Isaiah 66:24
"As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind."
As they go forth
This phrase suggests a movement or transition, possibly indicating the people of God leaving a place of worship or judgment. In the context of Isaiah 66, it follows a description of God's final judgment and the establishment of a new order. The imagery of "going forth" can be seen as a transition from the old world to the new, reflecting the eschatological themes present in the latter chapters of Isaiah.

they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me
This phrase highlights the consequences of rebellion against God. The "corpses" symbolize the ultimate fate of those who oppose God's will. Historically, this can be linked to the fate of the Assyrians and Babylonians, who were judged for their oppression of Israel. Theologically, it serves as a warning of the final judgment, where those who reject God face eternal separation. This imagery is echoed in Revelation 19:17-21, where the defeat of God's enemies is depicted.

for their worm will never die
The "worm" is often interpreted as a symbol of ongoing decay and corruption. This phrase is a vivid depiction of eternal punishment, suggesting a state of perpetual suffering. It is reminiscent of Jesus' words in Mark 9:48, where He describes hell as a place "where their worm does not die." This connection underscores the seriousness of rejecting God's authority and the eternal nature of divine judgment.

their fire will never be quenched
Fire is a common biblical symbol for judgment and purification. In this context, it represents the unending nature of God's judgment on the wicked. The imagery of unquenchable fire is also found in the New Testament, particularly in Matthew 3:12 and Mark 9:43, reinforcing the concept of eternal punishment for those who oppose God.

and they will be a horror to all mankind
This phrase indicates the universal recognition of God's judgment. The sight of the corpses serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rebellion, instilling fear and awe in all who witness it. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's justice being evident to all nations, as seen in passages like Ezekiel 28:19 and Revelation 14:10-11. This serves as both a warning and a call to repentance for humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Rebellious Men
These are individuals who have turned against God, rejecting His commands and authority. In the context of Isaiah, they represent those who have consistently opposed God's will.

2. The Corpses
Symbolic of the ultimate fate of the rebellious, these corpses serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of defying God.

3. The Worm and the Fire
These elements symbolize eternal judgment and destruction. The "worm" and "fire" are metaphors for unending decay and punishment.

4. All Mankind
This refers to the observers who witness the consequences of rebellion against God, serving as a warning to all people.

5. The New Heavens and New Earth
The broader context of Isaiah 66 speaks of God's ultimate plan for renewal and restoration, contrasting the fate of the rebellious with the blessings for the faithful.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Rebellion
Rebellion against God is not a trivial matter. It leads to severe and eternal consequences, as depicted by the unending worm and fire.

The Reality of Eternal Judgment
The imagery of Isaiah 66:24 serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of eternal judgment. It calls believers to take seriously the warnings of Scripture.

A Call to Repentance
This verse underscores the importance of repentance and turning back to God. It is a call to examine our lives and ensure we are aligned with God's will.

The Hope of Restoration
While the verse highlights judgment, it is set within a context of hope for those who remain faithful. God's ultimate plan includes renewal and restoration for His people.

Witness to the World
The fate of the rebellious serves as a warning to all mankind. Believers are called to be witnesses, sharing the truth of God's judgment and His offer of salvation.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of "their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched" impact your understanding of eternal judgment?

2. In what ways does Isaiah 66:24 challenge you to examine areas of rebellion in your own life?

3. How can the reality of eternal consequences motivate us to share the gospel with others?

4. What connections do you see between Isaiah 66:24 and Jesus' teachings on hell in the New Testament?

5. How does the promise of a new heavens and new earth provide hope amidst the warnings of judgment in Isaiah 66?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Mark 9:48
Jesus references Isaiah 66:24 when speaking about hell, emphasizing the eternal nature of the punishment for those who reject God.

Revelation 20:10-15
Describes the final judgment and the lake of fire, paralleling the imagery of unquenchable fire and eternal consequences for rebellion against God.

Daniel 12:2
Speaks of the resurrection to everlasting life or shame and everlasting contempt, echoing the themes of eternal outcomes based on one's relationship with God.
Doom Following Unfaithfulness and TransgressionProf. G. A. Smith, D. D.Isaiah 66:24
Eternal PunishmentJ. Lyth, D. D.Isaiah 66:24
GehennaProf. J. Skinner, D. D.Isaiah 66:24
HellJ. A. Alexander.Isaiah 66:24
The Eternal Imaged by the TemporalF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 66:24
The Goodness and Severity of GodF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 66:24
Transgressors PunishedA. B. Davidson, D. D.Isaiah 66:24
The Manifestation of JehovahE. Johnson Isaiah 66:15-24
The Conversion of the WorldJ. Snodgrass, D. D.Isaiah 66:18-24
The Gospel to be Preached to the UncivilizedJ. Snodgrass, D. D.Isaiah 66:18-24
People
Isaiah, Israelites, Javan, Levites, Lud, Lydians, Meshech, Pul, Rosh, Tarshish, Tubal
Places
Javan, Jerusalem, Lud, Pul, Tarshish, Tubal, Zion
Topics
Abhorrence, Abhorring, Bodies, Carcases, Carcasses, Corpses, Dead, Die, Dieth, Evil, Fear, Fire, Flesh, Forth, Loathsome, Mankind, Quenched, Rebelled, Transgressed, Transgressing, Worm
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 66:24

