The Final End of God's Enemies

One verse remains in our study of Isaiah's prophecy.  The book concludes with these words: "They will actually go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that were transgressing against me; for the very worms upon them will not die and their fire itself will not be extinguished, and they must become something repulsive to all flesh." (Isaiah 66:24)   Jesus Christ likely had this prophecy in mind when he encouraged his disciples to simplify their lives and put Kingdom interests first.  He said:  "If your eye makes you stumble, throw it away; it is finer for you to enter one-eyed into the Kingdom of God than with two eyes  to be pitched into Gehenna, where their maggot does not die and the fire is not put out." -Mark 9:47, 48; Matthew 5:29, 30; 6:33.

What is this place called Gehenna? Centuries ago, the Jewish scholar David Kimhi wrote:  "It is a place . . .adjoining Jerusalem, and it is a loathsome place, and they throw there unclean things and carcasses. Also there was a continual fire there to burn the unclean things and the bones of the carcasses. Hence, the judgment of the wicked ones  is called  parabolically Gehinnom." If, as this Jewish scholar suggests, Gehenna was use for the disposal of refuse and carcasses of those deemed unworthy of burial, fire would be a suitable means of eliminating such refuse.  What the fire did not consume, the maggots would.  What a fitting picture of the final end of all of God's enemies!"

With such a reference to corpses, fire, and worms, is it not true that Isaiah's thrilling prophecy concludes on a gruesome note?  God's avowed enemies would undoubtedly think so.  But to God's friends, Isaiah's description of the everlasting destruction of the wicked is most heartening.  Jehovah's people need this assurance that their enemies will never again have the upper hand.  those enemies, who have caused  God's worshipers so much affliction and have brought so much reproach on his name, will be everlastingly destroyed.  Then "distress will not rise up a second time." -Nahum 1:9.

As we conclude  our study of the book of Isaiah, we certainly appreciate that this Bible book is not dead history. On the contrary, it has a message for us today.  When we reflect on the dark times in which Isaiah lived, we can see the similarities between that period  and our day.  Political unrest , religious hypocrisy, judicial corruption, and oppression of the faithful and  the poor characterized Isaiah's time, and it characterizes ours. Faithful Jews in the sixth century B.C.E. must have been grateful for Isaiah's prophecy, and we today are comforted as we study it.

In these critical time when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the national groups, all of us are deeply grateful that Jehovah, through Isaiah, has provided light for all mankind!  That spiritual light means nothing less than everlasting life for all who wholeheartedly accept it, regardless of their nation origin or ethnic background.  (Acts 10:34, 35)  May we, then, keep on walking in the light of God's Word, reading it daily, meditating upon it, and cherishing its message.  This will be to our own eternal blessing to the praise of Jehovah's holy name!

Next time: What Does the Bible Really Teach?  2005 and 2006

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001