In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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Gehenna
In part 3 I listed the twelve individual New Testament passages that mention Gehenna and covered mostly Matthew 5 and the concepts that Jesus was speaking about to His Disciples (and us).
Moving on to Mark 9 now...
Mark 9:43-47 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell [G1067 - gehenna], into the fire that never shall be quenched [G762 - put out, extinguished]: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot [eyeballs, hands, and now feet] offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt [G5560 - lame, crippled] into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell [G1067 - gehenna], into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 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 [G1067 - gehenna] fire:
Pretty much the same message as Matthew 5 except for a couple of new phrases...
"the fire that never shall be quenched", and...
"where the worm dies not".
Surely, this has to be speaking an eternal hell-hole of misery and suffering for unbelievers, right?!
Is this speaking of a fire that never ends? A fire that is endless, or "eternal"?
Let's find out.
2 Ki 22:17 Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
Has God's wrath been extinguished yet - no. Will it be? Yes... His wrath will not continue forever. We've already learned that in previous blogs and we're about to learn more.
Isa 34:9-10 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
Will the smoke from this fire be seen for ever and ever? No.
If you keep reading in Isaiah 34 you'll see that afterwards pelicans and hedgehogs will possess it. Owls and ravens will dwell there... thorns will sprout up, jackals, ostriches, wolves, and the hairy goat will find rest there.
Do any of these animals dwell in the presence of a fire that is not quenched, or the smoke that goes up forever and ever? Do these plants not burn in fire?
Jer 7:17-20 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD:
Do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, Mine anger and My fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
God is going to turn his anger and wrath upon women, children, men, beasts, trees, and fruit of the ground... and that shall not be quenched?
Jer 17:27 But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Again we ask: are the gates of Jerusalem still burning today?
Or, will the physical gates of Jerusalem burn forever? Eternally?
Eze 20:47-48 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
If the forest and every green tree, every dry tree, and all flesh therein is devoured... what's fueling the unquenchable fire?
We could do this all day... but why?
In every instance of fire not quenched in Scripture, it never stands for endless or eternal fire, burning immortal wood, immortal trees, immortal fruit, immortal beasts, immortal children and immortal men - let alone including immortal worms.
They understood what "shall not be quenched" meant... they understood "Gehenna" (Valley of Hinnom).
Heb 12:11-13 Now NO chastening [G3809 - paideia, disciplinary correction] for the present SEEMS to be joyous, but grievous: NEVERTHELESS afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. [WOW! Read that again... let it sink in.]
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
The "eternal fire" of Jude 1:7 is no longer burning in Sodom and Gomorrah, seeing that it was not "eternal" but "eonian" and therefore is no longer burning... it's NOT eternal. (Even though that's what your English KJV Bible says!)
Many natural forest fires through history have never been quenched, but they are no longer burning.
The fire from God in Jerusalem as recorded in Jer 17:27, is also no longer burning, yet it was not "put out" or "extinguished".
They burned themselves out.
It merely means that these fires will not be "put out" or "extinguished", or "quenched", but will cease upon completion of their purpose.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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Gehenna
In part 3 I listed the twelve individual New Testament passages that mention Gehenna and covered mostly Matthew 5 and the concepts that Jesus was speaking about to His Disciples (and us).
Moving on to Mark 9 now...
Mark 9:43-47 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell [G1067 - gehenna], into the fire that never shall be quenched [G762 - put out, extinguished]: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot [eyeballs, hands, and now feet] offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt [G5560 - lame, crippled] into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell [G1067 - gehenna], into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 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 [G1067 - gehenna] fire:
Pretty much the same message as Matthew 5 except for a couple of new phrases...
"the fire that never shall be quenched", and...
"where the worm dies not".
Surely, this has to be speaking an eternal hell-hole of misery and suffering for unbelievers, right?!
Is this speaking of a fire that never ends? A fire that is endless, or "eternal"?
Let's find out.
