According to Les Feldick, the three hours of darkness were the time when Jesus, as the antitype of the scapegoat, silently bore the eternal punishment for the sins of the whole world.
Scripture records that from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land and no word from the cross. Les teaches that in those hours Jesus stepped out of time in soul and spirit and suffered the punishment for every human being's sin, then returned and declared 'It is finished.'
Matthew 27:45 — This is the direct record of the three hours of darkness at the crucifixion.
Matthew 27:46 — This is the first recorded word after the darkness, showing Christ's cry of abandonment.
Leviticus 16:22 — The scapegoat carrying away iniquities is the Old Testament picture Les uses for the three hours.
In Matthew 27:45, the Bible tells us that from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3 PM) there was darkness over all the land. During that three-hour period, the Gospel records no words spoken by Jesus from the cross. After the darkness ended, Jesus cried out, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (Matthew 27:46). Verse 50 says that after crying again with a loud voice, He yielded up the ghost. The Old Testament scapegoat ritual in Leviticus 16:21-22 pictures a live goat bearing Israel's iniquities into the wilderness, which is the imagery Les connects to this event.
Les Feldick connects the three hours of darkness to the Day of Atonement scapegoat. He points out that just as the scapegoat was left alive, Jesus was still alive on the cross during those three hours. Les teaches that in His soul and spirit, Jesus stepped out of time into eternity and suffered the punishment for all of mankind's sin. Because eternity can cover a million years in thirty seconds, that three-hour period was sufficient for Him to suffer the full penalty for every sin from Adam to the last person. The darkness and silence show that the Father had laid the sins of the whole human race on Him and judged them. When He came back into time at three o'clock, He finished His statements and said, 'It is finished.' Les offers this interpretation as 'food for thought' rather than dogmatic certainty.
The Bible simply records that there was darkness over all the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. During that time, no words from Jesus on the cross are recorded. Les Feldick views this darkness and silence as the period when God was judging sin. He says that all sin from Adam to the last person was laid on Christ and that God poured out all His wrath for sin on that cross.
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest laid his hands on the live goat and confessed over it all the iniquities of Israel, then sent it into the wilderness. Les says that Jesus became both the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. While His body hung on the cross, He was alive for those three hours like the scapegoat. In the spirit realm, He took sins far away, never to be remembered against us anymore.
Les Feldick speculates that during the three hours of darkness, Jesus stepped out of time into eternity in His soul and spirit and suffered the punishment for every human being's sin. He explains that eternity is not bound by time, so this suffering could cover all of mankind's sin in that period. He says this is food for thought, not a dogmatic statement.
After the darkness ended, Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' meaning 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Les says that after returning from that suffering, Jesus finished His statements from the cross and could say, 'It is finished.' Scripture then records that He cried again with a loud voice and yielded up the ghost.
Scapegoat Context
Les explains the Day of Atonement scapegoat ritual, showing that Christ is pictured even in the live goat that carried Israel's iniquities.
Three Hours as Fulfillment
Les directly connects the three hours of darkness and silence to the scapegoat, teaching that Jesus, still alive on the cross, stepped out of time into eternity and suffered punishment for all mankind's sin.
Stepping Out of Time
Les repeats his explanation that during the three hours, Christ in His deity, soul, and spirit went and suffered the punishment for every human being.
Silence and Darkness
Les notes the biblical record that from the sixth hour to the ninth hour there was darkness and no word from Jesus on the cross.
Silence Explained
Les emphasizes why he focuses on the three-hour period: he believes it ties to one of the acts on the Day of Atonement, and he sees the darkness as covering the whole earth.
Sin Laid on Christ
Les says God laid on Christ the sins of the whole human race, and the crucifixion was a curse, not a beautiful event.
God's Wrath Poured Out
Les teaches that Christ was the Creator God who took on human flesh so that on the cross God poured out all His wrath for sin, with all sin from Adam to the last person laid on Him.
Eternal Suffering and It Is Finished
Les explains that in eternity a million years can be covered in thirty seconds, and in those three hours Jesus suffered as the scapegoat, then returned at 3 PM and said, 'It is finished.'
Matthew 27:45: Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
This records the three hours of darkness during the crucifixion, the central event of this page.
Matthew 27:46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
This is Jesus' first recorded word after the darkness, showing His cry of abandonment.
Matthew 27:50: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
This records Jesus' death after the three hours of darkness.
Leviticus 16:22: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
This describes the scapegoat that carried away Israel's iniquities, which Les uses as the picture for Christ's work during the three hours.
Yes, the Gospel accounts record no words from Jesus between the sixth and ninth hour. The darkness covered the land, and He hung in silence until after the darkness ended.
Les Feldick teaches that in His soul and spirit Jesus stepped out of time into eternity and suffered the punishment for every human being's sin. He offers this as food for thought, not as a dogmatic statement.
From the sixth hour to the ninth hour, which is about noon until three o'clock in the afternoon.
He cried out, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' meaning 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' and later cried again and yielded up the ghost. Les says He then could declare the work finished.
Watch the Teaching: What the Day of Atonement Really Pictured — Finally Explained