THE BIBLE GAP or HOW TO DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED IN GENESIS 1:2
I believe in a Genesis Gap.
For the biggest part of my Christian life I DID NOT believe in a Genesis Gap. The "clincher" for me that "fully persuaded" me was simply a KJB study of the word "darkness" (and I don't mean looking up the "meaning" of the word in the Hebrew or Greek). For me personally, that's what "tied the rag on the bush" as Bro. Pete would say. Dr. Ruckman did not convince me OF the Gap, nor did Bro. Hovind convince me AGAINST the Gap (I love both of these men and their ministries, but THEY are not my final authority). But, a Biblical word-study of HOW, WHY and WHEN God uses the word "darkness". The weight of this Scriptural evidence shedding light on Genesis 1:2 convinced me, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that WHATEVER was going on within that verse, it could NOT have been something GOOD.
Here are a few salient verses:
"Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." Job 10:21-22 [note that "without any order"]"
When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness." Job 30:26
"Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps."
Psa. 88:6" Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isa. 5:20" Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?" Amos 5:18 & 20"But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies." Nah. 1:8 [This verse contains darkness AND water]"That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness," Zeph 1:15"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts 26:18"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12"But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." 1 John 2:11
While none of these verses are speaking of Genesis 1:2 directly, they ARE instructive. Many, many more examples could be given, but I challenge anyone to find ONE SINGLE VERSE in the JKB that portrays "darkness" in a strong, POSITIVE context. These verses show HOW, WHEN and WHY God uses the word, and, as far as I can tell, the evidence is overwhelming that it's never in relation to something GOOD. So, what does this mean in relation to our examination of Genesis 1:2? I think when a further study is done of the circumstances when God uses "covering waters" (i.e. darkness was upon the face of the DEEP and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the WATERS) we find some kind of JUDGMENT is going on. WATER baptism is a type and picture of this. You're submerged UNDER WATER as a picture of God's judgment, and Jesus is a "fisher of men", so when you get saved, you're pulled UP OUT of the water as a picture and type of salvation. Covering water is a picture of God's judgment not a creative act of God. When a baby is in it's mother's womb, it is submerged in DARK WATER (a picture of sin). When the baby is born, it enters the LIGHT (a picture of salvation). This makes since because the scriptures testify:"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Psa. 51:5
Personally, I think Genesis 1:2 shows a DEstructive act of God and not a CONstructive act of God. This is what I believe, and I think the Bible supports it.
Concerning "darkness", here's another little something to think about:"And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mark 15:33-34Why was "darkness" present from the 6 hours to the ninth hour? Because the Lord Jesus Christ had the SINS OF THE WORLD upon him and He was "forsaken" by God at THIS time. "Darkness" is many times a type and picture of being "God forsaken". Have you ever thought about why outer space is PITCH BLACK? Do you know what happens to a living creature which enters the darkness of outer space? ... they DIE IMMEDIATELY ! Outer space is a type and picture of being forsaken by God – "darkness" as far as the eye can see. In Genesis 1:1 there is ONE "heaven" and ONE "earth", but NOW there are THREE "heavens" and ONE earth. The "second heaven" (outer space) acts as a divider between God and man. To see "darkness" acting as a divider between the holy and the unholy see:"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night." Ex. 14:19-20
One more thing: By making outer space a DANGER-ZONE of DARKNESS for anything that has a living spirit, God has increased the difficulty of man "ascending to the sides of the North" without the aid of artificial means (i.e. rockets, space suits, etc.). However, for the last half century, mankind and their "space programs" have been working on this "problem". When the first One World Government shows up at the tower of Babel guess what they're trying to do?"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may REACH UNTO HEAVEN; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."Guess what the world is on the "fast-track" towards today? Yep, One World Government. And guess what man is again trying to do? Yep, for the last 50 years he's be trying to ascend into the havens. The cosmological "second heaven" of "darkness" helps prevent this ascension.
So far I have proceeded to share with you how I became "fully persuaded" that there was some kind of "gap" of time in Genesis 1:2. That change in my thinking had nothing to do with being swayed by "evolution", "creation" or "science" but had everything to do with one little word found in THE BOOK. That word was "DARKNESS". By studying throughout the Bible WHEN, HOW and WHY God used the word "darkness", I soon came to the realization that "something" BAD must have happened in the second verse of Genesis (the details of which the Bible did not immediately disclose).
