1. Revelation 14:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does “they have no rest” refer to?

Revelation 14:11 (ESV)

11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Those afflicted by this torment perhaps thought that worshiping the beast and receiving its mark (Revelation 13:12–16) would give them relief (and perhaps it did from the temporary pressures of the beast), but in the long run these idolaters will experience no escape from God’s righteous judgment, no rest whether in the light of day or in the dark of night.

The threat of eternal weeping and gnashing teeth on account of unrelenting torment (Matthew 13:42, Matthew 13:50) is a warning to every inhabitant of Earth to repent of any worship of the beast and to fear God.