There is a deep spiritual darkness that the natural mind cannot see or define. Isaiah the prophet wrote, “Darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples” (Isaiah 60: 2). There are two different words for darkness used in this verse. The first use is a general obscurity referring to all unredeemed humanity. It is a form of spiritual blindness that resembles a person trapped in a windowless underground prison cell. This darkness creates a culture-wide distress for people who have no hope. It offers people no way of escaping its effects. It produces an environment of hopelessness.

The second use of the word darkness is personal. It is a “deep darkness” referring to “the peoples.” It is translated as “thick.” It cannot be penetrated by human reasoning. It is like a thick, dark cloud that hovers over an individual’s life, blocking out the light of truth. It provides no relief apart from the redemption offered by Jesus.

It is the same word used to describe the deep darkness that hung over Egypt that God employed during the plagues to release the Israelites from bondage. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out with your hand toward the sky, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt” (Exodus 10:21). It describes a deeply felt sense of misery. Only the wind of God’s Spirit can blow away this obscuring spiritual darkness.

The darkness hanging over our world is about to transition from a generic darkness becoming more terrifying on a personal level when the events relating to the end of time begin to unravel. Only the resurrection of Jesus can raise people from this miserable deep place and set them free in the light of the Gospel.

For the redeemed, we are told to “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (vs. 1). As a result of our salvation, “The Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (vs. 2-3).

No matter the coming levels of deepening darkness, both culturally and personally, the revealing glory of Jesus Christ will become an illumination for a follower of Jesus Christ. We will see and interpret these events in a way that will cause us not to lose hope but to press deeper into the arms of our Redeemer.