Revelation 14:11
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The declaration that 'the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night' describes the fate of those who worship the beast and receive his mark — one of the most severe statements of eternal punishment in the New Testament. The 'smoke ascending for ever' draws on Isaiah 34:10's description of Edom's judgment ('the smoke thereof shall go up for ever') and on the Sodom-and-Gomorrah tradition of perpetual sign of divine wrath. The phrase 'no rest day nor night' deliberately inverts the Sabbath-rest motif and the 'rest' promised to the faithful in verse 13 ('Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours'). The passage has been central in debates about eternal conscious punishment versus annihilationism in evangelical eschatology.
Other Translations
and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.
and the smoke of their torment doth go up to ages of ages; and they have no rest day and night, who are bowing before the beast and his image, also if any doth receive the mark of his name.
And the smoke of their pain goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, who give worship to the beast and his image, and have on them the mark of his name.
Cross References
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation …
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? …
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord …
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the …
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, …
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell …
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become …