Here are a few more tidbits concerning "darkness" that got me to thinking:
1.) Do you know what the predominant thing (force, element, whatever you want to call it) is in the Universe?If your answer is "darkness" you are right. DARKNESS is the MOST PREVALENT thing in the Universe. Think about that for a moment. ... If it were not for the Sun, moon and stars, we would live in COMPLETE AND TOTAL darkness.
2.) Did you know that God is NEVER referred to as "The Father" or "A Father of Darkness", and yet darkness is the MOST PREVALENT element in the entire Universe. Instead, the Bible says of God:"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the FATHER OF LIGHTS, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17
Note the words "good" and "perfect" are connected with God and light. God never calls the darkness "good" anywhere in Genesis or the rest of the Bible. When Judas came to betray Christ do you know what the Lord Jesus said? "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is YOUR hour, and THE POWER OF DARKNESS." Luke 22:53Do you know what this means? It means that darkness is connected in some way to the BETRAYAL of God and Christ. "The power of Darkness" belongs to the Devil, and God uses literal darkness to signify this. The darkness which shows up in Genesis must surely indicate that Satan BETRAYED God sometime between the first 2 verses. In Genesis 1:1, ONE heaven and the Earth exists ("In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth). That is, God had FELLOWSHIP with the Earth, and at that time LIGHT WAS PREDOMINANT ("God is light and in him is no darkness at all"). Wherever God is openly present (and not restraining his presence like He currently is) there is no need for a firmament full of darkness and no need for a Sun, moon or stars. God is light.
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of GOD DID LIGHTEN it, and the Lamb IS THE LIGHT thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be NO NIGHT there." Rev. 21:24-25Yes, darkness is currently the MOST PREVALENT thing in the Universe. It is a FALLEN Universe. A Universe cursed by sin, under the sway of "the rulers of the darkness of this world" and under the thumb of the one who betrayed Christ and holds "the power of darkness".
You see, outer space is not dark "just because". It's dark for a REASON, and ONLY THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD (the King James Bible) can give is the answer:"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, AS UNTO a LIGHT that shineth IN A DARK PLACE, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" 2 Peter 1:19"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is NO LIGHT in them." Isa. 8:20
If your child ever asks you "why is outer space dark", you now have the answer.
The Scriptures depict God's open, sinless presence as a "consuming fire" (i.e. light)."For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." Deut. 4:24"Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee." Deut. 9:3" For our God is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:29
God has currently shut-off his open, sinless presence from the Universe, and that is why the Universe is currently dominated by literal darkness (This was not so in Genesis verse 1, but it is in verse 2). Because of this darkness, He created artificial lights (the sun, moon and stars) to give light upon the Earth. What would happen if God were to openly reveal His sinless presence to a dark, sin-fallen universe NOW? What would happen if a sinless, "consuming fire" were to invade a dark Universe?The Scriptures give us that answer:"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" 2 Peter 3:10-12
If God did not Personally choose to withhold His sinless presence, EVERYTHING IN that PRESENCE would burn up."The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and IN THE PRESENCE of the Lamb." Rev. 14:10When God first appeared to Moses He appeared in a BURNING Bush. When He came down on Mount Sinai to give Moses the law, he came down IN FIRE. As a matter of fact, the FIRST time "fire" shows up in the Bible, it's coming FROM God "out of heaven" (Gen. 19:24). A born-again Christian, covered by the sinless blood of Christ GIVES US the ability to live for an eternity IN THE PRESENCE of a consuming fire WITHOUT being consumed. Ever read of Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego and Daniel surviving the fiery furnace while in the presence of the LORD? This is a type and picture of the born-again Christian. God as a "consuming fire", also helps explain why the unsaved will BURN FOR AN ETERNITY. It's not because God created FIRE to torture them for all-time, it's because they'll be IN THE PRESENCE of God for an eternity ... WITHOUT A COVERING (i.e. the blood of Christ). God is currently holding back His "consuming fire" presence and this "withholding" began sometime before Genesis 1:2. However, because "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24), He can also "fill the Heavens" (Jer. 23:24) without being openly and physically present within it (i.e. no fire and no light).
