Daniel 2:22
He revealeth the deep and secret things:
he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him.
Josh wrote:
"Exoteros skotos" can refer to being delivered unto Satan or, extensively, to the region beyond "tehome" - the great salt sea that the entire universe is set in.
Dear Josh,
God Bless you, and thank you for writing. We took some time again with this subject to review our research before writing back looking to see if "the great salt sea that the entire universe is set in" was Scriptural or not; here is what we found in our research:
Gen 1:6-8 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Firmament
From the Vulgate "firmamentum," which is used as the translation of the Hebrew raqiya. This word means simply "expansion." It denotes the space or expanse like an arch appearing immediately above us. They who rendered raqiya by "firmamentum" regarded it as a solid body. The language of Scripture is not scientific but coherent, and hence, we read of the sun rising and setting, and this is also the case with this particular word. It is plain that it was used to denote solidity as well as expansion. It formed a division between the waters above and the waters below (Gen 1:7). The raqiya supported the upper reservoir (Psa. 148:4). It was the support of the heavenly bodies (Gen 1:14) and is spoken of as having "windows" and "doors" (Gen 7:11; Isa 24:18; Mal 3:10) through which the rain and snow might descend.
The Deep
Strongs
H8415
tehom (teh-home')
(Usually feminine) from H1949;
an abyss (as a surging mass of water),
especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water supply): - deep (place), depth.
1) deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep sea
a) deep (of subterranean waters)
b) deep sea, abysses (of sea)
c) primeval ocean, deep d) deep, depth (of river)
e) abyss, the grave
Used 36 times in the AV - deep 20, depth 15, deep places 1; 36 The primitive use of the word in poetry was water making a commotion.
Psa. 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep. (wave after wave)
Psa. 42:11 hamah {haw-maw'} disquieted from the same root word
Psa. 33:7 Storehouse of the deep.
Psa. 71:20 Depths of the Earth.
Gen. 7:11 Fountains of the Great Deep.
So, as we can see, tehom is rendered as "the deep" many times because of its close association with large amounts of water, but this water is below the Firmament. This is one reason we started with the Firmament, for it arches above "the deep." We could not, however, find any supporting Scripture for the connection to "to the region beyond "tehome" - the great salt sea that the entire universe is set in."
We do believe the wicked spirits, as well as the devil, can be imprisoned by "the deep" as in:
2 Pet. 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;
The word hell is tartaroo
From Tartarus (the deepest abyss of Hades);
to incarcerate in eternal torment: - cast down to hell.
Thayer Definition:
1) the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds; it answers to Gehenna of the Jews
2) to thrust down to Tartarus, to hold captive in Tartarus
Part of Speech: verb
We believe this spot is:
Rev. 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
So, for some reason beyond our understanding, it seems fallen angels can be imprisoned by deep water and great pressure, as in:
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The word bottomless is abussos
Thayer Definition:
1) bottomless
2) unbounded
3) the abyss
3a) the pit
3b) the immeasurable depth
3c) of Orcus, a very deep gulf or chasm in the lowest parts of the earth used as the common receptacle of the dead and especially as the abode of demons
And the word Pit phrear
Thayer Definition:
1) a well
2) the pit of the abyss (because the nether world is thought to increase in size the further it extends from the surface of the earth and so resemble a cistern, the orifice of which is narrow)
Strong's Number: of uncertain derivation
Of uncertain derivation; a hole in the ground (dug for obtaining or holding water or other purposes), that is, a cistern or well; figuratively an abyss (as a prison): - well, pit.
These usages relate to the Deep or Great Abyss. Could it be the sea of cursing (from which fire and brimstone emerged until just 600 years ago) commonly known as the Dead Sea? Could this lake, which burneth with fire and is bottomless and revered as a cursed place being the lowest spot on earth, be the Lake of Fire? Something to consider, although we can not say with certainty.
Outer Darkness
Matt. 8:11-12 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. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This speaks of the Promised Kingdom time after The Resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who have realized their inheritance in the newness of life Everlasting. Christ Jesus, their King-Priest, is in command of the entire earth, and Israel is the mediator of the blessings of The Lord God to all the kingdoms and governments.
We believe the nation of Israel and God's throne is where light and life flow and that outer darkness is beyond Israel's border, where mortal men live in sin and unbelief. For the sinning Israelites, the Perfect Judge will cast them out into outer darkness to wander the earth. Since the whole world will know about the blessings of those within the borders of Israel, they will jeer and taunt the outcasts, who in turn, will wail and gnash their teeth. Unlike most other teachers, we believe The Kingdom period will not be a time of blessed peace for unbelieving humanity because the Righteous Judge will be The Sovereign Monarch, and those still in the flesh will continue to sin and break God's Law. Those in Israel will enjoy the blessings, but all else is outer darkness, and even some believers who transgress or have transgressed will be cast out.
Here are some of the Scriptures that make us believe that Outer Darkness is only during the Millennial period anywhere outside Israel, and why we believe the darkness is not only spiritual but physical as well. Oh woe unto them that are in the flesh in those days that come soon upon this world.
Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isa 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Isa 60:10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
Isa 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
Isa 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
Isa 60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Isa 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 60:15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
Isa 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isa 60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
Isa 60:18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
Isa 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Isa 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Isa 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Isa 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isa 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isa 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isa 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion, they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Isa 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Isa 61:9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
We hope this study has answered some of your questions.
All God's Blessings,
The Believers
