Rev 14:10-11 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God . . The "wine of the wrath of God" is the cup in the hand of the Lord, which when drunk makes them reel and fall. The image would seem to have been taken from the act of holding out a cup of poison to a condemned man that he might drink and die. See the sentiment here expressed illustrated in . Which is poured out without mixture . Without being diluted with water; that is, in its full strength. In other words, there would be no mitigation of the punishment. Into the cup of his indignation . The cup held in his hand and given them to drink. This is expressive of his indignation, as it causes them to reel and fall. The sentiment here is substantially the same, though in another form, as that which is expressed in . . And he shall be tormented . Shall be punished in a manner that would be well represented by being burned with fire and brimstone. On the meaning of this word, , . Compare also . The word commonly denotes severe torture. With fire and brimstone . As if with burning sulphur. , seq. Compare . The imagery is taken from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, . The common representation of the punishment of the wicked is, that it will be in the manner here represented, . Compare ; . In the presence of the holy angels . This may mean either (a) that the angels will be present at their condemnation, ( ,) or (b) that the punishment will be actually witnessed by the angels-- as it is most probable it will be. Compare . And in the presence of the Lamb . The Lamb of God--the final Judge. This also may mean either that the condemnation will occur in his presence, or that the punishment will be under his eye. Both of these things will be true in regard to him; and it will be no small aggravation of the punishment of the wicked that it will occur in the very presence of their slighted and rejected Saviour. (a) "drink of the wine" (b) "fire and brimstone"

Revelation of John 14:10-11

Verse 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. Rev 14:8. The "wine of the wrath of God" is the cup in the hand of the Lord, which when drunk makes them reel and fall. The image would seem to have been taken from the act of holding out a cup of poison to a condemned man that he might drink and die. See the sentiment here expressed illustrated in Isa 51:17.

Which is poured out without mixture. Without being diluted with water; that is, in its full strength. In other words, there would be no mitigation of the punishment.

Into the cup of his indignation. The cup held in his hand and given them to drink. This is expressive of his indignation, as it causes them to reel and fall. The sentiment here is substantially the same, though in another form, as that which is expressed in 2Thes 2:12. 2Thes 2:12.

And he shall be tormented. Shall be punished in a manner that would be well represented by being burned with fire and brimstone. On the meaning of this word, Rev 9:5, Rev 11:10. Compare also Rev 18:7,10,15, 20:10, Mt 8:29 Mk 5:7, Lk 8:28. The word commonly denotes severe torture.

With fire and brimstone. As if with burning sulphur. Lk 17:28, seq. Compare Ps 11:6, Job 18:15 Isa 30:33, Eze 38:22. The imagery is taken from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:24. The common representation of the punishment of the wicked is, that it will be in the manner here represented, Mt 5:22, 13:42, 18:9, 25:41, Mk 9:44-48, 2Pet 3:7, Jude 1:7 Rev 20:14. Compare Mt 5:22; Mk 9:44.

In the presence of the holy angels. This may mean either

(a) that the angels will be present at their condemnation, (Mt 25:31,) or

(b) that the punishment will be actually witnessed by the angels-- as it is most probable it will be. Compare Isa 66:24, Lk 16:23-26.

And in the presence of the Lamb. The Lamb of God--the final Judge. This also may mean either that the condemnation will occur in his presence, or that the punishment will be under his eye. Both of these things will be true in regard to him; and it will be no small aggravation of the punishment of the wicked that it will occur in the very presence of their slighted and rejected Saviour.

(a) "drink of the wine" Ps 75:8 (b) "fire and brimstone" Rev 19:20 Verse 11. And the smoke of their torment. The smoke proceeding from their place of torment. This language is probably derived from the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:28: "And he [Abraham] looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace." The destruction of these cities is regarded as an emblem of the destruction of the wicked, and the smoke that ascended from them as a representation of that which ascends from the place where the wicked suffer for ever. Jude 1:7.

Ascendeth up. Continually rises from that world of woe.

For ever and ever. Jude 1:7. This does not indeed affirm that their individual sufferings would be eternal--since it is only a declaration that "the smoke of their torment ascends;" but it is such language as would be used on the supposition that they would suffer for ever, and as can be explained only on that supposition. It implies that their torments continued, and were the cause of that ascending smoke; that is, that they were tormented while it ascended, and as this is declared to be "for ever and ever," it implies that the sufferings of the wicked will be eternal: and this is such language as would not and could not have been used in a revelation from God, unless the punishment of the wicked is eternal. Compare Mt 25:46.

And they have no rest day nor night. "Day and night" include all time; and hence the phrase is used to denote perpetuity--always. The meaning here is, that they never have any rest--any interval of pain. This is stated as a circumstance strongly expressive of the severity of their torment, Here, rest comes to the sufferer. The prisoner in his cell lies down on his bed, though hard, and sleeps; the over-worked slave has also intervals of sleep; the eyes of the mourner are locked in repose, and for moments, if not hours, he forgets his sorrows; no pain that we endure on earth can be so certain and prolonged that nature will not, sooner or later, find the luxury of sleep, or will find rest in the grave. But it will be one of the bitterest ingredients in the cup of woe, in the world of despair, that this luxury will be denied for ever, and that they who enter that gloomy prison sleep no more; never know the respite of a moment-- never even lose the consciousness of their heavy doom. Oh, how different from the condition of sufferers here! And oh, how sad and strange that any of our race will persevere in sin, and go down to those unmitigated and unending sorrows!

Who worship the beast and his image. Rev 13:4,15.

And whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Rev 13:17. The meaning here is, that such worshippers will receive the punishment which other idolaters and sinners do. No exception will be made in favour of an idolater, though he worships idols under the forms of an abused Christianity; none will be made in favour of a sinner because he practised iniquity under the garb of religion.