Sin originated with the Devil (not man). When Lucifer desired to be "like the Most High" he was not in Heaven, he was on the Earth. Lucifer rebelled during the FIRST heaven and earth. The SECOND heaven and earth came along in Genesis 1:2 (and, yes, they are literal 24-hr days. I'm a rabid anti-evolutionist).
Hence, God told Adam to "replenish" it (Gen. 1:28) just like He told Noah (Gen. 9:1). The heavens (i.e. second heaven) are BLACK for a reason. The Scriptures testify:"I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering." Isa. 3:50 "Sackcloth" scripturally speaking, is a picture of mourning and repentance. God clothed the "heavens with blackness" BEFORE Genesis 1:2, BEFORE the creation of man.
[20] Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
[21] How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
[22] For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
[23] I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
[24] I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
[25] I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
[26] I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by HIS FIERCE ANGER.
[27] For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
[28] For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.Jeremiah 4:20-28
While this may not be a DIRECT cross reference for Genesis 1:2, it does reveal God's methods as to WHY heavens would be dark and WHY the earth would appear formless and void. It all has to do with a JUDGEMENT from God, and NOT a creative process of God. Note the words "his fierce anger" have a DIRECT CONNECTION to the Earth being "without form and void" AND the heavens being "black". We may have a hard time trying to figure out how "sin" exactly fits into all of this, but this IS Scripture, and these Scriptures reveal God's anger is what produced the conditions in Genesis 1:2. Clearly, the context of these verses is "destruction", and not "creation", and they shed DIRECT LIGHT on the puzzling circumstances of Genesis 1:2
Have you ever considered the most prevalent condition in the universe?
If your guess is "darkness" you are correct. Darkness is far and away the most prevalent condition in the universe. You may be saying to yourself; "So". But think about it for a moment. If it were not for the light of the Sun and stars, we would live in total perpetual darkness - forever. Have you ever realized that when nighttime falls, that THAT is the way things really are, that is the norm? We only have 12 hours of sunlight by the mercy and grace of God. And that being true, did you know that even though darkness is easily (no contest) the most common condition in the universe, God is never referred to as a "Father of Darkness"? Doesn't that seem kind of strange? Instead, the Bible states:"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the FATHER OF LIGHTS, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 Note the words "good" and "perfect" are connected with God and light. God never calls the darkness "good" anywhere in the Bible. Did you read that? Even in Genesis 1:4-5 God only refers to the light as "good", and then it is separated from the darkness. Darkness is the one common denominator that's consistent throughout the universe. It is everywhere and permeates everything. Light, on the other hand, must originate from a source. Sunlight comes from a source. Moonlight comes from a source. Starlight comes from a source. Any form of light, whether natural or artificial, in the current construct of this universe, must originate from a source. Remove that source, and darkness reigns. Darkness has no source. Darkness just "is". We live in perpetual darkness, that's reality, and a very frightening thought. Have you ever wondered why outer space is black, why it's consumed by darkness? Was it originally created that way "just because", or is there more going on here than we realize?
If darkness was not created "in the beginning" (Gen. 1:1), where did it come from, and why? Do the Scriptures portray darkness as something good? Why or why not? This will delve into more detail on the fascinating Bible subject of the origins of darkness, how it relates to God, and the circumstances which surround its existence. This is an amazing and profound study, but once complete, you will have a better understanding of biblical cosmology, and why darkness is the most prominent trait of the universe.
It may come as a surprise, but there is no biblical record of the "creation" of darkness.
When light is created in Genesis 1:3, it is recorded; "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." No such creative act is recorded for "darkness". When darkness first appears in Genesis 1:2, it is just "there" and is accompanied by "water". Why? Where does the water and darkness come from, and why are they not the end result of a Scriptural passage which reads; "And God said let there be a great deep, and let darkness cover the deep: and it was so. And God saw the darkness and the deep, that they were good. And the evening and the morning were the first day." There's a very good reason why such a passage does not exist, but the answer is not found in Genesis chapter one. It can only be found by doing a biblical word-study of HOW, WHEN and WHY God uses the word "darkness". How does God use the word "darkness"? When does God use the word "darkness"? Why does God use the word "darkness"? By searching the Scriptures and looking at other instances of how, when and why this word is used (i.e. by comparing Scripture with Scripture), we will then be able to determine why there is no biblical record of the "creation" of darkness, and why the word appears "out of nowhere" in the first chapter of Genesis.
