Approved
Click for StudyHow do we Stand Approved before God?
Click for Study"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 of not, here is what we found in our research:
Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen 1:7 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. Gen 1:8 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 popular, and hence we read of the sun rising and setting, and also here the use of 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 _raki'a_ supported the upper reservoir Psa 148:4. It was the support also 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.
Deep:
tehowm or tehom {teh-home'}
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.
Ps 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep. (wave after wave) Ps 42:11 hamah {haw-maw'} disquieted from same root word (see below) Ps 33:7 Storehouse of the deep. Gen 7:11 Fountains of the Great Deep. Ps 71:20 Depths of the Earth.
So as you can see the tehome is rendered deep many times in association with water, but water that is below the firmament. This is why this email starts with the Firmament. We are unsure where you actually made the connection to "to the region beyond "tehome" - the great salt sea that the entire universe is set in."
The root word for tehome is huwm {hoom} this is a verb Deu 7:23
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As to Outer Darkness: Mat 8:11 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. Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is the Kingdom time after the resurrection of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that is being referenced. We believe and have taught that the outer darkness is the area beyond Israel which sinning Israelites with be cast and since the whole world will know about the blessings of those within the borders of Israel they will jeer and taunt the outcasts and they will wail and gnash their teeth. Unlike many others teachers we believe the Kingdom period will not be a time of blessed peace for the whole world because the Righteous Judge will be the sovereign Monarch and those still in the flesh will continue to sin. 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 is some of the Scriptures that makes us believe that Outer Darkness is only during the Millennial period and why we believe it is 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. We do believe the wicked spirits as well as the devil can be imprisoned by the deep as in: 2Pe 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 Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by Thayer's/Strong's Number: from Tartaros (the deepest abyss of Hell) 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, The word bottomless is: 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: Strong's Number: of uncertain derivation These usages relate to the Deep or Great Abyss, could it be the sea of cursing (from which fire and brimstone emereged 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 and is the lowest spot in the world be the Lake of Fire? Something to consider although we can not say with certainty. As to a sea beyond the stars we believe water vapor is more likely and a thin veil. If you have additional research please share it with us. All God's Blessings, |
Today the principles of right division have been almost lost so we offer teachings from the Word of God that will illuminate how to rightly divide the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15 states "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". Click to learn more.