The term “outer darkness” is used in three places in the New Testament; all of them being in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; and 25:30). In this authors opinion this naturally refers to the dark fiery prison of the underworld. In each of these three places the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is used in reference to what takes place in the “outer darkness.” Outside these three places the phrase in used in two places (Matthew 24:51 and Luke 13:28) and the phrase wailing and gnashing of teeth is used in two places (Matthew 13:42, 50). Both phrases are used interchangeably to refer to the same experience.
A Partaker is someone that applies the “outer darkness” to believers in at least one of the three passages where it is used. For example, Spiros Zodhiates in his Hebrew-Greek Study Bible applies the “outer darkness” in Matthew 25:30 to believers but in Matthew 8:12 and 22:13 he applies it to unbelievers. Other authors who would be labeled as Partakers would apply the “outer darkness” to believers in all three passages. They would include Zane Hodges, Bob Wilken, Joseph Dillow, Chuck Missler, Earl Rodmacher, Gary Whipple, Arlen Chitwood, Joey Faust, and some of the authors in the past would be Edwin Wilson, G.H. Lange, Robert Panton, G.H. Pember, Rober Govett, Watchman Nee, Hudson Taylor, Rocky Freeman, Tertullian (2nd century), and possible St. Jerome in the 4th century. This by no means is a complete list of everyone who would hold to a “Partaker” view on the outer darkness but it does give the reader a general list.
Marty Cauley in his exhaustive study on Grace in Rewards lists four different viewpoints in regard to how “Partakers” understand chastisement at the Judgment Seat of Christ and its relationship to the outer darkness:
Conservatives:
Of the various misthological views, conservatives are most closely aligned with the traditional dispensational view. Conservative misthologists believe that the (1) that the outer Darkness is a misthological concept, though some of them seem to limit at least certain aspects of it to 1000 years. The outer darkness is inside the kingdom and is experiential rather than spatial. (2) The rapture is full. (3) The Bride is composed of all believers. There is a difference between inheriting and entering the kingdom. Although not all conservative misthological interpreters concur at this point, it is the general consensus. (5) Abundant entrance through the gates of the city is a reward, but entrance into the city itself is available to all believers, including subcomers. (6) Gehenna is a place of torment for all unbelievers. It is not a misthological concept. And (7) the church is composed of all NT believers. Since conservative FG misthologists believe that the Bride is composed of all church age believers, they are consistent in affirming that the church is composed of both overcomers and subcomers.
I think this view has the most biblical inconsistencies. The bride will not be made up of all believers. If those in “outer darkness” are outside the wedding feast than how could they be included in the bride when the bride is the main emphasis of the wedding? In all three accounts the “outer darkness” is used there are those who are cast out into it. This clearly indicates its spatial and has a physical location. It certainly does not refer to a lesser degree of happiness otherwise those who are there would not be “weeping and gnashing their teeth as is the case in all three places it’s used. In Revelation 3:5 you have unfaithful Christians being blotted out of the pre-millennial book of life; how could they make it in the first resurrection? They have to be real Christians otherwise their names would have never made it in this book. The fact that their blotted out of the book of life (Rev. 3:5) proves they are real Christians. They will return to death (Rev. 20:5) and will be raised to immortality at the Great White Throne Judgment where they will be found written in the post-millennial book of life. In my opinion they tend to allegorize most of the warning passages.
Progressive Moderates
When the broader misthological perspective is taken into consideration, conservative moderates, (i.e., progressive moderates) may be regarded as true moderates. Progressive moderates believe that (1) the outer darkness is a misthological concept, is inside the kingdom, and is spatial. (2) The rapture is full. (3) The Bride will be composed of only faithful believers. (4) There is a difference between inheriting and entering the kingdom. (5) Although all believers will enter the kingdom, entrance into the land and city are rewards limited to overcomers. (6) Gehenna is a place of eternal torment for unbelievers. And (7) the church will be composed of faithful NT believers.
More precisely, PM asserts that the outer darkness is a metaphorical depiction of a spatial restriction. Thus, as the outer darkness itself is metaphorical, the truth it pictures has special implications.
