What is the Origin of this ???
Hint : It’s not part of an “End Times Prophesy” as some would have You believe .
2 Likes
i have heard lots of things online about this. never could grasp why this was always spread around. some coping measure?
1 Like
Well, you know, “GotQuestions” is purely Protestant, American, and Evangelical or Baptist. They have Calvinist leanings also. Although they choose to say they are non-denominational, probably so their website doesn’t openly favor one sect. But, they are the last place you want to go to learn about Catholicism. I wouldn’t go to them for Bible study or questions either, not only because they are American Protestants but they dismiss seven books of the Bible, and espouse Sola Scriptura ( most literally) as most American Protestants do.
This being said, basically that article is lacking a lot of information, and one can easily tell it is an abbreviated version of Jimmy Akin’s Catholic Answers post about it. Akin is a modernist Catholic who simplifies complex and dense topics into “Cliffs Notes” style essays and talks so people with a low level of either inclination, ability, or time can get a quick answer on things, which is the way we live today.
Of course there is Scriptual evidence for the Darkness in the Bible. It doesn’t SPECIFICALLY SAY the Darkness of End Times will be THREE DAYS, but then again, the Bible doesn’t SAY SPECIFICALLY a lot of things, and other things it says LITERALLY are not meant to be taken LITERALLY. The Bible was written by human beings and although it contains all that is necessary, thanks to God, it is still not all-inclusive. Texts were stolen and lost. There is also elements of living in the mystery of creation which the Lord keeps to Himself. There is also the tradition and 2,000-year long deposit of faith handed down through the writings and ministerings of the Church, of which the Apostles were part and parcel of. So, it would be basically idiotic to think the Bible as a compilation of certain inspired books has everything in it. Christ Himself never wrote, except that one time he wrote in the sand. This tells you what His preference was concerning the written word, that it should not have priority. Catholics have Saints and Mystics. We are not bound to believe private revelation, even from a Saint. So, believing there will be Three Days of Darkness is a personal choice.
I didn’t plan on spending time for this, but if you know me, I feel bothered if I don’t treat a topic in at least, a responsible manner. So, let’s try and get some basics straight.
-
“And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain”. - The Apocalypse of John (“Revelation” for Protestants) 16:10 (Douay-Rhiems).
-
“And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved.” - The Gospel of Matthew, 24:29
-
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.” - The Gospel of Mark, 13:24.
These are the primary three New Testament verses that support the Darkness in the End Times. Now, although there were two events described in the Gospels (The Fall of Jerusalem and the End Times), it is plain that there was NOT a Darkness when Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70. So, this means in any dual-interpretation of Scripture (this is not Prophecy, because God does not prophesize) – the Apostles and Disciples were clear that when the Lord died, there was a Darkness for Three Hours: (Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44). T
The keen Christian knows that the ways of the Lord treat time durations differently, but parallel uniformity of sacred numbers, like Saint Peter said 2 Peter 3:8. If that’s not enough, there are many other Bible verses about this phenomenon. I will only mention it, but the deep study of this phenomenae is referred to as “aeviternity” in Catholic theology. It is the intersection of the temporal (profane) and divine (aevum) realms concerning any overlapping experiences of “time”. Thus, if there were Three Days of Darkness at the intiation of the Old Covenant, and Three Hours of Darkness at the beginning of the New Covenant, and Christ Himself said and did Three Days before he rose again [three days requiring just a part of each of the contiguous three days, not necessarily a complete 72-hour period of time, which is the way ancients understood and spoke of [it was an idiomatic saying)], that the Darkness to take place at the conclusion of the New Testament in the temporal realm might also be THREE DAYS, as it was at the beginning of the Old Covenant. So, we’re going to consider that:
-
“And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out they hand towards heaven: and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt, so thick that it may be felt. And Moses stretch forth his hand towards heaven: and there came horrible darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. No man saw his brother, nor moved himself out of the place where he was: but wheresoever the children of Israel dwelt there was light.” - Exodus 10:21-23.
-
“For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” - Isaiah 60:2.
-
“They shall enter into the city: they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up the houses, they shall come in at the windows as a thief. At their presence the earth hath trembled, the heavens are moved: the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their shining. And the Lord hath uttered his voice before the face of his army: for his armies are exceeding great, for they are strong and execute his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible: and who can stand it?” - Joel 2: 9-11.
Before I discuss the layers of Scriptual intersection with the visions of the Three Days more particularly, it is important to summarize that the expectation does have Biblical basis, and it does make “sense” that the period of time would be three days. But I want to draw your attention to some elements of the prophecy that align with Scripture which are more descriptive of what it expects. So, this is where I should raise some of the aspects. Such as: a) the Earth trembling, and stars shaken b) the terrible winds c) the demons exposed on the Earth (before their Judgement), d) the need to stay in your homes, e) and cover your windows, f) and lock your doors, g) and place sacramentals of protection on your windows and doors, h) and only blessed candles will light in the darkness, i) and they should be beeswax (uncertain but possible), j) and these will not light for the wicked, k) and the demons will call out for protection which you must deny them, l) and the demons may impersonate the voices of your family and friends, m) but you should open your doors or windows for nobody - no exceptions, for this reason (see attached .pdf).
These elements are mirrored in Scripture also. Before we look at other verses, let’s look at those referred to above. In Joel, it is describing the demons, climing up your roof, among your property, against the walls, at the windows. In Isaiah, it may be inferred that he is describing a time of wrath just before the Second Coming (see above); and in Exodus, it says no man saw his brother (answered the door, went outside, etc.) , or left his place (of protection), but that there was light only for the faithful. A similar theme may be found in (Psalms 139:12): “But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.”, (John 1:5): “And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”; and the state of the Heavenly City, “And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.” (Apoc. 21:23); and more verses along these lines.
I’ll end my response here. There is no way for me to have enough time to discuss the topic in its entirety, that’s for the interested to try and explore. Here is a .pdf.
2 Likes
I remember my buddy telling ng me about this.
filipino mother, very Catholic.
He was always into astrology and stuff like that, way before I got into any of it.
He told me about these days of darkness his mom warned him about. Taught him specific prayers and told him to be careful of opening up doors to voices that sounded like his loved ones.
Metaphorically you can make that make sense.
Physically it reminds me of the movie sinners, the vampires needing to be invited in.
Of the series “from” protective stones/runes that keep the “monsters” out.
I’ma read more through this later, honestly forgot about it. Interesting topic.
1 Like