In Isaiah 45:7 it is written;"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."While this verse is not a record of the creation of darkness, it does testify to the fact that God is the author of it. However, the question we need to ask ourselves is not "does God create darkness" (for God is the creator of all things), but we need to ask ourselves (you better get this); "under what circumstances does God use darkness". Do the Scriptures use the word "darkness" to signify "the beginning" of something good, pure and clean (like the creation of a sinless universe) or does it mean something different? Maybe darkness pictures "the end" of something instead of the beginning?
Consider the following salient verses and note the context, and other words used in conjunction with the word "darkness" (important knowledge gleaned from the verse is contained in the brackets following):
1. - "[21] And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. [22] And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: [23] They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." Exodus 10:21-23[Literal "darkness" is used as a judgement upon the enemies of God. Darkness is also used a divider between the people of God and the enemies of God - a very interesting concept.]
2. - "[19] And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: [20] And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night." Exodus 14:19-20[God uses darkness as a divider.]
3. - "And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season." Joshua 24:7[Darkness is used as a divider and is associated with the judgment of God's enemies - especially a judgment of water. It's also important to note here that, Pharaoh is a type of the Devil, and Egypt a type of the world - very interesting.]
4. - "Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." Job 10:21-22[darkness is associated with "death" and being "without any order" - also see Gen. 1:2 for a cross reference.]
5. - "When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness." Job 30:26[Darkness is equated with "evil", and is shown as being the OPPOSITE of light and goodness.]
6. - "[21] For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. [22] There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." Job 34:21-22[Darkness is connected with death and the workers of iniquity.]
7. - "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps." Psa. 88:6[Darkness is associated with "the pit" and "the deeps".]
8. - " [14] LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? [15] I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. [16] Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. [17] They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.[18] Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness." Psalms 88:14-18[Darkness is associated with God hiding his face from the guilty, affliction, death, terror, the "fierce wrath" of God pictured as covering "water", and the absence of friends and lovers.]
9. - " [10] Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; [11] Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:" Psalms 107:10-11[Those that "sit in darkness" are associated with death, being bound and afflicted and rebellion against "the words of God".]
10. - "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble." Prov. 4:19[Just as the verse said; darkness is likened unto "the way of the wicked".]
11. - "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isa. 5:20[Once again, darkness is equated with "evil", and is shown as being the OPPOSITE of light and goodness.]
12. - " [1] I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. [2] He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. [3] Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day." Lam. 3:1-3[Darkness is intricately connected with the wrath of God. Note the important statement; "Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day". For the full effect read the entire third chapter of Lamentations.]
13. - "[18] Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. [19] As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. [20] Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? [21] I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. [22] Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. [23] Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. [24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Amos 5:18-24[Darkness is equated with the judgment of God, being hated by God, and being rejected by God. Note that the judgement of God shown in the verse runs down as "waters".]
14. - "But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies." Nah. 1:8[This verse contains darkness and water. Note the words "make an utter end", and that darkness is associated with the "enemies" of God. To put it bluntly, this verse is the answer to the mystery surrounding Genesis 1:2.]
15. - "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness," Zeph 1:15[Darkness is associated with wrath, trouble, distress, wasteness and desolation.]
16. - "Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 22:13[Darkness is connected with being cast into a place of torment – i.e. separation from God.]
17. - "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 25:30[Darkness is connected with being cast into a place of torment – i.e. separation from God.]
18. - "[45] Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. [46] And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli , Eli , lama sabachthani ? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt. 27:45-46[This is one of the most salient verses in the entire Bible regarding "darkness". Here is a clear, stark passage demonstrating that "darkness" represents being "forsaken" by God. The verse shows that at the exact moment the Lord Jesus Christ was bearing the sins of the world, supernatural darkness covered the land and God forsook Christ.]
19. - "[ 33] And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. [34] And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi , Eloi , lama sabachthani ? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mark 15:33-34[Mark reiterates the lessons of Matthew 27:45-46 in showing that "darkness" appeared upon the land at the same time the Lord Jesus Christ was "forsaken" by God.]
