Verse 11
An endless trail of ascending smoke is the constant reminder of the permanent misery of beast-worshippers (cf. Revelation 19:3; Genesis 19:28; Isaiah 34:9-10). The temporary judgments of beast-worshippers under the coming bowl judgments now give way to judgment that is eternal (cf. Matthew 25:46; Romans 2:3-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). If the ceaseless praise of the Lamb by the living creatures is eternal (Revelation 4:5), so must be the punishment of these unbelievers since the same phrase, "forever and ever," describes both.
"The modern vogue of dispensing with hell has no counterpart in Revelation." [Note: Morris, p. 181. See also C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, ch. 8: Hell; Mounce, pp. 276-77; and Robert A. Peterson, "Does the Bible Teach Annihilationism?" Bibliotheca Sacra 156:621 (January-March 1999):13-27.]
"This is the most horrible picture of eternal punishment in the entirety of Revelation . . ." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 212.]
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