From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: 	 Tuesday, June 10, 1997 3:00 AM
To: 	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: Outer darkness


From:          Khick10467@aol.com
To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject:       Bride of Christ question.



Eddie,

Could you please clarify for me the concept of the outer courtyard being a
place of outer darkness?

Dee

From Eddie:
***************

        The word "outer darkness" is the Strong's word (4655) in 
Matthew 22:13. It is the Greek word "skotos". It comes from the base 
word of (4639) = "skia" which means "shade or shadow". 

       The CONTRAST is the difference between the LIGHT of the glory 
of G-d in the Holy of Holies and the NATURAL light in the outer 
court. When you compare God's LIGHT (glory) to the light of the sun, 
then the light of the sun is "shady" in comparison.

       I will quote for you from Spiro Zodhiates, a Greek scholar, in 
the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible where the word "outer darkness" 
appears three times.

  "The expression outer darkness occurs three times in the Bible 
(Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30) and is always preceded by the definite 
article in Greek. It seems to have denoted an area outside a 
well-illuminated banquet hall where there was darkness (see the 
parable of the wedding feast in Matt 22:1-14). The person who managed 
to sneak into the banquet hall without the proper garment was cast 
into "outer darkness" separated from the ongoing feast. In the first 
two instances, "outer darkness" refers to a place of suffering for 
the unbelievers and is in contrast to the light where the believers 
will shine as the sun in the Kingdom of the Father (Matt 13:42-43). 
The "outer darkness" in (Matthew 8:12 and 22:13) is referring to 
Ge'ena (1-67) the "place of burning" (Matt 5:22, 29-30, 10:28, 18:9).

       The expression "outer darkness" in Matthew 25:30 occurs at the 
end of the parable of the talents which emphasizes the necessity of 
SERVING Christ faithfully. However, the "outer darkness" of Matthew 
25:30 may not refer to Ge'ena. Others say that this parable does not 
refer to all to be unbelievers or hypocrites but to 
the believers who neglect to exercise their God-given talents. The 
Lord calls such a servent (wicked ...4190) and (cursed 2672) (Matthew 
25:41) despite the fact that he is one of the Lord's servants. This 
is similiar to the instance where the Lord called Peter "Satan" 
(Matthew 16:23). Hence, these terms may also be applied to believers 
who have failed the Lord in their service. The words of Paul in I 
Corinthians 3:10-15 are in full support of the fact that the works of 
faith as servants will be tried by fire. Therefore, in this instance, 
the "outer darkness" may be a reference to a place of POSITION of far 
LESS REWARDS for the servants who proved themselves less diligent 
than those who used who used and exercised their talents to the 
fullest. The expression would then refer to degrees of the enjoyment 
in heaven rather than referring to hell. This teaching of varied 
rewards is part and parcel of the inherent doctrine of the NT that 
neither heaven nor hell are experienced equally by all because this 
would anull the justice of God. Entrance into heaven in gained by 
accepting Christ's sacrifice for justification but a person's REWARDS 
in heaven will be determined by what he did for Christ on earth 
(Matt 5:3-12, 7:21-23, 10:15, Luke 6:20-26, 12:47-48, Acts 10:4, 31, 
Romans 2:1-16, 14:10-23, I Cor 3:13, 4:5, II Cor 5:10, I John 4:17, 
Revelation 20:11-15) ..."

     So, "outer darkness" can refer to being cast into hell for an 
unbeliever. But for the believer, it can refer to being "outside" the 
ABSOLUTE presence of God (the Holy of  Holies ... the place of 
the THRONE of God). Heaven is called a TABERNACLE (Hebrew 8:5, 
Revelation 21:1-3). 

     So, the Bride of Christ will be in the "Holy of Holies" and the 
non-Bride will be in the "Holy Place" and the "Outer Court". God 
promised Abraham that  NATIONS would come from him (Genesis 17:6) but 
that the Bride of Christ is a ROYAL NATION (I Peter 2:5,9).  

      These are the concepts that I teach in my new book, "Who is the 
Bride of Christ?"

       I hope that this answered your question.


                                          Eddie Chumney



Do you mean the literal outer courtyard as in the Temple Compound?
Or do you mean the outer courtyard as being the Gentile nations who will be
outside of the Kingdom during the Millennium?
Does this outer darkness have to do with those who are without the presence
or knowledge of the L-rd G-d?
Thank you very much in advance!
Shalom, Dee.

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