DARKNESS, (even a picture cannot depict what this is like) the absence of light such as existed before the light of creation <Gen 1:2>, is associated with the chaos that existed before the creation; also came to be associated with evil, bad luck, or affliction, and death <Job 17:12; Job 21:17>. In the land of the dead, there is only darkness <Job 10:21-22; Job 38:17>; symbolizes man’s ignorance of God’s will and is associated with sin <Job 24:13-17>.
As the prophet Isaiah began his ministry he is given a mental picture by God concerning the northern kingdom of Israel: “…Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.” <Isa.1:3-4 (NIV)>. The country had turned against God by worshiping idols in direct disobedience to God’s command <see Deut.8:11; Deut.12:1-5; Deut.13:4>; consequently God’s judgment is about to fall on them because of their sinful ways. Isaiah chapter 5 is a long poem telling the story of Israel’s rebellion; God had summoned the Assyrian’s to invade and conquer the kingdom of Israel, take them away as captives, and destroy Samaria their capitol city. There was nothing that the citizens could do to escape this judgment.
“And if one looks at the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be darkened by the clouds.” <Isa.5:30 (NIV)>; “Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.” <Isa.8:22 (NIV)>
Those who have not yet seen the light concerning The Lord Jesus Christ, and those who deliberately turn away from the light are considered as being in darkness <see John 1:4-5; John 12:35; Eph 5:14; John 3:19-20>; and those that detest being in the light of Christ will be in condemnation <Col 1:13; 2 Peter 2:17>.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” <Jn.3:19-20 (NIV)>
Those that continue to live in extreme darkness describe those who at the end of time have not repented; “The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” <Rev.16:10-11 (NIV); 18:23>
There is no doubt that the times in which we are now living is described by the condition of the kingdom of Israel in Isaiah’s time. Mankind is in complete rebellion against God and refuses to listen to the truths of Scripture; all the lies of Satan will be explored rather than truths that Christ taught us to live by. The New Testament describes some of these rebellious activities <see Rom.3:10-18; Acts 19:9; 17:30; 2 Pet.2:10-12; 3:3-4>; and mankind will continue in rebellion and darkness until God’s judgment falls upon all who have rejected Him.