Outer Darkness
I think most christians believe that outer darkness is hell, and some well meaning preachers and bible teachers say that it is, but is it? "Outer darkness" is only mentioned 3 times, and in those 3 times, it doesn't say that an unsaved person goes there. Jesus Christ said as recorded in Matt.8:12, "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Now I don't believe that "children of the kingdom" are the unsaved people, but they are saved people, and don't let "weeping and gnashing of teeth" fool you. Jesus mentioned "outer darkness" in Matt.25:30 too, but He said, "And cast the unprofitable SERVANT into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Now, an unsaved person is not a servant of the Lord Jesus, not even an unprofitable servant, an unprofitable servant is a christian who does nothing for the Lord, he or she doesn't witness to the lost, they don't let their light shine, they take their salvation for granted, they are just unprofitable.
I mentioned earlier about not letting "weeping and gnashing of teeth" fool you. You see, in New Jerusalem, the light of God will be there, there will be no need for a sun or moon or stars, because the light of God will shine, and christians who were profitable, in other words, took up their cross daily and denied themselves and won souls for the Lord etc, will be inside New Jersusalem, and the other saved people who were unprofitable will be outside New Jerusalem, outside the light of God, and when they realize what they could have had if they had just been a better servant, they will just weep, they didn't serve God like they should have on this side of eternity, but they will on the other side of eternity, and they will live out side the city of New Jerusalem, which is outside the light of God {outer darkness}
Now don't get me wrong, a person is saved by grace only, not by any works, BUT the rewards a christian gets depends on what they did or didn't do for the Lord while saved. Those unprofitable christians are saved, but they will suffer loss as far as rewards go, and they will weep and gnash their teeth and will live outside the city of God {outer darkness}. Now, the other verse that speaks of outer darkness Matt. 22:13, seems that Jesus was refering to hell, take time to carefully read Matt.chapter 22 for yourself, Jesus was just using an allegory in verse 13 because no one without a wedding garment will be cast out, because no one will be at the wedding without a wedding garment to begin with. Remember, Jesus is the bride groom, and the Church is the bride, and He was comparing that and the kingdom of God to the king who made a marriage for his son in Matt. 22. I could be wrong, but after studying these 3 verses that speaks of outer darkness, I can't help believing that outer darkness is NOT hell.
God Bless,
Christopher
