– By: General James Green – 12/10/23
To call someone a worm is to insult them; usually means cowardly, an abject, wretched, or contemptible person. In today’s article I want to examine Isa. 66:24; Mark 9:44,46,48:
Isa. 66:24 (Hebrew, tôwlâ’/towlê’âh Strong’s Concordance #8438) basically means a maggot, a crimson worm, which is from 3216: yâla, a primary root meaning to devour. It is also related to 8144, the worm as crimson in color. So, what do we get from these definitions in relation to Isa. 66:24: “And they shall go forth & look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their WORM does not die, and their fire is not quenched…” NKJV.
Two things to look at: the “worm” & the “fire”. Just about every translation reads the same. In the NIV, foot note on Isa. 66:24 it says, “Quoted in part in Mark 9:48, ‘go out & look.’ The valley of Hinnom (Hebrew Gehinnom,) (from which the word ‘Gehenna’ comes) was located southwest of Jerusalem & became a picture of Hell, (See Neh. 11:30 & Jer. 7:32).” The footnote goes on with, “dead bodies.” (see 5:25 & 34:3; “rebelled” (see 1:2 & note; 24:20)) “worm will not die.” There will be EVERLASTING TORMENT. (see 14:11; 48:22; 50:11; 57:21). “fire… quenched” (see 1:31 & note; Mt. 3:12 “loathsome.” The Hebrew for this word is translated “contempt” in Dan. 12:2”, end of quote.
So, what we perceive from Isa. 66:24 is that the “worm” will never die nor their “fire” be quenched. Eternally? I believe so. The “worm” is no doubt speaking of men’s souls/spirits/bodies.
These words of Isaiah are applied to Jesus’ words in Mark. 9:44, to express the EVERLASTING punishment of the rebelliously wicked in Gehenna (“G”), or in Hell. “G” was located in the valley of Hinnom where the idolatrous Jews celebrated the terrible rite of burning their children in sacrifice to Moloch, (see 2Kings 23:10,14) This place became also a graveyard for poor/common people.
As opposed to “G”, Jesus spoke of Paradise (“P”), Abraham’s bosom, Heaven. (see Mt. 8:11 vs. Mt. 8:12).
Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A. (in his A Commentary & critical Notes of the O.T., Vol 4) comments on Isa. 66:24. He writes: “…we cannot possibly have any conception of it, but by analogy from worldly objects. In like manner He (Jesus) described it as the place of torment under the image of Gehenna; and the punishment of the wicked by the worm which there preyed on the carcasses, & the fire that consumed the wretched victims. Marking however, in the strongest manner, the difference between Gehenna & the invisible place of torment; namely, that in the former the suffering is transient: – the worm itself which preys upon the body, dies: & the fire which totally consumes it, is soon extinguished: – whereas in the figurative Gehenna the instruments of punishment shall be EVERLASTING, & the suffering without END…”
Clarke goes on to write: “These emblematical images, expressing Heaven & Hell, were in use among the Jews before our Savior’s time; and in using them He complied with their notions. (see Luke 14:15). And in regard to Gehenna, the Chaldee paraphrast as I observed before Chap. 30:33, renders everlasting or continual burnings by ‘the Gehenna of everlasting fire.’ And before his time the son of Sirach (chap. 7:17) had said, (‘The vengeance of the ungodly is FIRE & WORMS.’) So likewise, the author of the book of Judith, chap. 16:17: (Woe to the nations rising up against my kindred: the Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in putting fire & worms in their flesh.” This is the way Adam Clarke sees Isa. 66:24.
Now let me quote from the Interpreter’s Bible (Isa. footnotes by Prof. James Muilenburg & H.S. Coffin – exegesis/exposition).
Since I have over a dozen “Hell” publications in print, plus many DVDs, I will merely skim over Isaiah 66 & Mark 9:44-48. Mark 9:44 reads: “where their WORM does not die, & the FIRE is not quenched” (in ref. to v. 43 where Jesus mentions Hell, FIRE, NEVER Be QUENCHED). Jesus repeats the “Hell”/ “FIRE”/ “NEVER BE QUENCHED” theme in v.45, 46,47 & 48.
Just why did Jesus, the “loving” & “kind” Savior, say so much about a HORRIBLE/DAMNABLE place? He quoted from Isaiah 66:24.
(note: some Bible Trans. omit vv. 44,46 & 47: see Nestle-Aland Gk. N.T./united Bible Societies’ Gk. N.T., aka NU).
Fire: Gk., pur/πῦρ – strong’s #4442 = “fire” (lit. or fig.), same as 4443, pura/πῦρá (see my articles on “Fire/Everlasting”.
Jesus spoke a lot about HELL FIRE (see Scriptural Index at end of article) Jesus puts the “worm” (vv. 44,46, & 48) with “fire” together. “Worm” I believe is a euphemism for sinful man that is destined for Hell/lake of fire where he or she will never be annihilated (as some teach).
