160    The Bible and the Future of the World 

they were scattered under a dark veil of oblivion, being horribly afraid, and 

having been disturbed with great astonishment.  (Wisdom 17:1 3, CPDV) 

    Chapter 17 of the Book of Wisdom is about the Three Days of Darkness. 

Just before these three days, undisciplined souls who have wandered astray 

managed to convince the unjust to give them power over  the holy nation,  

which refers either to Israel, or in some manner to the Church, or,  more 

likely, to the kingdom of the great monarch. Then the Three Days of 

Darkness occurs, taking the unjust and those who have gone astray by 

surprise. Their plans are ruined and they are defeated. 

     For neither did the cave which enclosed them preserve them from fear, 

because descending noises disturbed them, and the sorrowful persons 

appearing  to them intensified their fear.  And, indeed, even fire had no 

strength to provide them light, nor could the clear flames of the stars 

illuminate that horrible night.  (Wisdom 17:4 5) 

    The cave which encloses them is the building they are in during the three 

days. Although many unjust persons will be killed during the three days, 

even some unjust persons will survive, if they remain indoors. No light is 

provided for the unfaithful during this time. They are in utter darkness. Yet 

they are given fearful visions from God of sorrowful souls. 

     Yet there appeared to them a sudden fire, filled with fear; and, having 

been struck with the fear of that face which is unseen, they considered those 

things  which they did see to be worse,  and, having been ridiculed, the 

illusions were removed from their arts along with their contemptuous rebuke 

of glorious wisdom.  Indeed, those who promised to drive away fears and 

disturbances from a languishing soul, though they were filled with derision, 

were themselves languishing in fear.  (Wisdom 17:6 8) 

    Even though they are covered by a supernatural darkness, they are shown 

certain signs by God: sorrowful souls and  a sudden fire, filled with fear,  

that is, they are shown both repentant souls and also the fires of Hell and the 

fear and torture of those within Hell. Such is the Mercy of God that He even 

give the wicked supernatural signs to bring them to repentance, to save them 

from Hell fire. 

    The phrase  the illusions were removed from their arts  refers to their use 

of media to influence people away from truth and justice. The three days of 

darkness ridicules these arts, and removes their ability to deceive, partly by 

making all such things (television, radio, phones, and all electronic devices) 

non functional for three days,  and partly by showing them that God does 

intervene in human events. The media will ridicule the idea of the three days 

of darkness, but they will be corrected by the occurrence of this event itself. 

Those who confidently spoke against the three days of darkness will be 

covered in darkness and fear themselves.