If I said, the smoke of the fire went up for a week, what would you conclude of the fire? That there was a fire sending up smoke? Or that the fire, being fully extinguished, continued to send up smoke?
OK . . . I know . . . someone, maybe you, is all poised to say, but the "flames" were out, only the embers were smoking.
OK.
The smoke from combustion went up all week. Does that help? Where there is smoke, there is . . . combustion.
The Smoke of their Torment Ascends forever. Where there is smoke, there is ____________.
A: Torment
The smoke is the smoke of their torment, not just smoke.
I realize there are some who cannot countenance such a straightforward reading, as they will say, but people are not eternal!
What if we were to set aside conclusions, doctrines, things like that, and only look at what the passage itself says? What does it say?
Revelation 14:9-12 KJV
9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10) The same shall drink of 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 in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Much love!
OK . . . I know . . . someone, maybe you, is all poised to say, but the "flames" were out, only the embers were smoking.
OK.
The smoke from combustion went up all week. Does that help? Where there is smoke, there is . . . combustion.
The Smoke of their Torment Ascends forever. Where there is smoke, there is ____________.
A: Torment
The smoke is the smoke of their torment, not just smoke.
I realize there are some who cannot countenance such a straightforward reading, as they will say, but people are not eternal!
What if we were to set aside conclusions, doctrines, things like that, and only look at what the passage itself says? What does it say?
Revelation 14:9-12 KJV
9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10) The same shall drink of 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 in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Much love!