[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

That's right raptor!! In fact it is abundantly clear no scripture says outer darkness lasts for 1,000 years. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Outer darkness is mentioned 3 times and it is mentioned only in Matthew. 8:12, 22:13, and 25:30

8:12:
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.

Since studying the doctrine of dispensationalism, which makes total sense to me now and has clarified so many questions, I have learned and discovered that many passages especially in the gospels are addressed to the Jews Jesus was preaching to. Just because we converted gentiles read the gospels and the NT does not necessarily mean the subject matter is directed to us.

So in Matthew 8:12
Jesus speaking to the JEWS not to the church which has not been established tells them many are going to sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To prove Jesus is not speaking to the gentiles, the gentiles knew nothing about the OT, nothing about Abe, Isaac and Jacob. They are not even in the picture! Jesus preached and revealed Himself to the Jews as Messiah. After Pentecost, Jesus is revealed to the gentiles through the Holy Spirit and Paul's teaching on Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Next. Jesus tells them they will be sitting in the Kingdom of heaven. Not until this past year did I know there is a difference between the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God.

Did the LC/LSM explain the difference? They did not when I was there.

The TLB (the Living Bible) translates vs 12 as this:
And many an Israelite—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—shall be cast into outer darkness, into the place of weeping and torment.”

The Kingdom of heaven (not the Kingdom of God) was prepared for the Israelites, the Jews. They are the ones who will be cast into outer darkness for rejecting their Messiah. For how long? It does not say? Will they be able to repent and be given another chance? I think so. I hope so. There may be weeping and gnashing of teeth but it does not say that the outer darkness is in the lake of fire. I might be wrong. What I do know is God is an extremely Merciful GOD. And His Mercy endures forever.

My thoughts, my opinion until I discover otherwise is that those Jews will experience outer darkness during the tribulation. OR perhaps during the thousand year reign, they THE ISRAELITES, THE JEWS will experience outer darkness. No member of the Blood washed church composed of both Jew and Gentile will experience the outer darkness presented in Matthew.

I hope this helps. It sure helped me !

Here is a you tube teaching by Gene Kim that explains the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God for anyone who is interested.
Blessings to all,
Carol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlVIee2pp_g&t=2432s

Thanks for that Carol! I haven't watched the video yet, but I will.

I also heard an aged and respected brother speak a few years ago about how the 10 virgins were the Jews and not the church. We didn't know what to think of his speaking, and I just put it in the "Well Lord, I could be wrong about this passage - please show me" category.

So what do you make of the unfaithful servant in Matthew 25 - also a Jewish one?

PS - Yes, God is infinitely merciful, but when working according to the law, He is really strict! So I wonder if the Jews, who reject Christ for the law, might be treated more severely, as it's their choice?