Comment on Smoke Rising Forever

Revelation 14:111 is a sandwich limited by two identical scriptures, one before it and one after it. Both of these scriptures limit the passage to those who worship the beast in the end times. Therefore, under no circumstances can Revelation 14:11 refer to the general class of all of unredeemed mankind:

If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark on his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink the wrath of God…and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and forever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.2

In addition to these two limitations, the passage simply does not refer to eternal torment at all because:

1. The context shows that the passage refers to a condition on earth during the tribulation, not the eternal state. Here is the context:

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark on his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…3

If this passage meant that all those with the mark of the beast would be tormented eternally, then it would mean that once someone received the mark of the beast he couldn't turn to Jesus Christ for salvation-even it he wanted to. That would contradict Revelation 22:17.4†

2. The use of the present tense shows that the passage refers to a condition on earth during the great tribulation. When scripture uses the present tense it is indicating an on-going action in the time period indicated. The verb used is προσκνουντες (“prosknountes”) and it is translated “worship,” not "did worship" the beast or "had worshiped" the beast (while they were alive). It refers to those who currently worship the beast during the time period indicated in the passage indicating that those who currently worship the beast will be currently plagued. The time period is the end of days because it is during those days when the beast arises.5 The passage therefore refers to the physical consequences of those who worship the beast during the time of the end (the great tribulation). They will be tortured with fire and brimstone and never be able to rest. The tribulation will be so terrible that many will wish for death but do not die.6

3. The phrase "forever and forever" refers to a column of smoke (the smoke of their torment). The reference, however is not to time; the reference is to distance. “Forever and ever” is a translation of the phrase αίωνασ αίώνϖν (“aionas aionon”), which literally translated means “ages of ages.” It is a colloquialism that can refer to either time or distance. For instance, Revelation 19:2,3 uses the same phrase to refer to smoke rising exactly as in Revelation 14:11. The passage in Revelation 19 refers to the smoke rising from a destroyed city, Babylon, the “great whore:7”

For true and righteous are His judgments: for He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.

And again they said Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.8

The column of smoke was so high it could be seen far off:

Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that might city! For in one hour is thy judgment come.9

Revelation 19 means that the smoke will rise up as far as the eye can see; it does not mean that the city will continue to burn forever. There are no eternally burning cities in scripture. The burning city is mentioned only once. Another reason why the city does not burn forever is that the previous age (aione) will pass and there will be a new heavens and a new earth that have no burning cities.10

The same meaning holds true when the same phrase is used in Revelation 14 to refer to the "smoke of their torment." It does not mean that the smoke will rise for eternity. It means that the smoke will rise as far as the eye can see.

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.11

The Greek word aione (as in "ages of ages" ) means an "age" or an "era," which is a time period that has a beginning and an end.12 Aione is the root for the English word eon or "age," which is a long period of time with a beginning and an end. Scripture uses aione to mean the same thing. For instance:

Be not conformed to this world [age, “aione”]: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…13

…and the care of this world [age, “aione”], and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word…14

…but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world [age], neither in the world to come.15

…the harvest is the end of the world [completion of the age].16

Thus, "ages of ages" can refer to time (eternity) or to distance.

But there is another word that scripture uses to denote eternity in all of its uses. That word is αίώνιον17 ("aionion”), eternity, endless time. The Holy Spirit did not choose to inspire the use of αίώνιον (aionion) in either Revelation 14, but instead chose αίών ("aione") because He intended to draw a picture of a column of smoke that rises as far as the eye can see, exactly as in Revelation 19.

In Mark 10:30 we find both words used with obviously different meanings: αίών (aione) does not mean eternity in that passage but aionion does:

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world [αίών, age, era or world] to come eternal [αίώνιον “aionion”] life.18

It is therefore far more reasonable to conclude that the verse in Revelation 14 speaks of a massive column of smoke intended to mark the torment of the beast worshipers.

True, the verse speaks of torment that is constant (day and night) but it does not specify the duration of the torment. References and allusions to constant torment during the great tribulation are elsewhere in Revelation as well.19 References to constant day and night torment during the great tribulation do not refer to eternal torment at all. The conclusion that the phrase "day and night" refers to eternal torment comes not just from this verse but from this verse when read with smoke rising forever and ever. The belief is therefore exactly that: a conclusion.

Now compare it to another verse does make explicit reference to the fate of those who have transgressed against God but does not specifically state the duration, but comes much closer to it:

Then they shall go forth and look on the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched; and they shall be an abhorrence to all mankind.20

In this verse we find encapsulated the biblical end of all unredeemed sinners. We have the unquenchable fire, the abhorrence, the monument to the tragic and eternal result of sin and worms that shall not die. But the passage is not a testimony to eternal torment. Quite the opposite. It is a testimony to the accuracy of the other forty nine verses that teach death as the final end of the unredeemed, not eternal torment. The transgressors in this passage are not alive; they are dead. They are "corpses." The fire and the smoke from this passage may well continue for the rest of eternity, but the fire and smoke are not elements of their punishment but monuments to the reiterated silent scream that flows through scripture like the tears of a mother with a wayward son: Sin kills! Choose life, not death! Why won't you hear?