Some within PM (Progressive moderation), such as Chitwood, would assert that the typical entrance texts are dealing with inheriting the kingdom. Thus they would not make a differentiation between inheriting and entering the kingdom in those passages. Nevertheless, since they acknowledge that even those believers who fail to enter the kingdom in that misthologial sense are still within the kingdom, logically it must be that they inferred that they allow a distinction between soteriologically entering the kingdom and misthologically inheriting the kingdom. After all, the only way to be soteriologically within the kingdom is to enter it soteriologically. PM does not deny that Gehenna may be applied metaphorically or correctively to unfaithful believers. However, PM rejects the view that unfaithful believers will be cast literally into metaphysical Gehenna. The metaphysical applicability of Gehenna and/ or the Lake of Fire is reserved for the lost.
Classical Moderates
Classical Moderates believe that (1) the outer darkness is a misthological millennial concept, is outside the kingdom and is spatial. (2) The rapture is full. (3) The Bride is composed of only faithful believers. (4) There is a difference between inheriting and entering the kingdom. (5) Gehenna is a place of eternal torment for unbelievers. And (6) The church will be composed only of faithful NT believers. When misthology is narrowly focused on kingdom exclusion, this classical moderation may be regarded as a moderate view.
Ultruist:
Ultruist believe that the outer darkness is a misthological concept, is outside the kingdom, and is spatial. (2) Older writers of this point of view believed in a partial rapture, but more recent advocates may tend to acknowledge a full rapture. (3) The Bride is composed of only faithful NT believers. (4) There is no difference between inheriting and and entering the kingdom. (5) Gehenna is a place of millennial torment for believers. In ascribing the literal fires of Gehenna a misthological value, these interpreters take misthology to a rather extreme position and for this reason are designated ultruist. And (6) the church will be composed only of faithful NT believers. (The Outer Darkness: Marty Cauley; Pgs. 568-569).
The first passage to consider in which the outer darkness is used in in Matthew 25:14-30. I will break it up into section with necessary comments as needed.
Matthew 25:14-15 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
In this passage I believe the Lord’s goods are those things that are precious to Him. In the Old Testament a “talent” is a measure or a quantity of gold or silver (Exodus 38:24-25, 27; 1 Chronicles 19:6; Nehemiah 7:71-72). In the bible both gold and silver are used in reference to God’s people being refined through persecution, affliction, and various trials. Carefully note the following scriptures:
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
It is also important to notice that silver is also used in reference to God’s preserved words or the word of God:
Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Therefore the “talents” given to the Lord’s servants has reference to our faith and the word of God. Therefore the servants in this parable (Matthew 25:14-30) are saved individuals who have the responsibility of allowing their faith to grow. The Lord has dealt to every Christian a measure of faith (talents) and differing gifts according to the grace given to each person. We are not to use these gifts to serve ourselves but rather others has God gives us opportunity. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). In the parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Luke the seed represents the word of God (Luke 8:11). In the parable of the Sower “cares” and “riches” and “pleasures of this life” choke the word of God and in this case a person’s faith will become stagnant and die.
In James 2:14-26 that is without works is described as dead (James 2:17). This much controversial passage in James is dealing with how a Christian is saved from loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This passage is often erroneously used to teach how a lost man is saved in eternity. They add works to the Gospel by doing this. Once again I must emphasize that the passage in James chapter two is talking about how a Christian is saved from loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ. In fact the passage gives an example of the kind of works a Christian must have in order to keep his faith alive:
James 2:16-17 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
A faith that does not work will not have profit and is in danger of becoming dead. In fact a Christian who does not have a working faith will not be saved from “suffering loss” at the Judgment Seat of Christ. In the scriptures we are told to do good to them who are in the household of faith:
Galations 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
2Thessalonians 1:3-5 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; (4) So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: (5) Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Their faith was growing exceedingly and their charity abounded to each other. This has reference to their talents being used and for other talents being gained. They were worthy of the Kingdom because their patience and faith in their persecutions and tribulation. This is the opposite of what happened to other Christians in the parable of the Sower who fell away during temptation. Their faith died and they only believed for a while and they were offended during persecution and tribulation (Matthew 13:20-21). Compare this with Mark 4:16-17 and Luke 8:13. Then notice verses 16-17 in reference to the parable of the talents:
Mat 25:16-18 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. (17) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. (18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
