The truth concerning outer darkness has been misunderstood by many Christians. Some bluntly refer to it as the lake of fire or the place of perdition. It does not refer to eternal perdition for false believers or unbelievers or heathen, but to punishment during the coming kingdom age for defeated, unfaithful believers. But, on a careful study of the Bible especially in the gospel of Matthew, the confusion surrounding this place, the outer darkness, has been cleared up. I was very much helped in understanding this truth from the pursuit of the Life-study of Matthew, message sixty-six. In the past, when I met with some seekers yet who did not fully agree with the ministry would question the teaching concerning the outer darkness. They even dared to go to the extent of dubbing this teaching as extra-biblical. Or some even equate this teaching as equivalent to the heretic teaching of the concept of purgatory. Therefore, a clear-cut teaching with Bible verses is a great help to me in my understanding of the Bible. This also strengthened my faith in the Lord and His word, thereby, encouraging me further to pray and live a Christian life as to not end up in the outer darkness.
The phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is used six times in the Gospel of Matthew. It is used twice concerning the perdition of the false believers (13:42) and the evil heathen (13:50). Matthew 13:42 concerns the tares, the false believers who will be cast into the furnace of fire. The furnace of fire is not the outer darkness, but the lake of fire. Matthew 13:50 concerns the evil Gentiles, the corrupt fish that are equivalent to the goats in chapter twenty-five. They also will be cast into the furnace of fire. Thus, those who perish in eternal fire will weep and gnash their teeth.
Mt 13:42And will cast them into the furnace of fire. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
#2 Concerning the Heathen
Mt 13:50And will cast them into the furnace of fire. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
In the above two cases, it refers to the place of perdition as the context made it clear that it is for false believers and heathens.
However, in the following four cases, the place is for the unfaithful, useless, slothful, and defeated believers, a place of dispensation punishment during the millennium kingdom. The distinction made with the context with which these phrases were mentioned clarified the two different places though the same description was used. This requires a careful study of the word in relation to God's dispensation in different ages.
#3 Concerning the Sons of the Kingdom
Matthew 8:12 says, “But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” Because the sons of the kingdom certainly are saved ones, they will not be cast into the furnace of fire. Rather, they will be put into outer darkness. Although there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth both for the ones who perish and for the defeated believers, the defeated believers will not be cast into the lake of fire, but into the outer darkness outside the glorious sphere of the Lord’s presence.
Matthew 22:13 says, “Then the king said to the servants, Bind his feet and hands, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” This refers to the one who did not have a wedding garment. This, of course, does not refer to an unbeliever, but to a saved one. This saved one will not be cast into the lake of fire, but into outer darkness.
Mt 24:51And will cut him asunder and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
According to 24:51, the evil slave will be cut off from the Lord’s presence and have his portion with the hypocrites where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45-51 has dealt with the slave’s unfaithfulness in fulfilling the Lord’s commission.
Mt 25:30And cast out the useless slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:14-30 is still needed to deal with the slave’s unfaithfulness in using the Lord’s talent.
By reading all these verses, we see that the false believers, the tares, and the evil Gentiles will be cast into the furnace of fire, the lake of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.However, the defeated believers, such as the sons of the kingdom in chapter eight, those without the wedding garment in chapter twenty-two, and the unfaithful slave in chapters twenty-four and twenty-five, will be cast out into the outer darkness. There, in the outer darkness, they will suffer weeping and gnashing of teeth. This does not refer to eternal perdition, but to dispensational punishment.In addition to salvation, there is still the matter of the reward and punishment that will be rendered during the coming kingdom age. If we are faithful to the Lord, we shall be rewarded during the next age. But if we are not faithful to Him, we shall receive punishment. This is very clear in God’s holy Word.
Last Saturday night, I was helped to understand this matter clearly through the Life-study of Matthew message Sixty-Six by Witness Lee. I even shared joyfully with the saints after the study and also repeated the same last Lord's Day during the truth-pursuing session. I owe all thanks to Brother Witness Lee for the ministry of the word that opens up the Bible. Praise the Lord!
That said, understanding the truth is one thing. Based on this understanding, one must be led to live a life according to this understanding. In this regard, I must take grace from the Lord to be watchful in life and faithful in service to be an overcoming believer that I may not end up in the outer darkness.
Lord, grace me and save me day by day to be Your overcomer!
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