(This below is mostly drawn from “Asleep in Christ” by Helaine Burch.)

One of only a few texts that ‘seem’ to support eternal suffering of the lost souls of the dead is Revelation 14:11 (below). However, upon close examination, a critical exegesis of the text reveals this is a description of the death of the people who took “the mark of the beast and worship his image” during the Tribulation period.

Rev 14:9-13 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast (Antichrist) and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and In The Presence Of The Lamb: ¹¹And 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. ¹²Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. ¹³ … Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Conditional eternal or immortal life based upon faith is clearly seen in an abundance of Scripture with the whole Bible in view. It’s often, as seen in John 3:16 as the eternal life alternative to “perishing” (Gk., apolymmi, ‘being utter destroyed’). The one CONDITION is that one believe to receive and have Jesus Christ’s “eternal life,” making the recipient His eternal life, as He is… they then are immortal from that moment. Grace believers will be freed from their sinful body at their physical death or at the rapture, then receiving their glorious resurrected spirit-body.

Actually, Revelation 14:11 fits well into the Conditional Immortality based upon saving faith required in all ages. This view holds that God will finally and fully bring his enemies to judgement, with absolute destruction and extinction as the result. Let’s now consider the text above in some detail, addressing every seeming objection.

The time period applying in Rev 14:9-10 during and near the end of the literal terrible Tribulation period in which most those alive in world will suffer torment of the judgments and ultimately die as result of these horrific judgments. This is when all men will have to take “the mark of the beast” or alternatively, they will be killed as martyrs for their faith in Jesus Christ. The final 3-1/2-year period of the Tribulation will be a time torment in the individuals of the world. A relatively small remnant of Messianic Kingdom believers will be protected by the Lord to survive and pass into the Millennial Kingdom alive.

We must recognize that the book of Revelation is largely written about literal happening in figurative or symbolic language, mixed with literal language. The word “tormented” here in verse 10 actually refers to the test or trying of one’s soul by the period of terrible Tribulation judgments upon them, not their presence in hell or “the lake of fire” as some suppose. To understand the figure used here we must note that “torment” is from the Greek “bassanadzo,” which is from “basanos” a dark stone used as a “touchstone.” This stone was used in ancient times to test the purity of a pieces of gold or silver to determine its genuineness. It is with the torment of inquisition or the torment of trial of genuineness. Here, Rev. 14 suggest an examination or trial by “the Lamb” to whom all judgment is committed. This trial is conducted in the presence of the holy angels as witnesses. The “fire and brimstone” indicate His judgment, as fire burns and “searches” thoroughly, from which nothing is hidden. Gold is similarly tried by fire.  This seems to agree with 2Thes. 1:9 “Who shall be punished with ‘everlasting destruction’ (banished) from (or due to) The Presence of The Lord…”  “Our God is a consuming fire (Gk. katanalisho, utterly consuming)” (Hebrews 12:29).

So, this judgement is a one-time event at His 2^nd coming (verse 10). This then is the “wheat and tares” judgment of Matt. 13:30, not one that requires the presence of the Lord in hell at their judgment. The words “smoke of their torment” in verse 11 is also figurative to suggest the findings of the trial, like as the smoke of destroyed Babylon (Rev. 19:3). The smoke is said to rise “forever and ever” speaking of the judgment being final and on record for eternity. Lastly, they that worship “the beast and his image” have “no rest” day nor night indicating a definite time period trial rather than an eternity, speaking of the time before their trial by fire rather than after. This seems to be confirmed in 4:13, where those who “die in the Lord rest” from their labors. Their death will be the equivalent of a rest break from the testing in the Tribulation judgments that will plague the wicked right up to its end (Rev. 9:6).