According to professors Muilenburg & Coffin, Isa. 66:24 is likened unto the parable Jesus used in the wheat/tares, i.e. the separation: the wheat (and sheep also) is saved; the tares (and goats) are cast into the fire! Please take note of Jesus’ words, “come ye” (ref. to sheep) & His “depart Ye” (ref. to goats) (see Mt. 25:32,33).
Jeremiah the Prophet wrote about Tophet (7:31) where Israel burnt their children in sacrifice, “Therefore, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet…”, v.32, meaning the place where Israel offered their children to a pagan idol, they themselves will be buried there. He was referring to the invasion of Babylon where a great SLAUGHTER was going to occur. And it did! (note: this dramatic reversal of fortunes is cont. in chap. 8).
So, the word “Hell” got its name from “Gehenna,” γέεννα.
Back to Isaiah 66:24: “Worm” & “fire”. Luke 16:23-26 makes mention of the “torments in Hades,” (ᾅδης), the region of departed spirits of the lost (but including the blessed dead in periods preceding the Ascension of Christ: Gehenna is the ultimate abode for the lost, called “lake of fire”): “Sheol” in the O.T. (see other names at end of this article). Some believe “Hell”/ “Hades” merely meant the “grave”/ “death”. End of life!
So, are Hell & the lake of fire the same? No! Both are places of torment; one is temporary, the other everlasting. Note what Rev. 20:10-15 says: It mentions the devil being cast into the “lake of fire”, it speaks of “Death & Hades”. Those are real places & things. Rev. 9:1,2; Rev. 11:7; Rev. 17:8; 20:3 all speaks of “Sheol” & the “Pit”. Mt. 25:41 speaks of “everlasting fire”; 2Pet. 2:4 speaks of “Hell” & “chains of darkness”; again, Rev. 9:2-8 speaks of the “bottomless pit”.
If one wishes to learn more about Hell et al., one can research what the early Christians believed i.e. the ante-Nicene Fathers. They wrote about the intermediate state of the dead (ref. to Lk. 16:22,23; Lk. 23:43; Act 2:22-27 et al.) Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Second Clement, Justin Martyr, Tatian, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, (who wrote extensively about this), Hippolytus, Origen, Novatian, Cyprian, Victorinus, Photius, Methodius, Lactantius, Arnobius and Others.
They also wrote on eternal punishments & rewards. They gave their points of view on Mt. 25:34,41,46; Mk. 9:47,48; Jn.14:2; Rev. 20:14,15; Rev. 21:7,8; Rev. 22:4,5. Authors such as Barnabas, Polycarp, Second Clement, Hermas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Irenaeus, (who wrote extensively), Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, (who also wrote extensively), Mark Minucius Felix, Hippolytus, Origen (who wrote extensively), Commodianus, Cyprian, Victorinus, Methodius, Lactantius, Arnobius et al. Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, et al. wrote about Gehenna. I’ll finish up this article with their take on Gehenna. “G” is one of 3 Gk. words that are translated as “Hell” in the KJV. The other 2 are “Hades” & “Tartaros”. The KJV has caused some confusion for sure. To the early Ekklesia, “G” & “H” were 2 very different places (as I go into detail in my Hell pubs.) Gehenna (“G”) is the lake of fire (LOF), the place of everlasting punishment after the resurrection; Hades (“H”) is the intermediate place where souls await the resurrection.
Jesus spoke about “Hell”/ “Gehenna” in Mt. 5:29,30. He spoke of “Hell Fire” (“G”) in Matt. 5:22 (see Strong’s Concordance #1067: geenna/γέεννα; valley of Hinnom; gehenna, a valley of Jerusalem used (fig.) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: -hell. Irenaeus (130-200) wrote: “And death & Hades were sent into the lake of fire, the second death’. Now this is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord called ‘eternal fire’.” -1.566;
Tertullian (160-230) wrote: “If we threaten Gehenna, which is a reservoir of secret fire under the earth for purposes of punishment, we have in the same way derision heaped on us.” -3.52. He continues to expound on the “lake of fire’, aka “Gehenna”: “Consider Gehenna in your heart, which penance will extinguish for you. First imagine the magnitude of the penalty, so that you will not hesitate to adopt the remedy, what do we think this storehouse of eternal fire is – when small vent holes of it rouse such blasts of flames that neighboring cities either no longer exist, or are in daily expectation of some fate?… This proves to us the perpetuity of the judgment. Although they are torn asunder, although they are devoured, they never come to an end.” -3.665;
Origen (185-255) wrote a lengthy piece in ref. to Jesus’ Mt. 5:29: “I found that Gehenna was mentioned in the Gospel as a place of punishment. So, I searched to see whether it is mentioned anywhere in the ancient scriptures. I did this particularly because the Jews use the word, too. I ascertained the places where the valley of the son of Hinnom was mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was called both the Valley of Hinnom & also Gehenna. Continuing my research, I found that what was called Gehenna or the Valley of Hinnom was included in the lot of the tribe of Benjamin, in which Jerusalem also was situated… I found a certain confirmation of what is said regarding the place of punishment, intended for the purification of such souls as are to be purified by torments, in accord with the saying: ‘The Lord comes like a refiner’s fire, & like fullers’ soup. And he will sit as a refiner & purifier of silver & of gold’. It is in the precincts of Jerusalem, then, that punishments will be inflicted upon those who undergo the process of purification. These are those who have received the elements of wickedness into the substance of their souls… But the remarks that might be made on this topic are neither to be made to everyone, nor to be spoken on the present occasion. For there is some danger to committing to writing the explanation of such subjects. For the multitude need no further instruction than that which relates to the punishment of sinners. To ascend beyond this is not expedient, on account of those who are restrained with difficulty from plunging into any degree of wickedness – even by the fear of eternal punishment.” -4.584, 585.