20. - "[52] Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? [53] When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." Luke 22:52-53[Darkness can signify a betrayal of God or Christ]
21. - " [44] And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. [45] And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. [46] And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke 23:44-46[An outstanding verse showing darkness is connected with death. When Christ died on the cross, supernatural darkness covered the land for three hours.]
22. - "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19[Darkness is equated with "evil".]
23. - "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts 26:18[Darkness is associated with "the power of Satan".]
24. - " [15] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [16] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 2 Cor. 6:14-15[Darkness is connected with unbelief, unrighteousness, false gods, and infidelity.]
25. - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12[Darkness is associated with "spiritual wickedness in high places".]
26. - "[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" 1Thess 5:4,5&9[Note how this verse shows the children of "darkness" are those "appointed" to God's wrath, while the "children of light" are not.]
27. - "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" 2 Peter 2:4[Darkness is associated with sin, judgment and hell]
28. - "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5[God is light and not darkness. This means that wherever God dwells, there is no darkness. "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." Rev. 21:23]
29. - "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." Jude 1:6[Darkness is associated with rebellion against God, and the judgment of God.]
30. - "[13] Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. [14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints. [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Jude 1:13-15[Darkness is associated with ungodliness and the judgment of God.]
To summarize, here are the following biblical reasons when God uses darkness:
1. - To denote death or a place of death
2. - To denote evil, sin, wickedness, hatred, unrighteousness, unbelief, infidelity and ungodliness
3. - To denote a place of judgment for sins
4. - To denote the Lord's wrath or judgment
5. - To denote a place of the enemies of God
6. - To act as a divider between the holy and unholy, or clean and unclean
7. - To denote being forsaken by God
8. - To denote betrayal against God or Christ
9. - To denote something secret or hidden
So what does all this mean when dealing with outer space? Does the blackness of space hold that big of a significance? Yes, I believe it does. I believe when you understand why outer space is the way it is, and understand how the Lord uses the word "darkness", and how God relates to "darkness" and "blackness"; it opens up a whole new level of Scriptural understanding. The truth is, regardless of how you may feel about it, regardless of what any evolutionist or creationist may think about it, the truth is, darkness ALWAYS connotes something BAD (and this includes the circumstances immediately following Genesis 1:1). Do you realize that when Genesis 1:31 states; "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." that this is NO REFERENCE to Genesis 1:2? "How do you know?" you ask. Because in every instance in Genesis 1, God declares what is "good" AS it is being made. The word "good" appears 7 times in Genesis 1, and it's nowhere near the "darkness" (check it out for yourself). To further undergird, reinforce and strengthen our findings, consider the next biblical study regarding "sackcloth".
The Scriptures record: "I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering." Isaiah 50:3This is a fascinating passage. It shows the reason the heavens are "black" is connected to the same reason sackcloth is used as a covering. A brief perusal of the Bible concerning the word "sackcloth" should reveal rich truths regarding the blackness of outer space, and help answer the question of "why" it is black.The word "sackcloth" appears 46 times in Scripture. All 46 references can be categorized under one or more of the following three headings:1.) Mourning because of death.Gen. 37:34, 2 Sam. 3:312.) Seeking mercy from judgment (usually the judgment of God, chastening or imminent death) or repentance from sin.
1 Kgs. 20:31-32, 1 Kgs. 21:27, 2 Kgs. 6:30, 2 Kgs. 19:1-2, 1 Chr. 21:16, Est. 4:1-4, Job 16:15, Psa. 30:11, Psa. 35:13, Psa. 69:11, Isa. 3:24, Isa. 15:3, Isa. 20:2, Isa. 22:12, Isa. 32:11, Isa. 37:1-2, Isa. 58:5, Jer. 4:8, Jer. 6:26, Jer. 48:37, Jer. 49:3, Lam. 2:10, Ezk. 7:18, Ezk. 27:31, Dan. 9:3, Joel 1:8 & 13, Amos 8:10, Jon. 3:5-6, Jon. 3:8, Matt. 11:21, Lk. 10:13, Rev. 11:33.) Blackness or darkness due to the wrath of God.Isa. 50:3, Rev. 6:12When the heavens are "clothed with blackness" in Genesis 1:2 we learn by comparing Scripture with Scripture, that this is likened unto being covered with "sackcloth" (Isa. 50:3). Being covered with sackcloth, Scripturally speaking, always carries with it a negative connotation. In short, the reason outer space is black, is either because of mourning, death, judgment, repentance from sin, or the wrath of God. This is what the Scriptures teach, regardless of any preconceived ideas or how anyone feels about it.