2 Ki 22:17 Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
Has God's wrath been extinguished yet - no. Will it be? Yes... His wrath will not continue forever. We've already learned that in previous blogs and we're about to learn more.
Isa 34:9-10 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
Will the smoke from this fire be seen for ever and ever? No.
If you keep reading in Isaiah 34 you'll see that afterwards pelicans and hedgehogs will possess it. Owls and ravens will dwell there... thorns will sprout up, jackals, ostriches, wolves, and the hairy goat will find rest there.
Do any of these animals dwell in the presence of a fire that is not quenched, or the smoke that goes up forever and ever? Do these plants not burn in fire?
Jer 7:17-20 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD:
Do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, Mine anger and My fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
God is going to turn his anger and wrath upon women, children, men, beasts, trees, and fruit of the ground... and that shall not be quenched?
Jer 17:27 But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Again we ask: are the gates of Jerusalem still burning today?
Or, will the physical gates of Jerusalem burn forever? Eternally?
Eze 20:47-48 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
If the forest and every green tree, every dry tree, and all flesh therein is devoured... what's fueling the unquenchable fire?
We could do this all day... but why?
In every instance of fire not quenched in Scripture, it never stands for endless or eternal fire, burning immortal wood, immortal trees, immortal fruit, immortal beasts, immortal children and immortal men - let alone including immortal worms.
Why then should we think that Jesus was speaking of immortal worms that die not and endless eternal fire not quenched in come place called hell (Mark 9:44)?
Let's move forward one verse in Ezekial:
Let's move forward one verse in Ezekial:
Eze 20:49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth He not speak parables?
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What about Sodom and Gomorrah?
That speaks of eternal fire, right?
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal [G166 - aionion - we're going to get to this word soon! It does NOT mean never-ending or "eternal"] fire.
Well there it is: Sodom and Gomorrah and all the cities of the plain are suffering the vengeance of ETERNAL fire. We just read that above, right?
Are they?
This is the only time "eternal" fire is used in the King James, however, "everlasting" fire (translated from the same Greek word aionion) is used twice (Matt 18:8 and Matt 25:41).
How could it be endless or eternal, seeing that the area of Sodom and Gomorrah and that whole plain on which there were multiple cities, are not on fire today?
Well? Do you see a fire there? Do you even see smoke?
I thought it said "eternal"?
They're not on fire today, nor were they on fire in Christ's time... or in Israel's time... or in any time since Abraham.
The Greek word aion, translated "eternal" and "everlasting" in these verses means "age" or "pertaining to an age".
Neither the Hebrew nor the Greek manuscripts had a word that can be properly and accurately translated as either "eternal", "everlasting," or "endless time" (in fact, linguists have stated that no language on earth before the second century AD had a single word that meant "eternity" or "endless time." - especially, as we know it in our English language).
<sarcasm> Wonder who created such a word? </sarcasm>
Eonian or age-abiding fire is decidedly not eternal, never-ending fire. We're going to spend more time on this in my upcoming blog "Whence Eternity?".
Sodom and Gomorrah, and all the cities of the plains burned for a period of time aionion, not eternal).
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That speaks of eternal fire, right?
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal [G166 - aionion - we're going to get to this word soon! It does NOT mean never-ending or "eternal"] fire.
Well there it is: Sodom and Gomorrah and all the cities of the plain are suffering the vengeance of ETERNAL fire. We just read that above, right?
Are they?
This is the only time "eternal" fire is used in the King James, however, "everlasting" fire (translated from the same Greek word aionion) is used twice (Matt 18:8 and Matt 25:41).
How could it be endless or eternal, seeing that the area of Sodom and Gomorrah and that whole plain on which there were multiple cities, are not on fire today?
Well? Do you see a fire there? Do you even see smoke?
I thought it said "eternal"?
They're not on fire today, nor were they on fire in Christ's time... or in Israel's time... or in any time since Abraham.
