“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
–Mark 9:47-48
Of the attention-grabbing descriptions for perdition given in the Bible, “their worm dieth not” has to qualify as perhaps the most vivid.
The verses about the wicked gnashing their teeth at their ultimate judgment and assignment in hell is another one which the reader usually remembers.
“And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
–Matthew 8:11-12
But, there is some discussion as to what was even meant by “the worm dieth not”–though for centuries, Bible study guides were fairly vocal about what that phrase was referring to.
This was the 1599 Geneva Bible Notes comment on the phrase in Isaiah 66:24. (The Geneva Bible was the first Bible to use numbered chapters and verses. It was the most popular Bible of its time.)
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
–Isaiah 66:23-24
WORM DIETH NOT: Meaning, a continual torment of conscience, which will always gnaw them, and never permit them to be at rest…This is the just recompense for the wicked, who contemning God and his word, will be by God’s just judgments abhorred by all his creatures.
—1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Writing of Mark 9:46 and 9:48, Albert Barnes NT Commentary basically agrees with the Geneva commentators.
Their worm. This figure is clearly taken from Isa 66:24. In describing the great prosperity of the kingdom of the Messiah, Isaiah says, that the people of God shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of men who have transgressed against God. Their enemies Shall be overcome. They shall be slain. The people of God shall triumph. The figure is taken from heaps of the dead slain in battle; and the prophet says, that the number shall be so great, that their worm–the worm feeding on the dead–shall not die, shall live long–as long as there are carcasses to be devoured; and that the fire which was used to burn the bodies of the dead shall continue long to burn, and shall not be extinguished till they are consumed.
So besides the better-known torments of hell–darkness, isolation, neverending fear–the wicked will also have to deal with unquenchable fire and undying worms.
No wonder there are those who refuse to believe in God’s judgment and hell.
DOES the reader believe he will ultimately be judged for his behaviors and actions?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: June 24, 2020.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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Filed under: Biblical Teachings, unquenchable fire and undying worms