Isaiah 60:1-2 (AMP)-1 ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.
The prophet Isaiah describes a day of darkness in the future. The prophet Amos calls it the Day of the Lord. It is the “Day” when God judges the nations for their rejection of the Gospel, the rejection of Jesus. It is referred to as the “Day of God’s Wrath.” This is a reference to the “Seven Years of Tribulation”. Isaiah goes on to talk about the glory of the Lord upon His people. We see the glory of God in the Tabernacle and Temple of the Old Testament. We see the Glory of God in the person of Jesus in the Gospels. We know the Glory of God in the Church during the current dispensation of Grace. This age of the Acceptable Year of the Lord( Luke 4:18). Is where God’s love and forgiveness are offered to anyone who receives Christ. Isaiah also tells us that God’s glory will come to Israel in the future when the Messiah returns to reign in Jerusalem. What a day that will be.
The Hebrew word for glory is kābôd. It means to be heavy, weighty, splendor, or honor. The concept of a “weighty” person in society, is someone honorable, impressive, worthy of respect. This has to do with the character and nature of God. This glory took on a physical form as a pillar of fire and a cloud while the Israelites traveled in the wilderness. The glory of God speaks of His manifested presence among His people. The revealing of the goodness of God. We see Moses praying,” God show me your glory.”(Exodus 33:18-20). God is still a good God. He is still revealing His glory.
- Exodus 13:21 (NKJV) 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
- Exodus 40:35-38 (NKJV)-35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.38 For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
- 1 Kings 8:10-11 (NKJV)-10 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
Because of God’s glory, we are not consumed by total darkness. Even though there is a sobering reality of darkness today in the world. All the evil that we hear day in and day out. All the unspeakable things that mankind can do. All the lies and deceptions that are broadcast through the media. The glory of God, the honor of God will not be diminished. It will not be overcome. We equate darkness with evil. Darkness can metaphorize spiritual blindness, deception, depravity, lies, ignorance, disorder, and a darkened conscience. There is a power of darkness (Luke 22:53). A force, an authority or capacity for darkness. Satan is the god of this world system. He is the Prince of darkness. He is the Father of lies and in him is no truth ( John 8:44). 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV)4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. It is interesting how Satan masquerades as an angel of light who is full of darkness ( 2 Cor 11:14). Darkness can be deceiving. It is demonic. There are doctrines of demons and seducing spirits that propagate darkness. Lies that would malign the nature and character of God and the Body of Christ. The lies of the enemy that would keep us from walking in the freedom that Christ has purchased for us. The Hebrew Word for darkness is ḥōshek. It means (literal) darkness; figurative misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, and wickedness, darkness, night, obscurity. God did not create spiritual darkness. He does not cause darkness or evil.
God is the Father of lights. James 1:17 (NKJV)-17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. God doesn’t even give a hint of darkness. Satan is the shady one. Also in 1 John 1:5 (NKJV)-5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. In Jesus own words: John 3:19 (AMP)-19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. John 3:20 (NKJV)-20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. We are living in a world where they call evil good and good evil. It seems today that darkness is more blatant. That it is more prevalent.
What is the answer to darkness? The “One” who is the light of the world. John 1:4-5 (NKJV)-4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend(overpower) it. Jesus changed everything. He overcame the Prince of darkness. Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)-15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. The cross changed everything. The darkness of sin, deception, lies, evil, disorder, depravity, spiritual blindness, and demonic strongholds can be overcome. That is the Gospel, that is Good News. Romans 1:16 (NKJV)-16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. That is the power of the grace of God. When sin abounds much more does grace abound. When you walk into a dark room and turn on the lights darkness flees. It doesn’t linger on. It doesn’t slowly go away. It leaves immediately. We have authority over darkness when it tries to enter the rooms of our lives. We can resist darkness. James 4:7 (NKJV)-7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).
When we receive Christ we are delivered from darkness. We are delivered from dark disorder and placed into divine order. Satan’s Kingdom is a kingdom of disorder. God’s Kingdom is order. No darkness, no confusion, no deception but the glory of absolute truth. We have a new address. We have a new position in the heavens. We are seated with Christ far above all darkness. (Eph 2:6). Colossians 1:12-14 (NKJV)-12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.13 He has delivered us from the power (authority)of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Also in Acts 26:18 (NKJV)-18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power (authority)of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Because of the light and glory of God, we are forgiven. Our eyes are opened to the reality of the truth of God. We receive the inheritance of Christ. All that He has purchased for in redemption. No longer partakers of darkness but of light. Colossians 1:12 (NKJV)-12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.(Eph 1:18)
Christ is the sun of righteousness. He is the light of the world. John 1:4 (NKJV)-4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Matthew 4:16 (NKJV)-16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” Jesus is the Word that became flesh. Jesus came into the world where there was cultural darkness and political and religious darkness. He brought the Word of God. God’s Word is light. 2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV)-19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Also in 2 Timothy 1:10 (NKJV)-10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. There is a great conflict between darkness and light. As we grow in the knowledge and revelation of God’s Word. We are displacing the dark areas of our lives that would try to hold us captive. Darkness that would try to keep our lives in disorder and confusion. Spiritual death, sickness, disease, poverty, and emotional and mental disorders are not the work of God but of the enemy. The renewing of our minds with God’s Word is the answer to the darkness. God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. The Word of God brings our lives back into alignment. Where there was disorder He brought order. We finally have peace and spiritual rest. God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
We are called to walk in the light of Christ. 1 John 1:7 (NKJV)-7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. To walk in the light is to walk in the nature and character of God. God is love. ( 1 John 4:8). Apostle John gives us a strong statement that if we are Christians and hate our brother we are walking in darkness. 1 John 2:9-11 (NKJV)-9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. This hate is to detest or to persecute. To have malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others -Vines Greek dictionary states. If we allow bitterness, ought, unforgiveness, and offenses to hold us captive we are giving place to spiritual darkness. We are giving authority to the Prince of darkness. To walk in God’s love and forgiveness is to walk in the light and we will not stumble. 1 John 2:10 (NKJV)-10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. We will not be ensnared by the enemy. The enemy will not gain an advantage over us when we are walking in the light of God’s love. Gal 5:6b tells us that faith is energized or worketh by love. To allow darkness is to bankrupt our faith from actively working. We have turned our eyes and our minds away from God and His Word and focused them on ourselves and our offenses. Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV)-8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. The light of God’s Word will always expose darkness, disorder, deceptions, and lies. Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)-11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. We have no partnership with darkness. Fellowship with God and His Word is what we are called to do and it will expose the darkness. We cannot afford these days to ignore and dismiss the Word of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)-15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In closing Apostle Paul admonishes us in 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (NKJV)-5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. These are days to think clearly, soberly, and to be discerning. To guard our hearts from any type of darkness. We are to put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12 (NKJV)-12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. We are to give no place to the devil, to darkness. (Eph 4:27). Ephesians 5:14-16 (NKJV)-14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Yes, there is darkness, there is the Prince of Darkness. We see the manifestation of darkness every day. We are not to fear the darkness. We are not to be intimidated by darkness. We are called to be a light in a dark world. To share the Good News of the Gospel. That Jesus is the answer to the darkness! His light and glory have risen upon us individually as well as the Local Church, the Body of Christ. The light and the glory of God transcends the darkness. They are inseparable. The light and the glory of God always bring truth, life, and not death! Darkness will never overpower the light of God that is upon His people in these last days. Rejoice in the light and revelation of God. Arise and shine for His light has come! Thank God for the light!
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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