Revelation 14:9-11 “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. 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 ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
One last aspect regarding the design of the New Jerusalem that we need to discuss is the lake of fire and brimstone. We have seen in an earlier section, that all of God’s enemies will be cast into the lake of fire on the final day of judgement. That lake will not then just disappear, never to be seen again. On the contrary, that lake of fire will be with us for all eternity, and the location of the lake will be just outside the city walls. In the above passage of scripture, the angel informs us that those who are cast into the lake will be tormented in the presence of the holy angels and the in the presence of the Lamb, forever and ever. This passage also informs us that the smoke of that furnace will ascend forever and ever. In other words, throughout the city of the New Jerusalem, the saints will be able to see the smoke of the lake of fire, as it burns outside the city walls for all eternity.
Michael E.B. Maher
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