1. Revelation 14:10 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why will this torment happen in the presence of the holy angels?

Revelation 14:10 (ESV)

10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Jesus had said that he would send his angels to gather all lawbreakers from out of his kingdom and throw them into the fiery furnace of eternal agony (Matthew 13:41–42; see further Matthew 13:49–50; Matthew 16:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8). In keeping with this promise from the exalted Saviour, this angel now says that the Lamb and his holy angels (as opposed to the devilish ones!) will play a role in God’s righteous judgment on those who persist in worshipping the beast and refuse to fear God, give him the glory, and worship him.