I remember as a child in school learning about the universe. We were told the universe was like a balloon ever expanding. I ask that if the balloon is ever expanding, what is it expanding into? If it is expanding there is an area outside its expansion. Where not even light has reached yet.
I thought of this outer darkness being where satan and his demons will be cast when I saw the movie Superman II in 1980. Where the bad guys were cast into the “Phantom Zone”.
Hollywood’s Phantom Zone makes a powerful visual comparison to the outer darkness:
- The offenders are expelled from their former dwelling.
- They are restrained and unable to escape.
- They travel through a vast region of darkness.
- They remain conscious of their confinement.
This resembles Jude’s description:
“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness...”
—Jude 6
It also recalls:
“For if Elohim did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness…”
—2 Peter 2:4
Outer Darkness:
Beyond the Expanding Universe
The universe is unimaginably vast, and Scripture tells us that Yahweh created it by His power.
“The heavens declare the glory of Yah; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
—Psalm 19:1
Modern astronomy describes the universe as expanding. This naturally raises an interesting conclusion: The universe is expanding into a region of darkness, the “outer darkness” mentioned in Scripture.
1. An expanding universe require something outside it to expand into.
When Scripture speaks of Yahweh stretching out the heavens, the language shows this expansion:
“Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”
—Isaiah 40:22
“Thus says Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.”
—Zechariah 12:1
“He alone spreads out the heavens.”
—Job 9:8
These passages establish that Yahweh created and stretched out the heavens.
In modern cosmology, the expansion of the universe means that space itself is expanding—the distances between widely separated galaxies are increasing. This means the universe is expanding outward into a larger physical room.
There is a literal region outside the universe where light has not arrived.
Scripture reveals that Yahweh is not confined within His physical creation.
“Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You.”
—1 Kings 8:27
Yahweh existed before the physical heavens and earth. He created space, matter, energy, and light. Whatever exists beyond our ability to observe remains completely under His authority.
2. Yahweh created both light and darkness
Darkness is not something outside Yahweh’s control.
“I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity; I, Yahweh, do all these things.”
—Isaiah 45:7
3. What does “outer darkness” mean?
Yeshua used the expression “outer darkness” three times:
“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
—Matthew 8:12
“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
—Matthew 22:13
“And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
—Matthew 25:30
In each passage, the central idea is exclusion from Yahweh’s Kingdom.
4. Angels kept in darkness
Some passages do connect rebellious angels with darkness and imprisonment.
“For if Elohim did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment…”
—2 Peter 2:4
The word translated “hell” here comes from the Greek verb tartaroō. It describes the confinement of sinful angels pending judgment. It is not the usual word Gehenna.
Jude gives a similar description:
“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”
—Jude 6
Jude also speaks of false teachers:
“They are wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”
—Jude 13
These passages establish a connection between rebellion, restraint, judgment, and darkness. The emphasis is spiritual and judicial: these beings are cut off, restrained, and awaiting Yahweh’s judgment.
5. Satan will be cast into the abyss
During the thousand-year reign of Yeshua, Satan will be confined in the abyss:
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:1–2
The angel casts him into the abyss:
“And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.”
—Revelation 20:3
This is temporary confinement. After the thousand years, Satan will be released briefly and will again deceive the nations.
The abyss is described as a place of restraint, but Scripture does not clearly identify it with outer space or a region beyond the expanding universe.
6. Satan’s final judgment
After Satan’s final rebellion, Scripture says:
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
—Revelation 20:10
Scripture does not explicitly say, but I believe Satan’s final punishment will be cast into “outer darkness.” Beyond the reach of light for eternity.
Biblical expression | How Scripture uses it |
Outer darkness | Exclusion from the Kingdom and its joy |
Chains under darkness | Restraint of rebellious angels awaiting judgment |
The abyss | Satan’s temporary imprisonment |
Lake of fire | Satan’s final judgment |
Blackness of darkness | A picture of severe and lasting condemnation |
These images are related through the subject of judgment.
7. Does “forever” mean Satan will rule somewhere forever?
Satan will not rule an independent kingdom in outer darkness. He will not be Yahweh’s eternal rival, and he will never possess a region outside Yahweh’s authority.
Yeshua has already declared Satan’s ultimate defeat:
“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
—John 12:31
“For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
—1 John 3:8
The Kingdom belongs to Yahweh and His Messiah:
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Master and of His Messiah, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
—Revelation 11:15
Satan’s future is not an eternal kingdom where he reigns over demons and lost souls. His future is judgment, humiliation, removal, and complete loss of influence.
8. Yahweh’s future creation will be filled with light
Revelation ends not by concentrating upon eternal darkness, but by showing Yahweh dwelling with His people in a renewed creation.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
—Revelation 21:1
The New Jerusalem will not depend upon the sun for its light:
“The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of Elohim illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”
—Revelation 21:23
“There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for Yahweh Elohim gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
—Revelation 22:5
This is the great contrast presented in Scripture:
- Light represents Yahweh’s presence, truth, life, and Kingdom.
- Darkness represents blindness, rejection, judgment, and exclusion.
The greatest tragedy of outer darkness is therefore not the absence of starlight. It is being excluded from the joy, glory, and life of Yahweh’s Kingdom.
9. Walking in the light today
The biblical teaching about darkness is intended to affect how we live now.
“Yeshua spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’”
—John 8:12
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in Yahweh. Walk as children of light.”
—Ephesians 5:8
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.”
—1 John 1:7
Yahweh calls us out of spiritual darkness and into His truth. We walk in the light by believing Him, repenting of sin, obeying His commandments, and following the example of Yeshua.
Conclusion
The idea that outer darkness exists beyond the expanding universe is interesting thought although Scripture does not directly teach it.
What Scripture clearly teaches is more important:
- Yahweh created and stretched out the heavens.
- Physical and spiritual darkness remain under His authority.
- Outer darkness pictures exclusion from the Kingdom.
- Rebellious angels are restrained under darkness awaiting judgment.
- Satan will be imprisoned in the abyss and finally cast into the lake of fire.
- Satan will never rule an eternal kingdom of his own.
- Yahweh’s faithful children will live in His presence and light.
The sure message of Scripture is this:
“Yahweh is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
—Psalm 27:1
Yahweh is leading His people out of darkness and into His everlasting light.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end…
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