Dear Robert (+ all Doves)

Two days ago you made the assumption that "Outer Darkness = Tribulation Period on Earth". You (together with Eliane B!) provided many useful thoughts and links to good articles recently, and I thought that your statement is interesting.

I looked up all passages in the Bible with about "Outer Darkness". It is always a person that is thrown out to the outer darkness, usually it is mentioned together with "wailing and gnashing of teeth". According the the Greek meaning, it should maybe better be translated as something like "outside the place where the light is".

At least the passage of Matth. 22:13 does not seem to fit the idea of "Outer Darkness = Tribulation Period on Earth", as the throwing-out happens while (or directly at the start of) the wedding supper of the lamb, which according to my understanding is after the actual wedding of the groom (Jesus) and his bride (true believers in Christ), or in other words: it is after the 7 or 3.5 years of Tribulation are already over.

Btw, as a sidenote: Who can give me a 100% correct explanation of that parable (each single verse from Matth. 22:2-14)? It seems to not affect the bride, as it only addresses the guests for the wedding but not exactly the bride (bride = raptured Christians)? Or did I miss something?

However, I was not entirely satisfied with my research and had no definite answer. While I took a shower yesterday evening, I asked (begged!) God to reveal to me the correct meaning of outer darkness through his Holy Spirit. While still taking the shower, suddenly "New Jerusalem" came to my mind as a very strong thought. It was like from one moment to the next I was 100% sure that "New Jerusalem = Place of Light". I did not even remotely think about the New Jerusalem recently, so this thought really hit me and I wanted to share it with you. It must be verified/falsified by scripture!

If the New Jerusalem is a place on earth during the Millenial Reign, then the outer darkness could be any (or all!) places on earth outside the New Jerusalem (but that's not the same as Shoel/Hell/Lake of Fire!).

Watch & Pray!
Maranatha!
YBIC, Josua