The one who received five talents made an investment and in return gained five other talents. This is a Christian who invests his life in the word of God (silver) and exercises patience and faith during God appointed trials (1 Peter 1:6) and so like God’s people in Zachariah 13:9 and 1 Peter 1:5-9 he is being refined as silver and gold (multiplication of the Lords goods). The third servant is saved because he received the Lord’s goods. Our Lord does not deliver his goods to lost people. However the third servant hid his talent in the earth. I believe this has reference to a Christian who hides his faith (gold) and does not share it with others and he does not invest his life in the word of God (silver). This is like those in the parable of the sower who are saved individuals but their faith in the word was choked by cares, riches, and pleasures of this life or he became offended during persecution and affliction (Luke 8:13-14). He was ashamed of the Lord and his words:
Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
2Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Matthew 25:19-23 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. (20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The first two servants who invested their talents were made ruler over many things. They were not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord and they exercised patience and faith in God appointed trials. They made an investment in their own faith and the word of God. We are also able to do this through the power of the Holy Spirit as we keep ourselves connected to our vine; the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1-6). If we do this through the power of the Holy Spirit than we will rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years in the coming millennial kingdom (Rev. 20:4-6). We will be made rulers in his kingdom and become co-heirs with our coming king (Romans 8:17). It is a sad reality that the third servant made no investment in his own faith and was ashamed of the Lord’s testimony:
Mat 25:24-30 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: (27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (28) Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into OUTER DARKNESS: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The third servant is a believer because he had possession of a talent. We also saw from the word of God that a talent is a measure of gold or silver and we saw gold is connected to our faith and silver is connected to the word of God. The third servant must represent a true believer who hides his faith (hid the talent in the earth) and does not have a testimony. This is true of many true Christians because they too busy making their investment with cares, riches, and pleasures of this life. They hide their faith (bury their talent in the earth) out of fear of persecution. Thus the Lord is not able to refine them as silver and gold and they will suffer loss at the pre-millennial Judgment Seat. They will be shocked in that day when they are banished out of the presence of the Lord into the outer darkness where they will be completely unable to participate in things relating to the kingdom. The “outer darkness” is outside the Joy of the Lord. In the next parable we can gain more information about the outer darkness:
Matthew 22:11-14 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (13) 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. (14) For many are called, but few are chosen.
The context of this passage has to do with a King making a marriage for his Son (Matt. 22:2). In Middle Eastern culture these weeding feasts could go on days and sometimes weeks as they were much more joyful occasions than what we are used to in the west. Nevertheless according to the parable there were weading guests. The bride was distinct and different from the wedding guests! Therefore the bride is not composed of all Christians as the conservative viewpoint mentioned above seems to believe. The bride of Christ is called out of the body of Christ at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The wedding guests would be below the bride in rank of importance in the millennial kingdom. In the millennial kingdom the bride would have the highest rank of rule and the wedding guests would be below that in another rank of importance.
The friend in this parable was “bound hand and foot” and “cast into outer darkness” because he did not have on the appropriate wedding garment. The terminology clearly shows us the outer darkness refers to a physical location where unfaithful Christians cannot participate in activities related to the kingdom of the Heaven. In the warning given to the church of Sardis (Rev. 3:4-5) there were those who had their garments defiled and so they were blotted out of the book of life. In order to be blotted out of the book of life one must have been written in the book of life. They will lose their soul for 1000 years because they will be found written again in the post-millennial book of life after the millennium (Rev. 21:15-21:4).
If we have our garments defiled by worldly living (1 John 2:15-17) than we are not making for ourselves the appropriate wedding garment. In Rev. 19:7-8 the wedding garment is made up of the “righteousness of saints.” It clearly tells us in Revelation 19:7 that the bride of Christ makes herself ready:
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
One is not automatically made part of the bride of Christ by being saved or by trusting in Jesus Christ as his savior. The church in Laodicea was given counsel by Christ himself to buy gold tried in the fire. He told them this so they could have “white raiment” (the wedding garment) so they would be clothed in order that their nakedness would not appear. We already saw from 1 Peter 1:7 that gold is connected to our faith being proved by God appointed trials (1 Peter 1:6). Our Lord allows certain hardships, trials, and afflictions in our life in order to refine our faith. Our faith has to be refined in order for us to enter into the wedding banquet of Jesus Christ at the inauguration of the millennial kingdom. Every Christian is responsible for making his own wedding garment. We do this by keeping our garments from being defiled by the world. We also do this by remaining faithful to Jesus Christ during trials and hardships.
