A Question From Hasin

I was asking this same question for a moment as I studied the bible. But I was looking for a specific verse I wish you would address.

Revelation 14:10-11

“…they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

I can understand all the verses but this one. If truly it’s destruction, how do you see this one as an eternal torment with no rest day and night?

Response:

Hasin, Thank you for your question. If Revelation 14: 10-11 were the only verses we had in scripture on the fate of the lost, I would still see a conflict in its words with the remainder of the Bible, which describes our Creator’s character of love, mercy, justice, and fairness. There are so many verses that describe something different from what we think we are seeing in this one verse. Very clear verses without symbols or metaphors tell us clearly that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23, not life in non-ending flames. God’s love for the world was so great that He allowed His Son to perish on the cross for our sins so we don’t have to perish as He did.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH but have everlasting life. John 3:16

The lost do not live forever (even in flames). Only those “who has the Son has life” not those who do not have the Son:

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12

When we think it through, those who maintain that God burns people alive in a place called hell for eternity want us to believe that a loving, merciful Creator exchanges a lost person’s short time on earth for trillions of years of punishment in stinging hot flames without any mercy at all.

They want us to believe that God’s wrath is so great that it can never be quenched. His anger will never be satisfied.

So, what is John describing in the book of Revelation that we may be missing? He is describing through symbols the end of those who choose to worship the beast over Himself. It is a specific group at the end of time. First, let’s look at this verse and see what is literal and what is symbolic, and always careful to remember context with God’s character of love.

“…he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Revelation 14: 10-11

Here are the metaphors and symbols lifted out of the verses:

1.) Drinking the wine of the wrath of God.

2.) God pouring out this wrath

3.) Smoke of torment.

If we take this passage literally, we see people burning in flames right in front of Jesus and the lamb forever…every day…without end…The redeemed can actually see the smoke off their suffering bodies! So how can that be heaven for them and us who “follow the lamb wheresoever he goes?” (verse 4). Logically, and knowing what we know about Jesus, we suspect we may be missing the symbolism of a one-time fire of everlasting “destruction.”

Also, if we take it literally, those who worship the beast and its image continue to do so in the flames. So something about taking this literally doesn’t add up with the nature of God, Jesus, and heaven.

The problem with the Western mind is the understanding of the word “forever.” We use it one way, i.e., “without end.” The same with the word “everlasting.” We look at it as it without end. But the Greek word aiōn, translated into English forever, can mean until its purpose is completed. Here is an example to consider.

The Bible uses Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of suffering the “vengeance of eternal fire” Jude 1:7 Yet the flames have gone out and turned into ashes,

“turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;” 2 Peter 2: 6

So very clearly, we see that there is an example of the fate of the lost. Their fire will have eternal effects…not eternal duration. They will be turned to ashes.

Malachi and other passages confirm that the fate of the lost is being burned to ashes, and there is nothing left of them…no root or branch.

“For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“That will leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1

Even Satan, himself, will be turned to ashes

“You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. Ezekiel 28:18

Ask a fireman about an unquenchable file. When they arrive on the scene of a house engulfed in flames, they can’t put it out …it is unquenchable…Consequently, they wait for the flames to die down after doing its work of destruction. An unquenchable fire can’t be put out, but it will eventually die out.

Those who know God personally like they would a loving earthly father feel uncomfortable with the ancient Pagan belief in a vengeful God who tortures unbelievers in flames without end. It doesn’t fit the remainder of the Bible’s description of the love and mercy of a benevolent Father and Son. Many preachers are turning away from the scare tactics of hell to the love expressed in the cross. It is the love, kindness, and mercy that leads people to Christ.

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

John 12: 22

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Jeremiah 31:3

Pastors, draw people to Jesus this way without the scare tactics and you will see revival in your church. Show His mercy, and eagerness to forgive. Lift Him up! Be like Paul when he said to unruly church at Corinth:

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1

Corinthians 2:2

Sorry for the long answer. Please read part 3 of this series which explains some of the difficult verses…https://www.answersfromscriptureonline.com/2019/02/01/the-fate-of-the-lost-part-3-difficult-verses/