The Doctrine of Darkness

Written and compiled by Gary Kukis

These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God." (John 3:16–18). "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!" (John 14:6).

Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud.

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
Wenstrom's Doctrine of Darkness	What do unbelievers stumble over?	Rickard's 3 Categories of Darkness for Unbelievers
Proverbs 4:18–19 (graphic)

Preface:	This doctrine was taken out of Proverbs 4 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Since the way of the malevolent is called darkness, we will take a look at the Doctrine of Darkness. This needs some more reorganization, as well as some additional verses, like 1Sam. 2:9 Job. 5:14, Job. 12:25, Job. 18:5, Job. 18:6, Job. 18:18 Isa. 59:9, Isa. 59:10 Jer. 13:16, Jer. 23:12 Matt. 7:23, Matt. 15:14 John 12:35; 1Jo. 2:11.1 Also check http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Darkness-Of-Evil (several other darkness topics there).
Wenstrom's Doctrine of Darkness
1.	Light and darkness are often employed as metaphors in Scripture to describe 2 opposing armies in the angelic conflict. Light represents the kingdom of God, led by the Lord Jesus Christ. Darkness represents the kingdom led by Satan.

1)	John 1:4–5 By means of Him (Christ, the Word), life exists and this Life (Christ) is the light of humanity and this Light (Christ) keeps on shining in the (kingdom of) darkness and the darkness never overcomes it (the Light, Christ).

2)	John 3:18–21 The one who believes upon Him (Christ) is never judged but the one who doesn't believe has been judged already because he has not believed upon the Person of the uniquely born Son of God. Now, this is the judgment that the Light (Christ) has come into the cosmos and humanity has loved rather the darkness than the Light (Christ) for their works are evil. In fact, everyone practicing the worthless things (as a lifestyle) hates the Light and never comes face to face with the Light (Christ) in order that his works may be exposed but the one who keeps on practicing the doctrine (as a lifestyle) keeps on coming face to face with the Light (fellowship with Christ) in order that his works may be revealed as having been accomplished by God.

3)	John 12:35–36 Therefore, Jesus said to them, "Yet a little while the Light (Christ) is among all of you. Walk while you have the Light so that darkness (of Satan's cosmic system) may not overtake all of you. In fact, the one who keeps on walking in the darkness (as a lifestyle) never knows where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light in order that you may become sons of the Light."

2.	Darkness in Scripture often relates to the absence of divine viewpoint and thus the absence of the presence of God.

1)	Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.

2)	Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

3)	Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

4)	1John 2:10–11 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

5)	1John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

3.	God is always associated with light:

1)	James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

2)	Acts 26:18 "...to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."

3)	1Thess 5:4–5 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.

4.	When we know God and His Word, we walk in the light; when we do not know Him, we are walking in darkness.

1)	Prov. 4:18–19 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. (ESV)

2)	John 11:9b–10- "If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." (ESV)

5.	In the end times, those in the light will be with God and those in darkness will be separated from Him:

1)	Rev. 21:22–25 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed.

6.	Darkness is often associated with the judgment of God. Darkness is the absence of light; and therefore, the absence of God (and judgment includes separation from God).

1)	2Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.

2)	Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

7.	A comparison of Scripture clearly indicates that darkness came into the universe for the first time as a result of God judging Satan for his rebellion in eternity past. This is indicated by the Genesis 1:1–2 and a comparison of Scripture with Scripture.

1)	Genesis 1:1 In eternity past, God created out of nothing the heavens (1st heaven: earth's atmosphere; 2nd heaven: stellar universe; 3rd heaven: abode of God) and the earth.

2)	Gen. 1:2 However the earth became an empty desolation, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

3)	Logically, something happened between vv. 1 and 2. A catastrophe took place upon the earth between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This catastrophe was the result of God's judgment for the rebellion of the angels in eternity past. Fallen angels and the earth were all kept in thick darkness.

4)	Isaiah 45:18 For thus says the Lord, who (the Lord Jesus Christ) who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place (tohu), but formed it to be inhabited), I am the Lord, and there is no one else.

5)	Jer 4:23–26 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was an empty desolation; And to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were pulled down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.

6)	Gen. 1:2 However the earth became an empty desolation, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

8.	"Darkness" is the noun choshekh. The "darkness" that the universe was engulfed in refers to the absence of God as a result of His judgment upon the earth.

1)	Gen. 1:2 However the earth became an empty desolation, and darkness was upon the surface of the raging ocean depths, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

9.	Darkness in the Bible is associated with evil and the kingdom of darkness. Darkness is symbolic of evil. The description of earth as an empty desolation and having darkness over the surface of the ocean depths paints a very negative picture. This picture is not one of blessing, but of cursing instead. We would expect that when God creates there would be light and life but this is not described here in v. 2. God did not create the earth to be an empty desolation but it became that because of God's judgment of the angels in eternity past before mankind was created.

10.	A survey of some of the uses of darkness in the Bible will make this point clear. Light and darkness are often employed as metaphors in Scripture to describe 2 opposing armies in the angelic conflict. As we noted light represents the kingdom of God, led by the Lord Jesus Christ. Darkness represents the kingdom led by Satan.

