Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
The darkness spoken of in the above passage refers primarily to spiritual darkness, by which it would be increasingly difficult for the multitudes of earth to tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. This darkness will not happen suddenly, for we have studied before that the principles of gradualism are employed by the kingdom of darkness, in order to bring to pass its diabolical ends.
A person’s mind can become enveloped in darkness to a greater or lesser extent when erroneous views of God are cherished or held, either deliberately or ignorantly. Some preachers portray God as being One who only deals in mercy and grace, whose great love for the human family prevents Him from being just. Even though God is indeed love, this one-sided view is a form of spiritual darkness, through which persons are led to perdition.
Another view is that God is strict, looking for every little deviation and mistake made by persons, so as to breathe out fire and brimstone on offenders who sin against Him. This view also constitutes a form of spiritual darkness, and can drive away persons from the only source of salvation, even Christ.
Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!