Those who never heard about Jesus?

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by shazeep

After one has a conversion experience, this is not a comfortable thought--but satan still appeals to you, will be perceived as beautiful, while the presence of God would send you screaming mindlessly in fear. Hard to grasp.

There is something about the Light that does initially cause one to fear and recoil in terror. It is the confrontation of that which is "other". Something far far different from anything we have known. Imagine suddenly really being brought into the presence of GOD.... and GOD isn't how you've ever envisioned him and you instantly sense that GOD has no religion and is unimpressed by human religion. Especially if you've staked your entire life on following one of the story book religions of man.

Those in the darkness aren't always the "sinful" and "immoral" souls. Interestingly, many of those we'd call sinful and immoral were more authentic and loving than religious people. Many of those in the darkness are abusive and hurtful people who have condemned themselves for who they allowed themselves to become. Unable to conceive of being forgiven, they are lost in the darkness, tormented by memories and the reality of the pain they caused. Yet, even they can end their own suffering by accepting that they were wrong and that they too are loved. In their pain and shame, they've rejected GOD's love. And they will remain in darkness until they forgive themselves and accept the Love of GOD.

An unbelievable number of souls in the darkness are those who were extremely "religious". So religious, in fact, they made a idol of their religions, their books, their belief systems, and their traditions. And when they finally died and saw the Light... he wasn't what they expected. And so they rejected Him, for their religion, their idol. And so they drift in the darkness still praying to the idols of the heart and mind, praying that their specific vision of their "god" will come rescue them. They will remain there until they surrender and realize that they were wrong and that by rejecting the Light, they rejected Love. They will have to lay down their religions and accept GOD's love. Only after surrender and acceptance can these lost souls enter the Light.