Even if Revelations is a book of symbolism, it is hard to make the words — “no rest” a symbol. Unless you want to change the meaning of the words into something we don’t recognize at all.
I confess that if the only description of the fate of the lost was Revelation 20:10, you and I would be in complete agreement - and I would not be a Christian. At least, if I was it would be solely out of fear.
And to be frank, I’ve noticed something about human nature in my 60 years: The more nonsensical a threatened outcome seems to a person, the less seriously they take it. Sometimes it is to their great discomfort - e.g. getting pulled over with a .08 alcohol level on a complete fluke and finding that you lose your job, your wife and your future.
But what I’ve found is that the more “reasonable” the punishment, the more likely a person is to take it seriously. And the thought of people going to eternal, unconscionable torment for the simple decision to not accept a God you may never even have been told about is ludicrous on the face of it to rational human thinking. It means you are attempting to convince someone of an irrational belief - which is difficult.
However, the God of Ecclesiastes that calls man’s fate basically equal to an animal if his only state is that of the natural man, followed by permanent annihilation, it sounds much more logical. More of a “punishment fits the crime” sort of thing. And if those that actively forsake God or fight with His elect end up thrown into a lake of fire and burned to death, never to come back, that sounds reasonable too. Thing is, as a Christian, I have no vindictive motives for even those I’ve seen on the internet that actively spew amazing hate for Christiandom. My wish for them is that they repent. But if they don’t, my wish is that they simply go away, never to return.
What the english bible’s call “eternal punishment” I call “eternal banishment”. But that’s not really the right word. But I have a hard time with “punishment” because I see the purpose of punishment as something finite that happens because of violating rules, followed by a return to a normal condition, hopefully after “learning their lesson”. But for those that die without Christ, there is no going back. The concept of punishment is kinda pointless. They simply need to go away. And once they do, there is no life outside the presence of God.
RE: No rest until they are consumed.
Let’s get back to the verse again...
” torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, “
There is not indication in that verse in Revelations 14 that says UNTIL such and such a time.
It says forever and ever.
RE: And to be frank, I’ve noticed something about human nature in my 60 years: The more nonsensical a threatened outcome seems to a person, the less seriously they take it.
Be careful that you don’t call something nonsensical simply because it doesn’t comport to your preconceived notion of how God views justice.
I am in sympathy to your point of view, but the verses I read IN TOTO do not support the view that the punishment is of limited duration. If any, the tenor of the words push towards the opposite ( as in Revelations 14 and Matthew 25 ).
Also, we do a non-believer any favors by presenting to him a teaching that does not do justice to what God’s word teaches. A doctor’s job is to tell his patient the truth and to tell him the remedy REGARDLESS of whether the patient likes the truth or not.
RE: What the english bible’s call “eternal punishment” I call “eternal banishment”.
Now, if you want to discuss the NATURE of the punishment, we can discuss it in a separate thread. But to say that the words “forever and ever” and torment do not mean what they mean is pushing it. I want to be convinced, but the Bible does not permit me to.