Steve,

That was a an informative and interesting article, to say the least.

I've generally not heard that explanation before, except maybe some brief comments alluding to that.

I must say, that I have wondered about the meaning of outer darkness, myself.

I had wondered about hell being in the lower parts of the earth, so the outer darkness must be without, not within.

However, some other questions I had about it, were not answered by the article.

e.g.

II Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

What is the mist of darkness that is reserved forever?  and where is it?

Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Is the blackness of darkness speaking of the mist of darkness, or is it describing something similar?  and where is it?

The article mentioned the fires of hell and darkness are mutually exclusive.

Yet Peter mentions angels cast down to hell, into chains of darkness:

II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

That's not mutually exclusive.

Jude similarly describes those angels, that Peter said were cast down to hell, as being in everlasting chains under darkness:

Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Or what about where Job describes?

Job 10:21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

  22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Job 18:18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

Or what about the Psalm writer, comparing his current situation, with those who have already died and gone to the place of darkness?

Psalms 88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

  12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

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