From the context those who are “cast into outer darkness” in this parable are cast outside a lighted banquet hall. In the east wedding banquets would take place at night in a lighted palace and the outer darkness would be the area in courtyard outside the palace. G.H. Lange, in his book, Pictures and Parables seems to indicate that the outer darkness is out in the courtyard away from the lighted banquet hall:
A less considered feature of the three references to “outer darkness” is that each pictures a house of feasting. In Matt. 8 and Luke 13 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are represented at reclining at table and others from all quarters joining them, while the “sons of the kingdom,” those to whom the house and its pleasures more naturally belonged, see this feasting but are driven away from it into outer darkness.
In our passage it is the same. The king comes in to see the guests, that is, into the banqueting hall. It is thence that the man is cast out. The element of the one picture really gives the clue to the interpretation, when it is remembered that in the East such a festivity usually took place at night. Staying in the native quarter in Alexandria I was on the other side of the road from a large oriental mansion. One night the whole house was brilliantly lit, a blaze of light from every room, evidently for some special affair. By contrast the street outside the garden around were in the back darkness, and nothing further was required to correspond to the term “the darkness the outer,” which term equals the darkness is without, outside the house. (Pictures and Parables: G.H. Lang; Pg. 306).
A similar note can be made from Robertson’s Word Pictures:
The outer darkness (to skotos to exōteron). See note on Mat_8:12. All the blacker from the standpoint of the brilliantly lighted banquet hall.
When Jesus used the term “outer darkness” he had something much broader in view than being cast outside a wedding banquet: this is made clearer in the next passage the where the phrase is used:
Mat 8:8-12 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. (9) For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. (10) When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (11) And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. (12) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 13:24-28 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (26) Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. (27) But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (28) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Even though the term “outer darkness” is not used in the Luke passage the two passages are closely related in other details so the timing of both would be at the Judgment Seat of Christ. In the three places where the term “outer darkness” is used what does Jesus have in mind? From what place are they cast out of and why in Luke 13:25 why are they knocking on the door asking Jesus Christ to open unto them? The strait gate in this passage is talking about how a Christian is saved at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It should be noted that the New Jerusalem in the bible is presented as a reward for faithfulness:
Heb 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. (15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. (16) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Also carefully notice that those who are blotted out of the book of life are not permitted to enter the gates of the New Jerusalem:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
There were those in Rev 3:5 that were blotted out of the book of life because they had their garments defiled. Those Christians who are blotted out of the book of life will lose their souls for a thousand years and will be banned from entering the gates of the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem in the bible is presented as foursquare in shape. There are some who believe the New Jerusalem could be four-sided pyramid with each side being 1500 miles apiece at the base along with the height (Rev 21:16). Those who earn the reward of the first resurrection would have as their home in the New Jerusalem and they would be ruling over earthly kings in flesh and blood bodies. Each side of the city has three gates (Rev 21:12-13) and only those who keep the commandments of God are permitted access through the gates of the city (Rev. 22:15). This is not true of all Christians. I believe the marriage supper of the Lamb is going to commence at the beginning of the millennium and will take place in the New Jerusalem. It should be noted that this city has no need of light for the glory of God is the light of it (Rev. 21:23). It is my opinion that those being cast into “outer darkness” are being cast out of the New Jerusalem; that is why in Luke 13:25 unfaithful Christians are knocking and asking permission to come inside. Note, they are cast outside the light of the brilliantly lit city into outer darkness.
I believe the banquet hall in Matthew 22:10-13 is representative of the New Jerusalem where the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will take place (Rev. 21). The description of this city is magnificent and is a special reward given to overcoming Christians (Rev. 3:12). The term “kingdom of Heaven” is used in all three passages where the phrase “outer darkness” is used and is a talking about the New Jerusalem. There will be many gentile Christians of the church age who will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the New Jerusalem when the weeding commences at the beginning of millennium. They will do so because the used the talents God gave them (Matthew 25:15-17). Then there will be unfaithful Christians who hid their faith who will be “cast into outer darkness” outside the New Jerusalem where they will weep and gnash their teeth for 1000 years.