A few salient verses showing when and how God uses the word "sackcloth" include:"
[10] Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness" Psalms 30:10-11 Here the Psalmist shows that those wearing sackcloth are in "mourning", and are seeking "mercy" from the Lord. Note that the verse also reveals that being girt with "gladness" is the OPPOSITE of being clothed in sackcloth. This verse helps us to understand why the Lord never refers to darkness as something "good" in the first chapter of Genesis. God calls the light "good", but then separates it from the darkness (see Gen. 1:3-4). Psalms 30:11 shows that the Lord will be "glad" with the heavens (i.e. the second heaven of outer space) only after it's sackcloth is put off, after the blackness is gone."For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us." Jeremiah 4:8 The prophet Jeremiah clearly shows the major reason for being girt with sackcloth: "for the fierce anger of the LORD". In other words, those clothed in sackcloth are under the imminent judgment of God."
[3] And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
[4] And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; [5] We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments". Daniel 9:3-5 Note that Daniel was seeking mercy and wearing sackcloth when he stated; "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments" (Dan. 9:5) "But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands." Jonah 3:8The book of Jonah reveals that the wearing of sackcloth is admitting to possessing an "evil way" and "violence".
Consider this: When Judas came to betray Christ do you know what the Lord Jesus said? "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but THIS is your hour, and the POWER of DARKNESS." Luke 22:53 Do you know what this means? It means that darkness is connected in some way, or signifies in some way, or is symbolic in some way of the BETRAYAL of God and Christ. Did you get that? Read the words of Christ again from Luke 22:53 again. "The power of Darkness" belongs to the Devil, and God uses literal darkness to signify this. The darkness which shows up in Genesis 1:2 must surely indicate that Satan betrayed God sometime between the first 2 verses. In Genesis 1:1, one heaven (singular) and the Earth exists ("In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth). That is, God had fellowship with the Earth, and at that time light was predominant ("God is light and in him is no darkness at all"). Now however, there are 3 heavens and an Earth (the first heaven - the sky and atmosphere of Earth; the second heaven - outer space; and the third heaven - God's dwelling place). If Lucifer fell sometime after Genesis 1:1 (and he did), but sometime before Genesis 1:2 (and he did), where did this fallen being reside at the time of the 6 days of Genesis? Would God allow this fallen, sinful creatures to continue to dwell with Him in the Third Heaven? Satan currently still has access to the Third Heaven, but where is his primary dwelling place? There's only one real place that biblically fits the realm of a fallen, rebellious being, a place marked by perpetual darkness – outer space. And that is why "darkness" and "waters" appear seemingly "out of nowhere" in Genesis 1:2. They are the aftermath of the judgement of the former kingdom of Lucifer. During the 6 days of Genesis, God recreates, restores and "replenishes" the Earth, but the "darkness" of Genesis 1:2 remains. This "darkness" (the former place of the judgment of Lucifer and now his primary home) becomes the "firmament" in which outer space (the second heaven) is placed (see Gen. 1:6-19). So the author of Ephesians writes; "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12 Yes, darkness is currently the most prevalent condition in the Universe. It is a fallen Universe. A Universe which resides "in a dark place", cursed by sin, under the sway of "the rulers of the darkness of this world" and under the thumb of the one who betrayed Christ and who holds "the power of darkness".
You see, outer space is not simply dark for no reason.
There is a reason and a meaning to the darkness. It is a type and picture of sin and death, and any living creature that steps out into this darkness dies. Here's one last thing to think about: Many children, if not most (especially very young children 1-4 years old), are naturally afraid of the dark. While grown-ups simply brush this attitude off as childish foolishness, (or simply an unnecessary "fear of the unknown") could it be that these young children (those still in a state on "innocence" before God to whom sin has not been imputed), could it be that these innocent children actually almost have a "sixth sense" of what darkness really is? Only after they get older and hardened to sin do they become accustomed to the dark. It's something to think about."We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, AS UNTO a LIGHT that shineth IN A DARK PLACE, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" 2 Peter 1:19