, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing ("watching" - see v. 42). Verily I say unto you, that He shall make him ruler over all His goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

I really don't know how much plainer the Lord can make this. It is quite clear from the text, if it is read with an open and honest mind, that both are servants (believers) and both are dealt with according to how they acted, and how they worked (in other words, how they lived). It is clear if we start having the mindset of the world, then our Lord will not be pleased, to say the least. The state of the unfaithful servant is described in terms very similar to those of outer darkness.

Once you begin to make the distinctions between faith and works, the kingdom and heaven, and spirit, soul, and body; these truths concerning our accountability to the Lord become evident. There are many more examples that could be cited, but I hope and trust that these few here will be sufficient to make us stop and think, and to search out the scriptures for ourselves. Really, it matters little what I have to say. What is important is what God has said. Truly we are blessed when we just let Him speak.