In review we just discussed the phrase “cast into outer darkness” in the three previous passages where the term is used (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). There are those who believe “children of the kingdom” in the Matthew passage (8:12) are the lost Jews who are cast down to Hell: if this is the case than the “outer darkness” is another term referring to the dark prison of the underworld. There are some altruists in the viewpoint mentioned above who believe that unfaithful Christians who suffer loss at the Judgment Seat will spend the entire millennium in Hell. This position is best articulated in J.D. Faust book, the Rod Will God Spare it:
“In the above Scriptures, “out” of heaven is said to be “down” to the earth. When the kingdom likewise comes to the earth, “out” of its territory will be “down” into the darkness of the underworld. If out of Heaven’s territory is down to the earth, out of the earth’s territory will be down in the underworld.
The main proof that “outer darkness” refers to the underworld (in Matthew 22:13 and 25:30) lies in the fact that Jesus literally warns true disciples (such as the apostle John) of going there (Mark 9:38, 41, 43). These literal warnings to Christians will be examined in future chapters. These literal warnings explain the parabolic warnings. If the literal warnings do not apply to true Christians, then neither do the parabolic warnings. But if this is true, then one might as well conclude that the warnings to the lost do not apply to them either.” (The Rod Will God Spare It: J.D. Faust; Pg. 101).
On the other hand there are those who do not believe the “children of the kingdom” are referring to lost Jews. The reason for this is because in Matthew 13:38 the same identical phrase is used in reference to good seed who are called the children of the kingdom:
Matthew 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
There are saved people who are “children of the kingdom” who are cast out into “outer darkness” away from the glory of the kingdom because of their unfaithfulness. It would be inconsistent to refer to the “children of the kingdom” in this passage as lost Jews when John 8:44 refers to the lost Jews as children of the Devil. In John 8:39-42 Jesus himself denies that the lost Jews were Abraham’s children or that they had God as their father. Thus the phrase “children of the kingdom” is referred to as good seed in Matthew 13:38 and so in Matthew 8:12 it is being used as a technical idiom of unfaithful Christians. In Revelation 22:14 it tells us that only those who keep the commandments of God will be able to enter through the gates of the city:
Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (15) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and lewd men, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loveth and maketh a lie.
At the beginning of Revelation chapter 21 he introduces conditions that will exist during eternity after the millennium. Unfaithful Christians will have their tears wiped away (Rev. 21:4). Then in vs. 6A he closes this section out by using the phrase “It is done, I am the alpha and omega the beginning and he end.” Then in vss. 7-8 he recapitulates important information by giving a premillennial warning. Those who overcome will inherit all things and those who do not overcome will have their part in the lake of fire. Every unbeliever will have an eternal part in the lake of fire; yet unfaithful Christians will have a temporary part in the lake when their work is burned at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They will be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:11); yet they will not be completely destroyed of the second death for all eternity.
Revelation 21:9 to Revelation 22:5 moves beyond the millennium into conditions that will exist in eternity. He closes this section off in Revelation 22:5 with the phrase and “they shall reign for ever and ever.” Then in Revelation 22:6 to the end of the chapter he starts a new section and fills in some details about the millennium by giving both promises and warnings. In general conservative pre-millennialism believes that the New Jerusalem will be a satellite city suspended in the atmosphere during the millennium and beyond the millennium it would come down to the new earth. Only those who keep the commandments of Jesus Christ will be allowed to enter through the gates of the city. Unfaithful Christians who suffer loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ will not have access to the tree of life nor will they be permitted to enter the gates of the New Jerusalem:
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
There is a condition for having access to the tree of life and entering the gates of the city. There no indication this is an automatic guarantee just because one is a Christian. In three places the term “outer darkness” is used in Matthew’s Gospel it is used relative to the “kingdom of Heaven.” The marriage supper of the Lamb will commence in the New Jerusalem at the beginning of the millennium. Those Christians who do not have on the proper wedding garment will be cast out of the city into the darkness where they will weep and gnash their teeth over lost privileges and opportunities. They will have lost the kingdom and will not be able to enter the “Joy of the Lord.” Marty Cauley in his book on the outer darkness gives an interesting postulation as to where the outer darkness might be located:
The outer darkness is not Gizrah. Rather, the southern hemisphere of the planet comprises this darkness outside the city during the millennium. Gizrah is not the outer darkness but the free space between the Promised Land of Jerusalem and the outer darkness. Since believers in the outer darkness are pictured as being bound hand and foot (Matt. 22:13), this amazing advancement in transportation to the North Pole will not be applicable to them. While those living in flesh and blood bodies in the southern hemisphere will be able to travel to the North Pole to worship, those resurrected bodies that are bound in the outer darkness will not be able to travel to the North Pole to worship. Instead, as a whole, and as a rule, they will be confined in the southern hemisphere where they will not be able to see the light of the city where they formally lived in the lower level of the city before their expulsion. (The outer Darkness, Pg. 909)
One insightful conclusion reached by Gary Whipple is worth noting:
As far as this writer can determine, the penalty, or suffering of loss (1Cor. 3:15) for the believer who fails to fulfill the commandments of Christ, will be in two major places outside the kingdom. First, there is the place of “the outer darkness” (obscurity just outside the glory of the kingdom)~This place will be occupied with those Christians who, for the lack of a mature faith, failed to have their soul saved at the Judgment Seat of Christ (see Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). Secondly, there is a place mentioned in Jude 13 as the “blackness of darkness forever” [‘forever’ in Greek is ‘aion’ meaning age, i.e. the millennial age]. This is a place that is reserved for all those, who not only failed to produce a saved soul at the judgment seat, but also fell away from the truth of the Word of God while in this life. These are called apostates, and in Jude 13, we see the worst kind of apostates. These are apostate teachers.
The “blackness of darkness” is in the region of “Gehenna” and includes the grave and the pit (Psalm 88). The major difference between “the outer darkness” and the “blackness of darkness” is the degree of punishment that each represent. Whereas, the “outer darkness” will be filled with disinherited believers just outside the light of the kingdom, the “blackness of darkness” will be filled with disinherited and apostate believers in a region far beyond light. (Shock and Surprise beyond the Rapture, Pgs. 152-153).
The New Jerusalem is part of heaven, not all of heaven. To be excluded from the New Jerusalem and cast into outer darkness need not mean any more than being spatially restricted from entering the capital…exclusion from the city is not to be equated simplistically with inclusion in hell. (The Outer Darkness, Pg. 548).
It should be noted that the term “outer darkness” used in Matthew 8:12; 22:13; and 25:30 is descriptively different than the term “blackness of darkness” used in Jude 1:13. It is my opinion that the two places represent two different kinds of chastisement that await unfaithful Christians after the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is a Judgment Seat; not an awards ceremony. At the time of this Judgment faithful Christians will receive the reward of the inheritance. They will rule with Jesus Christ from the New Jerusalem over the millennial earth. The New Jerusalem will be their home. Unfaithful Christians will suffer loss (1 Cor. 3:15) and be cast into outer darkness outside the light of the brilliantly lit city where they will weep and cry over their wasted life for 1000 years. Apostate Christians who fall away from the word of God completely will be sent to Gehenna (Hell) for the millennium. At the end of the millennium both groups (those in the outer darkness and those in Hell-Gehenna) will be raised in glorified bodies at the post-millennial Great White Throne Judgment where they will be found written in the post-millennial book of life (Rev. 20:15). At this time they will have their tears wiped away (Rev. 21:4).
The marriage supper of the lamb will commence in the New Jerusalem after the Judgment Seat of Christ. Those Christians who suffer loss at the Judgment Seat will be cast out of the lighted city into the “darkness outside.” Their dwelling place will be a place of obscurity outside the light of the kingdom or it could be they will be permitted to live in the southern hemisphere of the earth where they are not permitted to travel and see the light of the city. Other Christians who fall away from the word will be sent to the blackness of darkness. This would include the pit from Psalm 88; otherwise a region down in Hell (otherwise known as Gehenna).
Where do the unfaithful Christian go during the Millennium? Some who hold to a strong viewpoint on rewards believe they spend the entire millennium in the dark prison of the underworld before they are ultimately saved in eternity at the end of the millennium. Others believe the “outer darkness” is in a different location and distinct from the prison of Gehenna (Hell). I would adopt the latter and keep the outer darkness separate and distinct from Hell. The “outer darkness” is not referred to as the inner darkness. The inner darkness is in hell and cannot be seen because it is enclosed and covered. The “outer darkness” is simple outside a region of light. It could be outside the New Jerusalem or it could be on the southern hemisphere of the earth that never is able to view the splendid light of the city.