11.	We have also noted that darkness in Scripture often relates to the absence of divine viewpoint and thus the absence of the presence of God.

12.	Furthermore, as we have noted, a comparison of Scripture clearly indicates that God as the result of Satan's rebellion judged the initial creation in eternity past. God has passed down a judgment and imprisoned the angels in darkness.

1)	Job 4:17–18 "Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error."

2)	Matt 25:40–41 The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." Then He will also say to those on His left, "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels."

13.	Angels like human beings need light to function but all light in the universe was turned off as part of God's judgment of the angels (Psalm 148:3 2Cor. 11:14). As a result of the Supreme Court of Heaven granting the appeal of Satan and the fallen angels, God restored the universe from chaos to cosmos, order.

14.	The earth was initially created for the angels exclusively but they rebelled and God judged them and the earth, which was their habitation. The darkness in Genesis 1:2 is symbolic of God's judgment. The earth received judgment because of the angels and not mankind since the latter was not created. A special category in the biblical use of darkness is the literal blotting out of light that attends divine judgment. This category of usage is particularly important to our discussion because it is exactly this sort of darkness which we are considering in Genesis 1:2.

15.	As a result of Satan's activities on the original earth, God judged that the original created world and the earth was cursed by association with Satan's sin (just as the restored earth would later be cursed for its association with Adam's sin: Gen. 3:17–19 Rom. 8:19–22).

16.	One of the results of that judgment was that God plunged the original earth (and universe, for that matter) into darkness.

17.	In this and other instances, we may say that in addition to being symbolic of evil, the darkness is also very real, inflicted in literal fashion as part of the judgment of God (cf. Is. 5:30 8:22 Ezek. 32:7–8 Acts 13:11):

1)	Darkness was one of the ten plagues upon Egypt, which demonstrated God's power over Pharaoh (Ex. 10:21–29; cf. Psalm 105:28). The darkness was apparently horrible, a palpable curse which constituted the worst of all the plagues, to be followed by the death of the Egyptian first-born (Ex. 11).

2)	A similar divine blotting out of all light occurs at Exodus 14:20. Here the cloud of God's presence creates a supernatural darkness for the purpose of restraining the Egyptian army, yet at the same time it provides light to the Israelites (cf. Josh. 24:7). In Scripture, Egypt is a picture of the cosmic system of Satan.

18.	Just as the Passover lamb, which portrayed the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ dying as a Substitute for all of us, was commanded to be slaughtered "between the evenings [pl. ]", (i. e. , twilight: Ex. 12:6; 29:39–41), so Christ's death on behalf of all mankind was destined to be accompanied by an analogous, yet supernatural darkness.

19.	The three synoptic gospel writers all record this darkness (lasting approximately three hours: Matt. 27:45–54 Mark 15:33–39 Luke 23:44–49), with Luke adding the important detail that "the sun gave out" (literally "eclipsed"). Immediately following this period of unprecedented darkness, the veil of the temple is split miraculously in two, and our Lord breathes His last – until His resurrection. Thus the supernatural darkness of the cross is likewise a sign of divine judgment – our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf submitting to the Father's judgment upon all our sins and dying in our place. He endured this terrible darkness and all that it entailed that we might forever live in the light with Him.

1)	Matt 27:45–54 "Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah. " Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him. " And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

20.	Prior to the return of our Lord (the second advent), earth will undergo the most terrible period of her history, the Great Tribulation (Dan. 12:1 Matt. 24:21 and 29 Mark 13:19 and 24 Rev. 7:14).

1)	A period of supernatural darkness is prophesied as one of the final events immediately preceding Christ's return at the 2nd Advent, where there is a judgment from God upon antichrist and his kingdom (Is. 13:9–13 34:4 60:1–2 Ezek. 32:7–10 Joel 2:2, 2:10, 2:31 3:15 Zeph. 1:15–18 Zech. 14:6–7 Matt. 24:29 Mark 13:24–25 Acts 2:17–21 Rev. 6:12–13 16:10).

2)	There is also the supernatural darkness of the Lake of Fire (Is. 66:15–16 and 24 Dan. 7:9–11 Matt. 3:11–12 5:22 18:8–9 25:41 Mark 9:43 and 48 James 3:6 Rev. 19:20 20:10, 14–15 21:8). Just as the darkness of the Exodus plague (Ex. 10:21) and the bowl judgment of Revelation (Rev. 16:10–11) are tangible, this too will be a palpable, painful darkness (Matt. 8:12 22:13 25:30).

3)	Even now, this particular type of supernatural darkness and fire exists in Torments (for unbelieving humans: Luke 16:24 2Pet. 2:17 Jude 13) and Tartarus (for certain of the fallen angels: 2Pet. 2:4 Jude 6), although the ultimate "lake of fire" has yet to receive its first inhabitants (Rev. 19:20; 20:10).
Taken from http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/?page_id=1286 on February 22, 2015 and edited. Also found here.
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

v. 19 read: The way of the malevolent [is] like [walking] in darkness; they do not know over what they have stumbled.
What do unbelievers stumble over?
1.	The unbeliever is in darkness, meaning they do not have the light of God in them to see what is right in front of them.

