Worship or the Worm

 Isaiah 66:22–24 (LEB)

22“For just as the new heavens and earth that I am about to make shall stand before me,” declares Yahweh, “so shall your descendants and your name stand.
23And this shall happen: From new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath all flesh shall come to bow in worship before me,” says Yahweh.
24“And they shall go out and look at the corpses of the people who have rebelled against me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

When Jesus returns to reign in Jerusalem, he will once again establish his people, and they will bring sacrifices to the temple. He will reestablish the priesthood and all nations will bring their offerings to him. He will receive the worship he alone deserves but all who have rejected him and lived according to their own desires of false worship will be destroyed by fire. Jesus mentioned the fact that the worm shall not die, and the fire will not be quenched when he taught about the final judgment and the destiny of all who have rejected him. For all who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior it will be time of great rejoicing and uniting of all believers in joyful worship of the Savior. But for all who have rejected him it will be a time of pain and judgment. They will receive what they deserve. The reality of this judgment should cause the unbelievers to turn away from their rebellion and receive the forgiveness and redemption that has been provided for them through Jesus. Yet many will continue to rebel and receive the just consequences they deserve.