     1075   God, justice of
     2333   Christ, attitude to OT
     4826   fire
     5561   suffering, nature of
     6026   sin, judgment on
     6040   sinners
     6139   deadness, spiritual
     6222   rebellion, against God
     6227   regret

Library
A New Order of Priests and Levites
Think for a minute of the compass of this great promise. Evidently a high honor is here conferred. The connection leads us to see that not only a great promise but likewise a great privilege is herein implied. What is this privilege? It is that we shall be priests and Levites. Now, the priests or Levites were persons set apart to be God's peculiar property. When the firstborn were spared in Egypt, God claimed the firstborn to be his own, and he took the tribe of Levi to represent the firstborn; they
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Travailing for Souls
I. It is clear from the text, "As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children," that THERE MUST BE THE TRAVAIL before there will be the spiritual birth. Let me first establish this fact from history. Before there has fallen a great benediction upon God's people, it has been preceded by great searchings of heart. Israel was so oppressed in Egypt, that it would have been very easy, and almost a natural thing, for the people to become so utterly crushed in spirit as to submit to be hereditary
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

"All Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags, and we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. "
Isaiah lxiv. 6, 7.--"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Not only are the direct breaches of the command uncleanness, and men originally and actually unclean, but even our holy actions, our commanded duties. Take a man's civility, religion, and all his universal inherent righteousness,--all are filthy rags. And here the church confesseth nothing but what God accuseth her of, Isa. lxvi. 8, and chap. i. ver.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

And what Members of the Holy Body, which is the Church...
40. And what members of the holy body, which is the Church, ought more to take care, that upon them the holy Spirit may rest, than such as profess virginal holiness? But how doth He rest, where He findeth not His own place? what else than an humbled heart, to fill, not to leap back from; to raise up, not to weigh down? whereas it hath been most plainly said, "On whom shall rest My Spirit? On him that is humble and quiet, and trembles at My words." [2157] Already thou livest righteously, already thou
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

The Universal Church. --Isa. Lxvi. 12, 23
The universal Church.--Isa. lxvi. 12, 23. Thus saith the Lord, "My Church, to thee Peace, like a river, I will send; The Gentiles, in a stream, shall see My mercy flowing without end. The isles, that never heard my fame, Nor knew the glory of my might, They shall be taught to fear my name, Call'd out of darkness into light. And it shall come to pass, that vows From sabbath unto sabbath-day, From moon to moon, in mine own house, All nations, tribes, and tongues shall pay."
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Peace
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. I Pet 1:1. Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz., Peace, Peace be multiplied:' What are the several species or kinds of Peace? Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into two silver streams. Isa 66:12. I. There is an external peace, and that is, (1.) (Economical, or peace in a family. (2.) Political, or peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty. He maketh peace in thy borders,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Here Some one Will Say, this is Now not to Write of virginity...
52. Here some one will say, This is now not to write of virginity, but of humility. As though truly it were any kind of virginity, and not that which is after God, which we had undertaken to set forth. And this good, by how much I see it to be great, by so much I fear for it, lest it be lost, the thief pride. Therefore there is none that guardeth the virginal good, save God Himself Who gave it: and God is Charity. [2211] The Guardian therefore of virginity is Charity: but the place of this Guardian
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Text: Hebrews 9, 11-15. 11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh:
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager
IN THE DUNGEON OF GIANT DISCOURAGER I feel very discouraged at times, and sometimes the spells of discouragement hang on for a long while. I wonder if I am sanctified. From unaccountable sources, bad feelings of every description depress my soul, and along with these bad feelings come doubts that cast gloom over me. I have prayed and prayed that these feelings of discouragement might leave me; but they have not done so. I despair of prayer bringing me the help I need. Really, I know not what to do.
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

