That is why the images are shown in such a drastic way, to warn us.
9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 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. 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.”
12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
The lake of fire is the symbol of the second death. This is eternal death without resurrection, as we read in Revelation 20:14.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
After the period of grace has expired, that is, after the 42 months, the harvest of the earth is described in chapter 14:18-20.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.
In chapter 15, seven angels are each given a bowl of wrath, which are poured out in chapter 16. Chapter 16:1
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
1st bowl: sores on people who have the mark2nd bowl: on the sea, and it turned to blood
3rd bowl: on rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood
5th bowl: on the throne of the beast, his kingdom became dark
6th bowl: on the Euphrates and it dried up.
7th bowl: into the air, it is done.
The climax is the war in Armageddon. We read from Revelation chapter 16, verses 13 to 16.
13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
The assembled armies will fight alongside Jesus Christ and his faithful followers. We read this in Revelation chapter 19:11-14.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[2] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
No human being will remain in this battle. The earth will be completely cleansed of all humans. For it is written in Revelation
21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
These drastic warnings are described in very brutal terms. Today, in 2025, we still have the opportunity to reconcile ourselves with God.
