What does the Bible say about the three days of darkness?

The three days of darkness prophecy is generally attributed to Anna Maria Taigi (1769—1837), an Italian mystic beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. She is believed to have foreseen a future period of intense tribulation marked by three days and nights of impenetrable darkness.

According to her visions, during these three days, a thick veil of darkness will envelop the whole earth, and only blessed candles will provide light. This period is expected to be a time of divine judgment, when the forces of evil and enemies of the church will be purged from the world. The faithful during that time are urged to stay indoors, pray fervently, and trust God’s providence. It is said that those who venture outside or even look outside during this time will perish, as the air will be plagued with demons and malevolent spirits.

While the Catholic Church does not officially recognize or endorse the three days of darkness prophecy, Taigi’s vision continues to be a significant topic of reflection and discussion among those who study private revelations and end-time prophecies. Certain Catholic devotees of Anna Maria Taigi view her prophecy as a call to repentance, prayer, and unwavering faith amid the trials and tribulations that will precede a triumphant era of peace, divine mercy, renewal, and justice upon the earth.

Some followers associate the three days of darkness prophecy with biblical prophecies (such as Isaiah 50:3 and Joel 2:31) and private revelations that speak of signs and wonders preceding the final judgment. However, the Bible says nothing about three days of darkness directly connected with end-times events. Others try to tie the prophecy to Revelation 6:12 and 16:10. Both those passages involve blackness and a lack of sunlight; however, neither mentions three days of total darkness.

A biblical account of three days of darkness is found in Exodus 10 as part of the ten plagues inflicted on Egypt. During the plague of darkness, “Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived” (verses 22–23).

The Bible warns, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). All personal revelations and private prophecies must be tested and subjected to scrutiny to see if they have any validation in Scripture. Individual visions must never be treated equally with what God’s Word has expressly revealed.

Some Catholics are deeply troubled by the predictions of the three days of darkness prophecy. However, believers do not need to be burdened over private revelations or live in fear of the end of days. Instead, we should focus on being ready for the future. Jesus urged us in Matthew 24:42–44 to be spiritually prepared for His return.

If you have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you have nothing to fear. The wisest path forward is to continue seeking God’s kingdom, living in a manner worthy of your calling, and studying God’s Word. Ultimately, we can anticipate Christ’s return with great joy, knowing that, as God’s beloved children, we are eternally safe in His loving embrace (1 John 4:17–18; Jude 1:24).