(413) – IF… 4

DARKNESS! From the material standpoint, darkness is the absence of the light of the sun, but from the spiritual standpoint, the apostle John says: “This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).

The apostle Paul reveals that the darkness is the power of Satan. Jesus sent him, saying: “To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). We can understand that, if darkness is the power of Satan, light is the power of Christ, who said: “Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12). Therefore, those who practice evil are birthed by the darkness and are children of the darkness; but those who are birthed by the light do only good, and are children of the light (Matt. 5:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:4-5).

Darkness is the place where the wicked hide and where the condemned go (Matt. 25:30). Peter says: “These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever” (2 Pet. 2:17). And Paul says that there is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Cor. 6:14).

If, before the conversion of Jesus Christ, every men is darkness, for Paul said: “But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Therefore don’t be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:3-8). Those who belong to Jesus left darkness and the power of Satan and the demons (Col. 1:12-13). WHY DOES JEHOVAH DECLARE THAT ALL MEN IN THIS WORLD BELONG TO HIM? (Ps. 24:1).

If the earth where we live is the abyss where lie the dead (Rom. 10:6-7); if the earth, when it was created, was covered by the abyss (Ps. 104:5-6); if the earth is a dark pit, for it is also the very hell where Satan will be cast into (Is. 14:13-15), why does Jehovah declare that the earth is his? He gave orders to the people of Israel, saying: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine” (Ex. 19:5). Does the abyss belong to Jehovah? Does hell belong to Jehovah? Do the dead belong to Jehovah? (Jer. 25:33; Is. 66:16). Everything evil belongs to Jehovah.

If darkness is the power of Satan, as we read in Acts 26:18, why does Jehovah place darkness in those who are children of light? The prophet Jeremiah, in the book of his lamentations, says: “I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light” (Lam. 3:1-2). The righteous Job refers to Jehovah in this way: “Know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice. He has walled up my way so that I can’t pass, and has set darkness in my paths” (Job 19:6-8).

If, as the doctors of the Bible affirm, Jehovah is Jesus, why does Jesus deliver from darkness and Jehovah send to darkness? (1 Pet. 2:9).

If Jehovah is Jesus, why did Jesus manifest himself in light, and all those who believe in him are transformed into light? “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness” (John 12:46). And Paul says: “You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness” (1 Thess. 5:5).

If Jehovah is Jesus, why has he been manifested in darkness? Moses narrates the dreadful scene: “You came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. Jehovah spoke to you out of the midst of the fire” (Deut. 4:11-12). And Moses repeats: “It happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire” (Deut. 5:23). And the people of Jehovah walked in darkness (Is. 9:2). And the persons walked in darkness. Isaiah says: “Who is among you who fears Jehovah, who obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely on his God” (Is. 50:10). If Jesus is Jehovah, he was darkness in the Old Testament, and was changed to light in the New Testament. It is difficult to digest this idea.

The main differences between Jehovah and Jesus are:

  1. Jehovah gave the Ten Commandments from the middle of darkness (Deut. 4:11-13). And the people, with the law of Jehovah, walked in darkness for 1,600 years, until Jesus. We read in the gospel of Matthew: “The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned” (Matt. 4:16). And Jesus, the true light, gave a new commandment, saying: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another” (John 13:34). And John tells us: “He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:10-11). The law of Jehovah never brought light to anyone. Jehovah is not light.
  2. After Jehovah gave the law, Moses drew near the darkness where Jehovah was (Ex. 20:21). Why was Jehovah in darkness? Because he gave the law, and the law does not lead to God (John 3:20). What is worse: If any Christian, full of faith, keeps the law of Moses, he cancels the sacrifice of Christ, and falls from grace (Gal. 5:1-4).

 

 

By Pastor Olavo Silveira Pereira

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