Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 12: “Outer Darkness”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

.

.

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 15

.

.

.

.

Eternal Torment?

.

Part 12:

“Outer Darkness”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

.

.

.

.

“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.”

Matthew 8:11, 12

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg

There are many who read this above passage and assume it’s speaking of the church doctrine known as “Eternal Torment”.

.

They believe that outer darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth is what all lost souls will be doing for all eternity.

.

But such misunderstanding of Scripture and ignorance of God’s character can be corrected by doing a more thorough investigation of the Bible.

.

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:People_on_Times_Square.jpg

SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, NOT HELL!

.

This phrase, “outer darkness” is found three times in scripture…

.

1: One concerning the Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8),

2: The next in the Parable of the Invitation to the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22)

3: And the third is found in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25).

.

But in all three instances, the phrase, “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” is mentioned by Jesus.

.

But the outer darkness spoken of here is actually concerning the spiritual darkness that covers this unbelieving world. In other words, being cast out into outer darkness has to do with a churchgoer being cast out into spiritual darkness: that is, cast back into the world.

.

People on Times Square – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

.

GNASHING OF TEETH

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_What_Our_Lord_Saw_from_the_Cross_(Ce_que_voyait_Notre-Seigneur_sur_la_Croix)_-_James_Tissot.jpg

Now when we read of weeping and gnashing of teeth, we might misunderstand what “gnashing of teeth” means. Gnashing of teeth actually is when a person gnashes on his teeth in anger at another person. It’s like a growling or biting and grinding to show one’s anger at another.

.

We read concerning David… “But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together…With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.” Psalm 35:15, 16

.

And let’s face it! It’s so easy, in this fallen world to find someone to mock, scorn, and criticize!

.

And so, here we see how an apostate churchgoer will become judgmental and scornful against all the sinful behavior in this rebellious world!

.

Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot

.

.

.

.

.

EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS

.http://christimages.org/biblebooks/Book_of_Revelation.htm

Of course, this could never ever be speaking of the state of “Eternal Torment”. It is utterly absurd to imagine that the lost will be eternally cursing God in some netherworld den of torment. All such notions are borne of abject ignorance of how to properly interpret Scripture….

.

Listen… “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11

.

On Judgment Day, all humanity will confess that they were wrong, and will admit that God is true and righteous and good. This above verse makes that perfectly clear!

.

Triumph of Christianity by G. Dore www.christimages.org Limited use license – cropped image – see their website for restrictions

.

.

.

.

.

CHAMBER OF HORRORS?

Hell - G. Dore - Wikipedia - Public Domain

.

Scripture must be properly interpreted by comparing Scripture with Scripture and “comparing spiritual things with spiritual”. 1st Corinthians 2:13

.

Oh yes, God purposely put a few scriptures in the Bible, which, when taken out of context of the whole and entire Bible, might lead today’s careless and fully indoctrinated Bible teachers to imagine that there is some netherworld chamber of torments.

.

After all, this false church-doctrine has been deeply ingrained into the minds of churchgoers for hundreds of years!

.

Hell – G. Dore – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

HELL IS EVERLASTING SLEEP

.

But when searching the Bible carefully and prayerfully, quite a different picture of Hell begins to emerge…

.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bonnat02.jpg

For example, listen to Job…“Why died I not from the womb?…For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.” Job 3:11, 13-19

.

This above passage from Job gives us quite a different picture of death and Hell, wouldn’t you agree?

.

Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

JESUS, THE LIGHT 

.

Listen to Jesus’ warning… “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” John 12:35, 36

.

So here we see that Jesus was speaking of walking in the darkness as a spiritual condition right here on earth!

.

And He warns us to walk in Heaven’s light before spiritual darkness overtakes us. And those who have been in the church for decades have often seen church-attendees grow apostate and finally leave the church, or transfer to a liberal church where “anything goes!”.

.

Jesus – by H. Bloch – Sermon On The Mount – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:At_a_loss.svg

But just how do we walk in the light, and stay in the light?

.

Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

.

PARABLE OF THE WEDDING INVITATION

.http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_309219/Bernardo-Cavallino/The-Parable-of-the-Wedding-Guest

Well, perhaps we might find the answer to this question by examining just what could cause a churchgoer to be cast out into outer darkness…

.

Listen…“And Jesus…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…But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise…But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city…And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment…Then said the king…cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:1-3, 5, 11-13

.

The problem with the invited guests was that they were more concerned about this world and all its pleasures and pursuits. And thus, they ignored the invitation.

.

Parable of the wedding guest – Wikigallery – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

1 DAY WITH JESUS, 6 DAYS WITH OTHER gODS

.

And so it is today! Churches are filled with parishioners each Sabbath.

.

But the Bible tells us that many of those are still lovers of the world. Oh yes, they attempt to worship God while sitting there in church. But after the service they return to their pursuit of their weekday gods.

