Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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John said, "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1Jn. 5:19 ). Later, when John was caught up into heaven to be given his great Revelation, it was revealed to him that the devil had deceived the whole world (Rev. 12:9). It is because of the work of Satan and the influence of his ungodly spirit that the entire world is "in the dark" concerning the right ways of God. It is an awesome truth to contemplate, that every person in every family in every town in every nation on earth has been deceived concerning what is of God and what is not. Think of it! An entire world of over six billion individuals, and all of them completely deceived as to what is right and what is wrong, completely ignorant as to what is good and what is evil.
At the same time, the Bible is clear that, because of the mercy of God, a few people have escaped from the darkness that covers the earth and have come to know the truth. No one can escape that darkness by his own efforts and wisdom. Humans are powerless to free themselves from the prison of sin that holds them. The difference between the billions on earth who "walk in darkness" and the few who "walk in the light"-and the only difference-is that God has communicated with the few and has brought His light into their hearts. Paul said that "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Cor. 4:6).
The difference between those who now walk in "the light of life" and those who are still "blinded by the god of this world" is not the Bible. Most people who own Bibles know little about it and almost nothing about God. Neither is the difference "joining a church"; Christian churches are Satan's chief instruments for keeping men in the dark; they are not God's answer to man's sad plight. The difference, the only difference between the wise and the foolish is the Word of God. God's Word has entered into the hearts of a few people on earth and has given them what Jesus called "the light of life". Without that precious communication from God, no one has any hope of ever being anything but what he is: lost and sinful, and ignorant even of that.
There are in reality only two groups on earth: those who have heard and obeyed God's voice and those who have not; children of the Spirit and children of the flesh. One group lives in darkness; the other lives in light. In the darkness, men call themselves by many names: Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and others, but it is all darkness. It makes no difference which brand of darkness one prefers. Until God's Word has penetrated your heart and brought light into your soul, you are still in the dark. Regardless of which brand of darkness one is in, there is only one way out: communication with God.
Jesus rejoiced when he learned that his Father had communicated with one of his disciples, Peter (Mt. 16:17). He rejoiced that Peter had been blessed with revelation knowledge from God because he knew that God was offering Peter a way out of darkness into light. The Father had opened the door for Peter! Jesus then went on to tell Peter and the other disciples that "the gates of hell" would not be able to prevail against what his Father gives to the saints.
The gates of hell are entrance ways into hell, and the most attractive and popular gates of hell have always been the religions that men have invented. The gates of hell are the doctrines and religious traditions that have sprung from the imaginations of men instead of from the revelation of God. They make the world's darkness even darker. They confuse many otherwise prudent men and tighten Satan's grip around the neck of humanity. But none of those gates can prevail against even the smallest truth revealed from our heavenly Father. The Word of God cannot be contradicted or opposed. There is no wisdom, nor counsel, nor understanding against the Lord (Prov. 21:30). Jesus promised that if we place our trust in him, God will give us light, and the light of God is a wisdom that "no man can contradict" (Lk. 21:15). What can darkness do against light?
David said that "the entrance of thy words giveth light" (Ps. 119:130). The "entrance of God's Word" is not a reference to reading the Bible; it is the entrance of the voice of God into the heart of man. It is God speaking to a man's heart, as God spoke to Peter's heart. That alone is what prevails over all the lovely gates of hell that men have invented. God's Word is the difference, the only difference, between those who now can see and those who still dwell in darkness.