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Outer Darkness & Gnashing Of Teeth
Outer Darkness
Jesus compares the faith of the children of the kingdom, that is, the Jews, to the faith of non-Jews. Remember, the Jews believed that they were holy because of their DNA and their observance of the law of Moses. Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees to criticize them, saying, "this non-believer not only has more faith than you do, but the Gentiles will inherit the Kingdom of God before you, despite your DNA and your observance of the law. In addition, you Pharisees will lose the Enlightenment that you received through a relationship with Jehovah, which will be so painful that you will cry very loudly.”
Although most Christians do not recognize the truth and necessity for correction/judgment and choose to believe that they are going to heaven in their present condition, this message is for Christians also.
Gnashing of Teeth
Satan is symbolically called "a tooth," in the Scripture. Satan is also called a "sharp rock," signifying her ability to pierce and wound. The significance of gnashing, or grinding one's teeth is that the point of the tooth or the sharp rock, the ability to wound and hurt, will be ground down until it becomes harmless.
The positive result of this judgment is that Satan, the unconscious part of their carnal mind, the source of all evil, hurtful and selfish motives, shall be ground down and made harmless.
Other Old Testament Scriptures indicate that all of Jacob's descendants will be saved when Jehovah calls them at the end of the age. Until that time, they will be under judgment because of their hard hearts and hurtful spirits.
Matt 8:8-12
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
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.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
Matt 13:41-42
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
These Scriptures are talking about the judgment of the individual person in preparation for the full descent of Jesus into their vessel. Every sin will be removed from Satan, the unconscious part of the carnal mind, until Satan becomes toothless and harmless. Unfortunately, sometimes the process is painful which results in loud crying out to God for deliverance. All this works for the good of the believer, so that he can attain eternal life, and then immortality.
Matt 13:49-50
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
The end of the world is actually the end of the age. The wicked is our old man, Adam who fell into sin, and the just one is Christ Jesus, the new man. Jesus likens this process called "sanctification" to childbirth because it is accomplished through experiences which sometimes are painful. But the Scripture goes on to say that once the Christ child is born, we forget all about the pain.
Matt 22:12-14
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 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.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
KJV
One must have Christ to be eligible to marry Jesus. Christ and the Holy Spirit are not the same. This parable is saying that the believer that tries to attend the wedding of the Lamb before Christ is overshadowing their carnal mind (through the judgment of the unconscious part of their mind, which is their sin nature) will have their carnal mind/sin nature (foot) bound and their Christ mind (hand) taken away. They will lose the enlightenment they enjoyed through a relationship with Jehovah, and descend into spiritual darkness, which is very painful to the soul, until they learn to prefer the righteousness of Christ over their sin nature.
Matt 24:48-51
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
Jesus requires us to treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. The Israelite (Jew or Christian) that mistreats his fellow man will experience the same cruelty that he hurt his brother with. It will be as painful as that which he caused another person. In all of the previous verses the pain was of the soul, which are the emotions. This is the first verse that indicates that the pain might be physical, depending upon one's own cruelty to others.
Matt 25:29-30
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
These Scriptures are talking about the unfaithful servant, the one who received an anointing and did not do anything to increase it. This means he did not study or go to church or pray. He thought he was saved when he answered the altar call and that there was nothing more to do. He, too, will lose the Enlightenment that he experienced through a relationship with Jesus, because it did not make him a better person. We all have to change and become better people. It can be very emotionally painful to find out how Jesus sees us, but the fruit is that we desire change, to be a better person, when before that, we thought we were fine.
Luke 13:26-30
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
KJV
These Scriptures are talking about the believers who think they are saved because of the works that they do. Jesus is telling them in a parable form that only the works that they do through Christ will count in that last day. Jesus has a relationship only with Christ in us, so when he says "I never knew you" Jesus is saying that they did all of their good works for their own gratification, rather than through a relationship with Jesus himself. Jesus never told them to do it. These, too, will lose the Enlightenment that they received through relationship with Jesus Christ because they satisfied their own pride, rather than submit to Christ within themselves.
Conclusion
All judgment is designed to destroy our sin nature, which is actually a hurtful spirit, so that Christ can be born in us. Christ is blameless and incapable of sin. Therefore correction, also called judgment, which causes pain, is no longer necessary after we are converted.
