From the Book of Revelation    161 

     And, even if nothing unnatural disturbed them, yet being agitated by the 

passing of animals and the hissing of snakes, they died of fear, denying what 

they themselves saw even in the air, which no one thinks to be able to 

escape.  For, while there may be apprehension with wickedness, it gives 

testimony to condemnation, for a troubled conscience always forecasts 

harshness.  (Wisdom 17:9 10) 

    Some of those unfaithful persons, who do not receive visions of sorrowful 

souls or visions of Hellfire,  are nevertheless filled with such apprehension 

and fear, due to their wickedness and troubled conscience, that they die of 

fright upon hearing simple sounds such as the passing of animals. Notice 

that, even though every human being caught outside during the three days of 

darkness will be killed, the animals are generally unharmed. For them it is 

like a severe storm, which most will weather without dying. The three days 

of darkness will be like a severe supernatural storm, designed to kill any 

human beings outside. 

     For fear is nothing else but unfaithfulness to thinking helpful things. 

And, while expectation is driven from within, the cause of this is supposing 

that one is great in knowledge, and as a result, conflict excels.  (Wisdom 

17:11 12) 

    The Book of Wisdom gives some advice here for the faithful servants of 

God. During this fearful time, let your faith lead you to think helpful 

thoughts and to express those helpful thoughts to those around you. This 

will lessen fear and console. Fear is based on an expectation of unhappy 

things, but we should not suppose that we have such great knowledge as to 

know that unhappiness will result. Internal conflicts and fears come from a 

weakness in faith. 

     Yet those who were truly powerless that night, being overcome by both 

the vilest and the deepest hell, were sleeping the same sleep,  sometimes 

stirred up by the fear of unnatural things, other times sinking down in 

disgrace of soul, for a sudden and unexpected fear overcame them. Then, if 

any among them had fallen away, he was kept in a prison without bars 

which had been left open.  (Wisdom 17:13 15) 

     Although even the faithful will have some fear at that time, those who are 

truly powerless are the impious and unfaithful. They are sleeping the same 

sleep as those who are already in the Hell towards which they themselves 

are headed. They go from begin overwhelmed with extreme fear to being 

immersed in disgrace at their sinfulness. If any such persons, whose 

consciences convict them of serious sin, fall away, that is, if they die, they 

are sent to a prison without bars. The prison without bars is Hell, which, for 

these three days is left open so that the demons of Hell can scour the earth 

harming and killing any who are left outdoors.