Origen was a pre-Nicene writer (over 2,000 works!). As one can read for themselves, he knew the difference between Hades & Gehenna, but he was off on his take on being “refined” in Hell. Most of his teachings are brilliant, scriptural, but the above I can’t find in Scripture – “purification of such souls as are to be purified by torments”. This may be done on/in earth but not in “H”/ “G”. This is more Roman Catholic theology. Sadly, Origen’s teachings exhibit strained or unsound theological speculation.
But let me press on to Cyprian’s take on “H”/ “G” (who died in 258 A.D.) = “An ever-burning Gehenna will burn up the condemned – a punishment that devours with living flames. Nor will there be any means by which at any time they can have either rest or an end to their torments. Souls with their bodies will be reserved in infinite tortures for suffering… This is in accord with the truth of Holy Scripture, which says, ‘Their worm will not die & their fire will not be quenched’… The pain of punishment will then be without the fruit of penitence, weeping will be useless & prayer ineffectual. Too late, they will believe in eternal punishment who would not believe in eternal life.” -5.464, 465;
We now come to Treatise on the Glory of Martyrdom: “A horrible place it is, of which the name is Gehenna. There is therein an awful murmuring & groaning of bewailing souls. There are flames belching forth through the horrid darkness of thick night. It is always breathing out the raging fires of a smoking furnace… There are many different degrees of its’ violence, as it gathers into itself whatever tortures the consuming fire of the emitting heat can supply. Those who have been rejected by the voice of the Lord, those who scorned His rule, it punishes with different dooms.” – published in 255 A.D., 5.584.
Do you believe there is a Hell/lake of fire? As stated, there are many thoughts on this subject. You may want to check out all the texts that relate to our subject.
Words such as “utter destruction”, “destruction”, “Sheol”, “lake of fire”, “Pit”, “darkness”, “outer darkness”, “blackness of darkness”, “doom”, “damnation”, “Hades”, “everlasting destruction”, “everlasting fire”, “hell fire”, “great furnace”, “perish”, “everlasting to everlasting”, “everlasting torment”, “waterless pit”, “haunts of cruelty”, “vengeance eternal”, eternal punishment” etc. All these can be found in the Bible, stated or implied.
The Bible teaches that there are souls that are and will be appointed/assigned to hell, i.e. “utter destruction” – 1 Kgs. 20:42; Prov. 31:8; Mt. 24:51; Rev. 21:8 et al.
We have put together several magazines on The Wrath of God (ὀργὴν/θυμός), Job 21:30; Ps. 90:7-11; Jn. 3:36; 1Thes. 1:10;
Along with “Wrath”, we find “fury”, & “indignation”. There are just too many texts to turn to, but the place in discussion is a place of darkness, no rest, stench, no hope, no mercy, a place of eternal separation from light, blessedness, sweetness, love & mercy. It is an eternal prison, i.e. chamber of spiritual death. Torments without end, a place of pain for the body, soul, & spirit of the damned. You will not be alone; Satan & his demons will also be there. You don’t want to go there; repent & live for Christ Jesus!!!
Extra:
Don’t let people tell you that you can’t trust the Bible while there are various translation, they all agree on cardinal doctrine/history etc. (I do not recommend the “Queen James Version” (for LGBTQ+). The Bible was/is inspired by God (2Tim. 3:16,17). Jesus Himself, “my Words will be no means pass away” (Mk. 13:31). Did you know there are more than 300 prophecies (O.T.) regarding the birth, life, & resurrection of Jesus the Christ? Did you know there are more than 5,300 known Gk. Manuscripts of the N.T.? (add over 10,000 Latin Vulgate & at least 9,300 other early versions & we have up to 24,000 manuscript copies of portions of the N.T.
The Bible surely teaches about HELL & HEAVEN, side-by-side. It was first written in Hebrew, Greek, & Aramaic. Today it is written in dozens & dozens of languages.
Prayer
Dear God, Jesus, I confess I am a sinner in need of salvation. Thank you for providing a way out of this “earthly HELL!”, that you took my punishment upon you (Jesus) by dying upon the cross… for my sins… defeating eternal death. Today I REPENT & place my trust in your atonement for my salvation. In Jesus’ Holy name. Amen.