.

So, in essence, it is a revolving door of one day of the week, attempting to worship Jesus, followed by six days of vigorously pursuing many modern-day gods: cars, boats, sports, amusements, hobbies, houses, lands, careers, projects, excursions, clubs, TV, radio, high-tech devices, and all the other modern-day idols that are commonly revered in this modern-day cornucopian super-society.

.

.

.

.

.

CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS

Christian Race In Todays World courtesy www.signsofheaven.org share-alike lcense

.

And so, this Parable of the Wedding Invitation ends with one person sitting in the wedding with no wedding garment. And when discovered, the king said… “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:13

.

Yes, this man without a wedding garment symbolizes all those church members who worship God 1-day-per-week, while pursuing all their weekday gods the next 6 days! 

.

.

.

.

.

A DIFFERENT SPIRIT ENVELOPS

.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PS_Kr%C3%B8yer_-_Hip_hip_hurra!_Kunstnerfest_p%C3%A5_Skagen_1888.jpgOh no, these idolaters will not be literally thrown out. But in time, a spiritual mist of darkness will envelop them (see Acts 13:11 & 2nd Peter 2:11). And they will become filled with a different spirit, a worldly spirit.

.

And even though they might continue to attend church each week, they will nevertheless become worldly-minded. And the evidence of this is that they will become critical of people, symbolized by the phrase, “gnashing of teeth”. And there will be a spirit of criticism for many other things as well. 

.

PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

WEEPING

.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Old_Man_in_Sorrow_(On_the_Threshold_of_Eternity).jpg

But they will also weep, because they will have a dim cognizance that their lives have become void of a love for Bible study, contemplation, and ceaseless prayer.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Weeping_Woman_(F1069).jpg

.

Oh yes, they may pick up their Bibles for 15 minutes each morning. And yes, they may still pray at times.

.

But the love for these Christian duties just won’t be there any longer. And they know it. But their love for this world takes precedence over their love for Heaven, and for Heaven’s Jesus! 

.

Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

REPENTANCE POSSIBLE!

.

http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_198722/William-Brassey-Hole/The-sorrow-of-king-David

But is there any hope for those who have been thrust out into outer darkness? Can such a person ever return to the Lord?

.

Well yes!

.

After all, this is still the day of Salvation! And as Acts 13:11 says…“and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.” This man’s darkness was only for a season.

. 

And for all those who come to their spiritual senses once again, the door of mercy is still just barely open! And God may decide that this rejector of grace has suffered in outer darkness long enough! And then they will begin to bitterly weep and plead for restoration and redemption! And they will loathe themselves for all the gnashing on their teeth in their daily criticism of others!

.

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

FOREVER FAITHFUL!

.

And there have been many who have returned to the light once again!

.

And once they do return to a restored relationship with God, these will never ever again want to slight the grace of God! They have finally learned their lesson!

.

And now they are ready to completely forsake this present world and once again begin that ever-ascending pathway to Heaven!

.

Upward-Pathway-by-böhringer-friedrich – cropped image – Wikimedia-Share-alike-License (1)

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpgTO READ PART 13, CLICK HERE…

SEPTEMBER 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 13: Tophet NOW!)

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Christian_Martyrs_Last_Prayer.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to keep my eyes steadfast upon Thee. Let the meditations of my heart be upon Thy Word. Let me pray to the degree that I’m not even aware that I am praying! O let me not be taken away and cast into outer darkness…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Planet of Rest: Doctrine of Eternal Torment, or you can also read this shorter article…“September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

.

.

THE END

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

.

.

.

 

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in599px-The_Earth_seen_from_Apollo_17 wikipedia, NASA, public domain it you shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11   

 ********************************

The Earth seen from Apollo 17 – wikipedia, – NASA, – public domain

.

.
.

.
.

FOURTH SOLAR SYSTEM MEMBER

.

Solar System NASA public domain

.

Counting the Sun as the 1st heavenly sphere, the Earth is the 4th heavenly sphere. If we extend our theory (and it’s just a theory) that God created our solar system to correspond to the commandments, then planet Earth would correspond to the 4th Commandment.       

.

And so, on the very planet that corresponds to the commandment that exalts the idea of “rest” and “peace”, there exists very little peace. And very little rest. Ironic, isn’t it?

Picture: Solar System NASA public domain

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Planet Of Rest”…4th Sphere & 4th Commandment

.

.

.

.

.

https://theheavensdeclare.net/flood-waters-of-satan/TOMORROW…

SEPTEMBER 16 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet, Part 3: All Power, Signs & Lying Wonders, continued)

ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who now in these last days destroys the churches via a world-loving prosperity-driven false gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

.

.

.

 

.

.

.

.

.

20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

.

THIS IS STUDY #623 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

.

Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

.

.

Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.

Comments are closed.