The Greek word aion, translated "eternal" and "everlasting" in these verses means "age" or "pertaining to an age".
Neither the Hebrew nor the Greek manuscripts had a word that can be properly and accurately translated as either "eternal", "everlasting," or "endless time" (in fact, linguists have stated that no language on earth before the second century AD had a single word that meant "eternity" or "endless time." - especially, as we know it in our English language).
<sarcasm> Wonder who created such a word? </sarcasm>
Eonian or age-abiding fire is decidedly not eternal, never-ending fire. We're going to spend more time on this in my upcoming blog "Whence Eternity?".
Sodom and Gomorrah, and all the cities of the plains burned for a period of time aionion, not eternal).
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Gehenna fire has always represented God's Judgment to the Jewish people!
Who do you think Jesus is speaking to in these parables of the New Testament?
The same people that understood the Old Testament better than anyone on earth at that time!
They understood what "shall not be quenched" meant... they understood "Gehenna" (Valley of Hinnom).
Gehenna symbolized and represented to the Jewish mind - JUDGMENT.
As such Jesus uses it in describing His judgments first upon His followers, and then upon the whole world.
To be sure - "fire and worms" do not present a pleasant picture, and the Judgments of Christ, likewise, are not pleasant:
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
The "eternal fire" of Jude 1:7 is no longer burning in Sodom and Gomorrah, seeing that it was not "eternal" but "eonian" and therefore is no longer burning... it's NOT eternal. (Even though that's what your English KJV Bible says!)
Many natural forest fires through history have never been quenched, but they are no longer burning.
The fire from God in Jerusalem as recorded in Jer 17:27, is also no longer burning, yet it was not "put out" or "extinguished".
They burned themselves out.
It merely means that these fires will not be "put out" or "extinguished", or "quenched", but will cease upon completion of their purpose.
So also is the case with the "worms that die not".
There was fire and there were worms in the garbage dump of Gehenna, and they both had a part to play in the destruction of the flesh of animals and dead criminals (plus other garbage).
The same will be true during Christ's Millennial Reign.
The same will be true during Christ's Millennial Reign.
Did you know that during His Reign, there will be those who will be saved?
Did you know that some will still stubbornly refuse Him?!
Can you imagine?! Still refuse Him while they can see Him with their own eyes?! Especially after all that is about to unfold during the Great Tribulation?!!
Did you know that some will still stubbornly refuse Him?!
Can you imagine?! Still refuse Him while they can see Him with their own eyes?! Especially after all that is about to unfold during the Great Tribulation?!!
I guess some things haven't changed much since His First Advent. Some refused Him then...
What about the "worms that die not"?
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The word "worm" appears in most bibles three times in Mark 9.
However, Mark 9:48 is the only time it appears in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts.
Mark 9:44 is spurious, and Mark 9:45b ( "...into the fire that never shall be quenched") and Mark 9:46 are all fake.
It's a well known fact that this writing is at best questionable... read it yourself - why would Jesus repeat Himself like that, and only Mark recorded it that way?
Come on... I knew something was up before I learned that the experts had already came to the same conclusion.
No matter though... it really doesn't matter (just pointing that out).
The one time it is used in verse 44, it is a quotation from Isa 66:24.
Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm [H8438 - maggot] shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Who are the men that have transgressed against God?
Those who die before, and during His Millennial Reign that still refuse Him... it is their carcasses that will burn in Gehenna.
Their carcasses will be burnt but they themselves will still be resurrected (at the second resurrection) for the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of His Millennial Reign.
This verse is one of the reasons those Jews knew what Jesus was referring to in those recorded words found in the New Testament.
Worm is translated from the Hebrew word tola, and is defined as "a maggot."
It's one time use in the Greek is from skolex, and also is defined as 'a maggot.'
These "worms that never die" are maggots.
Maggots may be difficult to clean out of a garbage can, but they are not immortal, and in a few short days turn into common house flies, which then lay more eggs on garbage, produce more maggots which then produce more flies to lay more eggs...
