”THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED” IN MARK 9:48: ITS MEANING AND BACKGROUND (12)

CHAPTER 6

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The expression of “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” is a direct quotation from Isaiah 66:23 and Jesus uses them to depict the destiny of the wicked people. Meanwhile, traditionally most of the Christians and scholars view the expression as notion of eternal torment in hell consciously and also used to support the doctrine of immortality of the soul. The study shows that the notion is not supported by the context of the text.
 

Grammatical and syntactical study shows that even though that the employing of the indicative present does not describing an action which is occurring. The verb indicative present is a gnomic present which not indicate limited time but rather as a general statement. It means that from grammatical of the verbs tense aspect, the expression can be applied to the past, present or future. 

However to find a meaning of a text cannot be found merely grammatically or syntactically. Study the context is essential to find the meaning of the meaning of the text. The study shows that the historical background the expression in Isaiah does not depicts a torment forever consciously. In addition, the study in Jeremiah also shows that there is no description of eternal torment for the wicked people. It can be concluded that the “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” which is quoted by Jesus from Isaiah 66:23 does not support idea of eternal torment in gehenna. Biblically, in gehenna there is no indication that people are tormented consciously.

The study shows that the phrase “their worm does not die” means that they will not die until they have totally devoured the corps or carcasses. Meanwhile the phrase “unquenchable fire” means that no one can be put out or quench the fire until it has totally devoured what it was kindle to burn up. It does not mean that the fire will kindle forever because there is nothing in Isaiah 66.24 itself to indicate eternal torment, but the fire it shows that the fire did not kindle anymore after it has devoured the material. It can be concluded that the expression in Mark 9:48 means that it is not the process of punishment which is eternal but the effect of the punishment. 

The study shows that the notion of eternal torment in gehenna does not come from biblical sources but from non biblical sources such as Platonism, books from intertestamental period and some books of Pseudepigrapha as Enoch, Baruch, Sirach, Judith, Assumption of Moses, Sybilline Oracle and Pirkē Aboth. 

Moreover, the notion of God who will condemn and torture not millions, but billions, and not for a short while but for all eternity will contradicts to Gods character that He is love.