Revelation 14:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The smoke of torment signifies either the breath that rises from below with weeping from those being tormented, or the smoke from the fire in which the apostates burn.

"The smoke rises unto the ages of ages." From this it is clear that the torments of sinners are endless, as is the blessedness of the righteous.

"And they have no rest day or night." Day and night are mentioned not because the course of the future age will be measured by the sun, and sinners will then have no rest.

Rather, it is either according to the present custom of measuring time by days and nights, or because day signifies the eternal life of the saints, and night the torments of sinners.

These torments will rightly overtake all who formed in themselves the image of the beast by their devilish deeds and blasphemy against Christ, and who wrote the dishonorable name of the beast in their heart.

But someone may say: why do you say that the mercy of God is many times greater in judgment, when the vision has told us that the recompense of those punished is almost eternal?

For why does it say: "And the smoke of their torment will ascend unto the ages of ages, and they will have no rest day or night"?

To such a person one should answer: one can be tormented eternally, yet not according to the measure of the transgression. How so? If someone deserves fire and darkness but is condemned to darkness, he is punished only by having no share in the good things of God.

From this alone he suffers, but he is not also punished sensibly. By the ascending smoke of torment John means the heavy breath that comes from below from sinners, groaning over that from which they have been left outside.

It is said that a lion does not attack a man stretched out on the ground. But this beast is more savage than a lion, for the more he is worshiped, the greater the sufferings he inflicts.

"If anyone," says St. Andrew, "submits to the beast-like antichrist, takes part in his lawless life by word or deed, and proclaims him God, this may signify receiving the mark on the forehead and hand.

Such a one will share with him in drinking the cup of punishments. It is not mixed or diluted with the mercy of God, but mixed with various punishments because evil is manifold and many-shaped."