Today I am going to describe the three times that outer darkness is written in the Word of God, and the difference between outer darkness and the fiery furnace.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12).
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 22:13).
And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). The servant was called unprofitable because he didn’t do what he was called to do.
Outer darkness is a place where there is barley any light. The three scriptures above never said hell (blazing furnace- lake of fire). The people who are cast in outer darkness will be weeping and gritting grinding their teeth because they did not fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. Rewards will be given according to how we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
The Parable of the Weeds Explained- blazing furnace
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field. He answered, the one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear (Matthew 13:36-43).
I learned many years ago to use this illustration as an example of what outer darkness represents. When there is a wedding, the people more intimate with the bride and groom are in the wedding. Although many others would be invited, they did not participate in the wedding.
Usually there are arranged seats for the next of kin and so on. Those who are actually in the wedding party will be more visible because the candelabras lights are brighter. The farther away one sits, the dimmer the lights are.
It’s the same with us as the bride of Christ; even though all of God’s children will be at the wedding feast, the ones who were more intimate with the Lord will shine, because they walked closer with Jesus.
There will be a difference in the weeping and gnashing of teeth- the people who were thrown into the blazing furnace will be tormented through eternity, whereas the servant who did not fulfill his Master’s will is temporary (Revelation 21:4).
Brothers and sisters, it is important for us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. God loves us so, that He gave us some awesome assignments to glorify Him. We owe our all to the Lord. Therefore it is necessary to make every effort to be ready when Jesus comes. Don't let Him catch you with your work undone.
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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