Last time we talked about the third angel in this chapter who has come with a message. This message has to do with the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast, as we see in Revelation 14:9, is a mark of allegiance to the antichrist, to the beast and a worshiping of him. All those who do that are saying very clearly and directly that they are followers of the antichrist and therefore rejectors of the true Christ, of Jesus Christ Himself. For those people it says that they will receive the wrath of God in full measure in Revelation 14:10. This is what they should expect to happen. Now we are going to look at more details about that. What does that look like? What should the followers of the antichrist expect?
We pick it up in the middle of Revelation 14:10, “and he will 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 goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” This is probably the most graphic, ugly, tragic picture of eternal judgment found in all the scriptures. What an awful thing to consider that because you have worshiped the antichrist and have rejected the true Christ that you will face eternal judgment from God forever and ever. We see here that it speaks of the torment with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Very graphic.
In the epistles, if we go back to 2 Thessalonians 1, we have a little different picture of the eternal judgment that God brings on those that reject Him. In 2 Thessalonians 1:7, this is probably one of the most detailed pictures in the epistles that we find anywhere, it says, “and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to give relief to the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.” Now, here the Lord comes, “dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9 here is probably the clearest picture in the epistles of what hell, or eternal damnation, looks like. They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction. What a terminology – eternal destruction . . .
