1 Tim. 6:16 is saying God doesn't die, unlike man. However the souls of the damned to not cease to exist when they are cast into hell. The death suffered there is ongoing.
where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'
- Mark 9:48
In Matt 5 as well as Mark 9 where Jesus speaks of body parts being lost verses having the entire person (soul) thrown into what is oft translated as Hell, the accual word used by Jesus was GeHenna. GeHenna was not equal to an eternal place of spiritual fire, instead what it was was a garbage dump where the bodies of criminals were thrown outside of the city.
Is There a Burning Hell?
GeHenna
Another word that Jesus used to describe the outcome for the wicked was
GeHenna (literally: Valley of Hinnom. Also: Graveyard of the descendants of a man named Hinnom). It is usually translated as
Hell Fire, as opposed to Hades, which is usually translated as
Hell in other Bibles. GeHenna is the valley that bordered the SSW wall of Jerusalem, which served as the city’s garbage dump during the time of Jesus. Prior to the first destruction of Jerusalem (c 600-B.C.E.) it had been a graveyard, and then it was further profaned after it was used as a place for sacrificing children to pagan gods.
Of course, when Jesus used this word (eleven times in the Bible altogether), he used it symbolically. As a symbol of what? One reference says, ‘It is a place of torment both for the body and the soul.’ But is that a natural conclusion? Being put ‘in the garbage dump’ would convey a totally different meaning to readers, if they didn’t already believe in a Hell Fire.
But, didn’t Jesus say (at Mark 9:47, 48), ‘If your eye traps you, throw it away. For, it’s better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, than to have both eyes and to be thrown into the garbage dump (
GeHenna)
where there are always maggots and the fire is never put out.’
Oh yes, other Bibles render this verse, ‘than to be cast into Hell Fire
where the worms dieth not and the fire is not quenched.’ However, remember that Jesus was talking about a garbage dump when he said (in Greek), ‘
hopou ho skolex auton ou teleuta kai to pyr ou sbennutai,’ or, ‘where the maggot of/them not finished and the fire not extinguished.’ Obviously, most ancient garbage dumps were kept burning and there were always maggots living there. So, does this natural description of a garbage dump really prove eternal torment? We feel that the answer is clear.
Also notice that these words of Jesus were not original; he was quoting from Isaiah 66:24, and there the true meaning can be clearly understood. It says, ‘Then they’ll go out and see the carcasses of men, those who rebelled against Me.
Their worms won’t come to an end, and their fire will not be extinguished. And they’ll be a sight for all flesh [to see].’
So, according to God Himself, these destroyed people won’t be burning in an unseen place of torture, but after Armageddon their bodies will lie exposed on the ground for all to see, and that is where ‘their worms won’t come to an end, and their fire will not be extinguished.’
But, what about Jesus’ words at Matthew 10:28, where he said, ‘Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body
but can’t kill the person (gr. psyche). Rather, be afraid of Him who can destroy both the person and the body in the garbage dump.’
Well, notice how Luke phrased these same words of Jesus at Luke 12:5, ‘Let me show you who it is that you should be afraid of: Fear him,
who after killing also has the authority to throw you into the garbage dump. Fear Him!’
Psalm 21:9-12,
‘For You will throw them into an oven of fire, in Your Day [O God, Jehovah]. In Your rage You’ll disturb them and destroy them in fire. You’ll destroy their fruit from the earth, and their seed from the sons of men. For, their purpose toward You was to do bad things, and they argued over plans that were never fulfilled. So, throw them away with Your garbage (Gr. periloipois sou – leavings your), and prepare their faces for this.’