Hence, they do not die [out] but just keep reproducing over and over.
However, Mark 9:48 is the only time it appears in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts.
Mark 9:44 is spurious, and Mark 9:45b ( "...into the fire that never shall be quenched") and Mark 9:46 are all fake.
It's a well known fact that this writing is at best questionable... read it yourself - why would Jesus repeat Himself like that, and only Mark recorded it that way?
Come on... I knew something was up before I learned that the experts had already came to the same conclusion.
No matter though... it really doesn't matter (just pointing that out).
The one time it is used in verse 44, it is a quotation from Isa 66:24.
Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm [H8438 - maggot] shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Who are the men that have transgressed against God?
Those who die before, and during His Millennial Reign that still refuse Him... it is their carcasses that will burn in Gehenna.
Their carcasses will be burnt but they themselves will still be resurrected (at the second resurrection) for the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of His Millennial Reign.
This verse is one of the reasons those Jews knew what Jesus was referring to in those recorded words found in the New Testament.
Worm is translated from the Hebrew word tola, and is defined as "a maggot."
It's one time use in the Greek is from skolex, and also is defined as 'a maggot.'
These "worms that never die" are maggots.
Maggots may be difficult to clean out of a garbage can, but they are not immortal, and in a few short days turn into common house flies, which then lay more eggs on garbage, produce more maggots which then produce more flies to lay more eggs...
Hence, they do not die [out] but just keep reproducing over and over.
What was the purpose of these maggots and fire in the valley of Gehenna?
To destroy that which is putrid and worthless; to purge; to purify the city of its garbage.
That was their physical purpose at the time of Jesus and that is their physical purpose to this day!
That was their physical purpose at the time of Jesus and that is their physical purpose to this day!
Jesus uses these symbols, word pictures, and analogies to represent His spiritual sin-purging judgments.
Think about it... it doesn't take much imagination to see what He's talking about now... do I really even need to explain it any further?
We know that Peter said,
1 Pet 1:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God...
Paul said,
1 Cor 10:31 For if we would judge ourselves...
Jesus said that we ourselves must "Agree with our adversary quickly," and we ourselves must "pluck it [our eye] out and cast it from us," etc.
But do all these things constitute being judged by "worms and fire?"
Absolutely.
Gehenna fire does not represent eternal torture in literal flames upon the wicked.
It represents cleansing and purging of His called and chosen Elect, now, in this Church age.
Gehenna fire does not represent eternal torture in literal flames upon the wicked.
It represents cleansing and purging of His called and chosen Elect, now, in this Church age.
It also represents the Coming cleansing - still yet to be seen during His Millennial Reign and at the conclusion of that Millennium.
The same "fire" that consumes all of our wood, hay, and stubble is the exact same "fire" in which the unbelievers shall have their wood, hay, and stubble consumed!
The same "fire" that consumes all of our wood, hay, and stubble is the exact same "fire" in which the unbelievers shall have their wood, hay, and stubble consumed!
Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
And just "who" is the everyone of this verse?
Read the previous verse.
The everyone is all those for whom "... their worms dies not and the fire is not quenched" (Verse 48).
And just "who" is the their of this verse?
Read the previous verse.
The their is "And if thine eye..."
The thine is ME - it's YOU.
WE are the thine, and the their, and the everyone which shall be"...salted with fire."
And just when will this fire of which Jesus spoke, start burning?
Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
"Fire, came I to cast upon the earth,-and what can I wish, if, already, it hath been, kindled?" (Rotherham).
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I comes, the latches of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost AND WITH FIRE:
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I comes, the latches of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost AND WITH FIRE:
This spiritual Gehenna purging and purifying fire of Christ was already kindled when He called His disciples, and it has been with us ever since, and I can personally testify that it is with us today in every life that Jesus is purging from the rotten flesh of the carnal mind.
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
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1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
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Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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