2.	They cannot see the Angelic Conflict. If they know anything about it, they believe it to be funny. However, most only know about angels as floating around in clouds with harps. In any case, things happen because we are in the midst of the Angelic Conflict. The unbeliever obviously cannot see that because (1) angels are usually invisible to us and (2) the unbeliever is unaware of the Angelic Conflict.

3.	They cannot see their own sins as sins. This is particularly true of men who practice homosexual sex. They have convinced themselves that there is no free will involved; that they are just born that way, and therefore, they must do what is natural. The unbelieving gay man will stumble over these sins; and the believing gay man will stumble over these sins. This can be applied to nearly any sin. Unbelievers do not recognize that holding on to anger or revenge motivation will make their lives worse. Those who use drugs often do not see their drugs as problematic. People who drink too much often do not recognize what a problem their drinking is. Men who chase after women (looking for more and more conquests) do not see that this harms them.

4.	Unbelievers stumble over human viewpoint. Since an unbeliever has often rejected divine viewpoint, they are left with a virtual potpourri of false knowledge: (1) evolution; (2) global warming; (3) humanism and raising your children as a good humanist would; etc. Many unbelievers will claim to only hold to scientifically determined truths and peer related studies; whereas, they continue to believe in whatever they want to believe in. (4) Because they refuse to believe in and trust in God, many such believers believe in government as the solution to all of their problems and as the ultimate source of their happiness, their security and their righteousness. What I mean by righteousness is, some old lady who runs her own flower shop and is sued for not engaging in business with the participants of a gay wedding—that it is against her faith. Many liberals will want to see her punished in some way—the loss of her business or the destruction of her life.

5.	Unbelievers stumble over human good. They see themselves as a warrior against global warming, as if they matter. They might recycle, they might buy a prius, they might eat only plants. They might not do much more than give a strong endorsement of government policies related to global warming. But, the end result is, they feel as if they matter.

6.	Unbelievers stumble over the thinking of Satan, also known as the plan of Satan, which is evil. This is the thinking of Satan which is contrary to the thinking of God. This can incorporate human good, sin and it always includes some measure of dishonesty.

7.	One realm of Satanic thinking is politics. Unbelievers (particularly liberals) often do not believe in God; so some are left with this great desire to do human good. Many become wrapped up in politics, spending hours on the internet arguing with strangers, hoping to convince them that socialism is good and that liberals are helping the downtrodden.

8.	Another realm of Satanic thinking is phoney science (like evolution and global warming). Global warming is a wonderful invention of Satan. People can do the most innocuous things, like recycling cans, and yet they get to feel as if they are saving the planet.

9.	Unbelievers stumble over Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory. Paul speaks of unbelieving Israel as over against believing gentiles in Rom. 9:30–33 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
Liberals often try to sell Jesus as being the first brown-skinned hippie socialist; yet a smaller percentage of liberals believe in Him than among conservatives. So they stumble over Jesus and their false image that they make of Him.
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

Rickard: in contrast to the three categories of Light (Sanctification) the believer has, the unbeliever has three categories of Darkness..
Rickard's 3 Categories of Darkness for Unbelievers
1.	At the birth of every member of the human race, excluding Jesus, they are born spiritually dead. They are born into darkness and therefore stands Positionally in Darkness. Eph 2:1-3, 5 5:14 Col 2:13-15 1Peter 4:6 Jude 1:12-13.

2.	As that person goes forward in life, if they do not accept Christ as their Savior everything they do is a walk in darkness being led by their Sin Nature due to their unregenerated state. They are Experientially in Darkness. Job 18:5-21 Prov 2:13-15 Isa 59:9-15 John 8:12 11:9-10 12:35 cf. Acts 26:18 Eph. 5:8 1Thess. 5:4-5 1John 2:11. John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes." John 11:9-10 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

3.	If that person never accepts Christ as their Savior, upon their death they are thrown in Hades and then at the Great White Throne to the eternal Lake of Fire, (Rev 20:12-15 cf. John 3:19-20), where they are in Ultimate Darkness for the rest of eternity. Matt. 8:12 22:13 25:30 John 12:46 2Peter 2:4, 17 Jude 1:6, 12-13. This is "the way", DEREK, we are commanded to avoid, pass by and run from.
From James Rickard http://gracedoctrine.org/proverbs-chapter-4/ accessed February 28, 2015.
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

Now let's put vv. 18–19 together, so that we can get the full effect of this contrast: The path of the righteous [is] like the light of brightness, advancing and become light until the day is established. The way of the malevolent [is] like [walking] in darkness; they do not know over what they have stumbled. As the righteous man advances, where he is walking becomes more and more clear to him. However, the malevolent cannot find their way; they trip over things, and they don't even know what they have tripped over.

Proverbs 4:18–19 (graphic); from WordPress.com; accessed March 8, 2015.

James Rickard: Just as God promises to keep the positive and advancing believer from stumbling, He also promises that the wicked will eventually stumble, stagger, totter and fall, because they do not have the grace of God to catch them and right them during their incipient fall.2

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The Abbreviated Doctrine of
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Bibliography

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