The passage in Isaiah 66 is explicit, but the passage in Revelation 14 can be read at least two different ways. When the concept of constant torture and smoke of the torture ascending forever are read together, one conclusion is that together they are referring to eternal torment. This is a logical conclusion. But there is another conclusion and that conclusion is that the tormented are tormented in the great tribulation and that torment produces a column of smoke that ascends as far as the eye can see. Both of these readings are conclusory. They are conclusory because either of them could be true. Therefore, in order to ascertain the meaning, one must look elsewhere in scripture.

Consider the first conclusion, that the passage is referring to the eternal state of unbelievers and that state is eternal torment. The problem with that conclusion is that all of the scriptures that are used to support that conclusion are conclusory as well. There is no scripture that explicitly upholds the doctrine of eternal torment.21

Now consider the second conclusion, that the passage does not refer to the eternal state of unbelievers. Is there any scripture that explicitly teaches that the fate of unbelievers is not eternal torment? Yes. There are at least fifty such scriptures and all of them teach that the eternal fate of unbelievers is death, not eternal torment. All of these scriptures are set forth in Appendix 1.

Therefore, the conclusion that the passage refers to smoke rising as far "as the eye can see" is far more consistent than the alternative.

Another reading of the passage would be that it refers to the eternal flames of the lake of fire and the smoke of their torment does indeed ascend for the rest of eternity. But, as in Isaiah 66, the tormented sinners are dead. They died in the "second death."22 Their end is death, not eternal torment. That is why scripture states that their part in the lake of fire will be the second death. Indeed, if they do not die in the second death, what does?23

Therefore, if one believes that Revelation 14:11 refers to the eternal torment of all of unredeemed mankind, one must also believe the following:

• • One must believe that the verse applies to all of the unredeemed even though the application of the verse is limited to beast worshipers only.
• • One must believe that the phrase used to describe the smoke rising means smoke rising for an endless time, although the same words are used again in Revelation to describe the smoke rising from a city—not for an endless time.
• • One must believe that the same word used in Revelation 19:2,3, refers to a city that will burn forever even though there is no scripture or scriptural concept that teaches that any city will burn forever or that the lake of fire smokes.
• • One must believe that because the smoke rises for an endless time, the torment that causes it must also continue for eternity, although scripture makes no mention of the duration of the torment itself.
• • One must believe that although Revelation 21:8 and numerous other verses (Appendix 1) specifically state that death (not eternal torment) is the final result of sin, those verses don’t really mean death but instead an eternal sentient state of being.24
• • One must believe that the verse describes life after death when the context of the passage is teaching about the great tribulation.
• • One must believe that if this verse refers to all those who worship the beast being tormented eternally it is the only verse in the Bible where the Father is precluded from drawing someone to Jesus Christ.

All of the scriptures that speak directly to the eternal state of unbelievers say that this state is death.25 All of the scriptures that are used to argue eternal torment never say eternal torment but are broad enough to include either eternal death or eternal torment.26

Rather that taking eternal torment as gospel, the student of scripture should instead read the scriptures for what they plainly say: that the wages of sin is death.27

If the Bible says that the wages of sin is death, then why is the wages of sin is not death? And if the very core of the Gospel (John 3:16) states that Jesus Christ saves us from death (perishing), then why is it not perishing from which He saves us? And when Revelation 21:8 takes us to the very brink of the lake of fire and says that the part that unbelievers have in the lake of fire is the 'second death' then why is their part eternal torment and not a second death?"

Why would a just God effectively burn everyone alive (except Christians) for the rest of eternity for any one sin? Two sins? Why would infinite justice punish every unbeliever with the same punishment as Satan? Why?

Or did He really mean death when He said death "The wages of sin is death." The doctrine of eternal torment asks this question, "Hath God really said that the wages of sin is death? Certainly not!"

Or did God really mean death when He said "The soul that sins shall die"28? Or did Paul mean death when he said "The wages of sin is death."29? Did John really mean death (perish) when he said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."30? Of course they did. And the first question that the doctrine of eternal torment asks is "Hath God really said ... that the wages of sin is death"?

When the Bible is read for its plain meaning, all circumventions, gaps and inexplicable conclusions resolve themselves into a magnificent and consistent structure of eternal Truth. But reading the scriptures through the distorted lens of eternal torment results in re-defining "death" to fit the parameters of myth,31 inconsistencies in fundamental doctrines,32 and a grossly skewed misunderstanding of Who God actually is.33

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