How the Humble and the Haughty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 18.) Differently to be admonished are the humble and the haughty. To the former it is to be insinuated how true is that excellence which they hold in hoping for it; to the latter it is to be intimated how that temporal glory is as nothing which even when embracing it they hold not. Let the humble hear how eternal are the things that they long for, how transitory the things which they despise; let the haughty hear how transitory are the things they court, how eternal the things they
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Knowledge that God Is, Combined with the Knowledge that He is to be Worshipped.
John iv. 24.--"God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." There are two common notions engraven on the hearts of all men by nature,--that God is, and that he must be worshipped, and these two live and die together, they are clear, or blotted together. According as the apprehension of God is clear, and distinct, and more deeply engraven on the soul, so is this notion of man's duty of worshipping God clear and imprinted on the soul, and whenever the actions
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"To what Purpose is the Multitude of Your Sacrifices unto Me? Saith the Lord,"
Isaiah i. 11.--"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord," &c. This is the word he calls them to hear and a strange word. Isaiah asks, What mean your sacrifices? God will not have them. I think the people would say in their own hearts, What means the prophet? What would the Lord be at? Do we anything but what he commanded us? Is he angry at us for obeying him? What means this word? Is he not repealing the statute and ordinance he had made in Israel? If he had reproved
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Bunyan's Last Sermon --Preached July 1688.
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God;" John i. 13. The words have a dependence on what goes before, and therefore I must direct you to them for the right understanding of it. You have it thus,--"He came to his own, but his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God." In
by John Bunyan—Miscellaneous Pieces

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
Preached August 19TH, 1688 [ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR] This sermon, although very short, is peculiarly interesting: how it was preserved we are not told; but it bears strong marks of having been published from notes taken by one of the hearers. There is no proof that any memorandum or notes of this sermon was found in the autograph of the preacher. In the list of Bunyan's works published by Chas. Doe, at the end of the 'Heavenly Footman,' March 1690, it stands No. 44. He professes to give the title-page,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

"So Then they that are in the Flesh Cannot Please God. "
Rom. viii. 8.--"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is a kind of happiness to men, to please them upon whom they depend, and upon whose favour their well-being hangs. It is the servant's happiness to please his master, the courtier's to please his prince; and so generally, whosoever they be that are joined in mutual relations, and depend one upon another; that which makes all pleasant, is this, to please one another. Now, certainly, all the dependencies of creatures one upon
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Union and Communion with God the End and Design of the Gospel
Psalm lxxiii. 24-28.--"Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, &c. Whom have I in heaven but thee? &c. It is good for me to draw near to God."--1 John i. 3. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."--John xvii. 21-23. "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, &c." It is a matter of great consolation that God's
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

False Ambition Versus Childlikeness.
(Capernaum, Autumn, a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XVIII. 1-14; ^B Mark IX. 33-50; ^C Luke IX. 46-50. ^c 46 And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest. ^b 33 And he came to Capernaum: ^c 47 But when Jesus saw the reasoning of their heart, ^b and when he was in the house [probably Simon Peter's house] he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way? 34 But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest. [The Lord with his disciples was
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Necessity of Contemplating the Judgment-Seat of God, in Order to be Seriously Convinced of the Doctrine of Gratuitous Justification.
1. Source of error on the subject of Justification. Sophists speak as if the question were to be discussed before some human tribunal. It relates to the majesty and justice of God. Hence nothing accepted without absolute perfection. Passages confirming this doctrine. If we descend to the righteousness of the Law, the curse immediately appears. 2. Source of hypocritical confidence. Illustrated by a simile. Exhortation. Testimony of Job, David, and Paul. 3. Confession of Augustine and Bernard. 4. Another
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Great Teacher
Teaching was the great business of the life of Christ during the days of his public ministry. He was sent to teach and to preach. The speaker in the book of Job was thinking of this Great Teacher when he asked--"Who teacheth like him?" Job xxxvi: 22. And it was he who was in the Psalmist's mind when he spoke of the "good, and upright Lord" who would teach sinners, if they were meek, how to walk in his ways. Ps. xxv: 8-9. And he is the Redeemer, of whom the prophet Isaiah was telling when he said--He
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable Constitution of God.
John III. 3. John III. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. WHILE the ministers of Christ are discoursing of such a subject, as I have before me in the course of these Lectures, and particularly in this branch of them which I am now entering upon, we may surely, with the utmost reason, address our hearers in those words of Moses to Israel, in the conclusion of his dying discourse: Set your hearts unto all
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

How Christ is to be Made Use of as Our Life, in Case of Heartlessness and Fainting through Discouragements.
There is another evil and distemper which believers are subject to, and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements, which make them so heartless that they can do nothing; yea, and to sit up, as if they were dead. The question then is, how such a soul shall make use of Christ as in the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting, and win over those discouragements: for satisfaction to which we shall, 1. Name some of those discouragements which occasion this. 2. Show what Christ
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Epistle xviii. To John, Bishop.
To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, Bishop of Constantinople [1586] . At the time when your Fraternity was advanced to Sacerdotal dignity, you remember what peace and concord of the churches you found. But, with what daring or with what swelling of pride I know not, you have attempted to seize upon a new name, whereby the hearts of all your brethren might have come to take offence. I wonder exceedingly at this, since I remember how thou wouldest fain have fled from the episcopal office rather than
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

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