In the gospel of Mark, chapter 9 and verse 46 we find this peculiar little phrase:
“There their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” This verse is actually quoting Isaiah 66:24.
What does that mean? What is “their worm”, and where is this place where fire is not quenched?
Oliver B. Greene is one of the great preachers who had no qualms about preaching on Hell. It’s not a popular subject among preachers now, and hasn’t been for many decades. But people need to know about it as urgently today as ever before!
Read Pastor Greene’s sermon on the peculiar phrase HERE.
Here (below) is a fascinating sermon expanding on the topic and revealing more background from other parts of the scriptures. (By the way, Joel 1 also talks about cankerworms and caterpillars, (and locusts) and how they will feature in God’s judgments).
Ezekiel 1 is the main passage used in this sermon. In this passage there are living creatures (angels) described.
Sermon “From Worms to Butterflies” by Pastor Mike Hoggard of Bethel Church via SermonAudio.com:
Here on Earth, in this Earthly present life, the Bible tells us we are worms. We, in the flesh, feed on corruption! In our flesh is no good thing. We have to be delivered from this flesh in order to be with God in eternity. If not, we will go with this corrupted worm of our selves, into hell, where the fire is never quenched and “their worm never dieth”. Psalm 22:1-36
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted , and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered : they trusted in thee, and were not confounded . 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
These first words were the words of Jesus on the Cross. The words in that Psalms passage were the words of David.
Job 17: he refers to the worm as his brother and sister. This is the state of man! If you die in your sins, you will also go into this pit.
Satan “has become as a worm” and been cast down into the pit from his exalted position in Isaiah 14.
Isaiah 66:22-24 those in the New Earth and New Heaven, will go forth and look upon those that transgressed against the Lord. They will see “their worm that does not die”.
We have a God that pardons iniquity! Though we be as worms and serpents, God is willing to cast your sins into the depths of the sea, to be remembered no more. When He forgives us, He makes us sons of God. In the resurrections we will no longer be worms. We will be like the angels, as described in Ezekiel 1. There will be a change in our body in the instant we see Him. (For when we see Him, we shall be like Him).
You don’t have to remain “a worm”. A worm is just a butterfly seed. For Christians, when we die, we begin to live. Death here is really only the beginning of true life for the Christian.
You do not have to go to hell.
There is nothing we can do to achieve this perfected state ourselves. When we are saved, we receive the “earnest” of the Holy Spirit in this life to help us do what is right, but we will not reach that full potential until we shed this Earthly corrupt body. That will happen to us instantaneously when Jesus calls us up in the rapture. But if you are not saved, you will be left here at that critical moment. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow might be too late.
If you were to die today are you 100% sure you would go to HEAVEN?
Please read the following if you answered No
to the question above.
Could you honestly say the following??
Jesus Christ, “I am just as good as you. I have never lusted in my heart; I have never lied; Never cheated; Never stolen anything; Never hated anyone; Never thought a dirty thought. Never said anything wrong; Never lost my temper. I am just as good as you are Jesus. I have never sinned.
Now, if you are truly honest with yourself, you know that somewhere, somehow you have sinned. You know that you could not compare yourself to the Holy Son of God, Jesus Christ.
BECAUSE OF THE ABOVE, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” “.your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”
YOU HAVE BROKEN THE LAWS OF GOD
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” “For the wages of sin is death…”
YOU ARE CONDEMNED BY GOD AT THIS MOMENT.
“… he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” “The wicked shall be turned into hell…”
BUT JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU AND DIED FOR YOU.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN.
“Jesus saith., I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE TRUTH THE DECISION IS YOURS!
WILL YOU REPENT?
“The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” Repentance is when a person admits his guilt to God, and sincerely desires in his heart to get right with God.
“…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
WILL YOU TRUST JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR?
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again from the dead. He paid for your sins on the cross. That is why He is called the Savior. You cannot save yourself by good works; baptism, church attendance, sacraments, going to confession; giving money, praying to Mary and the saints, or trying to live a good life. In order to be saved, you must completely put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
CAN YOU AFFORD TO WAIT?
The most important decision that you will make in this life will be that of either trusting or rejecting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Don’t take a chance! Call on God now! You might not be alive tomorrow!
DEAR FRIEND,
In your own words pray and tell God that you are guilty as a sinner, and that you now believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and that you now want to completely trust Him, and ONLY HIM as your Lord and Savior.
References used from a King James Bible –
(Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 3:4; Heb 9:27; Isaiah 59:2; John 3:18b; Hebrews 9:27; Psalm 9:17a; Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6;1 Tim 2:5; II Peter 3:9; Acts 3:19a; 20:21; Romans 10:13)
Serve Him in the Waiting 