Where the Name of the Father is Proclaimed !These pages are for Various Questions that I recieved before 2010, from prior visitors to the original Site.
Many of the Questions and Answers will be recognizable to Disciple/Students that knew this site before the cyber attack that destroyed my PC-mainframe back in 2010.
But for those of you who are new to this site, I am placing them here that you may increase in your Knowledge and Understanding. And also, that all who visit this site, may be able to share these Q's and A's privately with others, or to use within your personal Online Scripture Study Groups.
May YaHuWaH be praised through all of these Studies.
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#1. The Rapture
Ok, so what is the truth concerning the Rapture?
This is a great question, especially since the vast majority of the "Mainstream Christian Congregations" are being led to believe that they are somehow going to escape before all "Hell" breaks loose.
Well now, according to 2 Tim 4:1-5 ; I am going to step right up and declare that the "false priests, pastors, ministers, etc." have been teaching their "Feel Good" false doctrine of the Rapture.
They do this by twisting scriptures just enough*, in order to "scratch and tickle" the ears of their congregations (telling them what they want to hear), and thereby decieving "the Masses".
*The Scriptures; "contain some things that are hard to understand, things which the uninstructed and unstable distort, to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptuers". 2 Pet 3:16b (CJBV)++
++Other Versions: English Standard, American Standard, NIV, NKJV, RSV, NRSV, ISRV
Remember though that I must continue to do that in which I was Ordained and Commissioned to do, according to the Charge set before me (2 Tim 4:2, 5).
Let us now take a Deep Look at what a whole bunch of Scriptures proclaim on this very subject.
First, I open with this Prayer as stated by Our Savior.
Yohanan (John) 17:17 (ISRV)
Father..."Set them apart in your Truth, Your Word is Truth."
Look closely at the following Key Scriptures (from the ISRV).
"Because the Master Himself shall come down from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the chief messenger, and with the trumpet of 'Elohim, and the dead in messiah shall rise first. Then we, the living who are left over, shall be caught away together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air - and so we shall always be with the Master." (1 Thess 4:16-17 [ISRV])
There are specific words and phrases [underlined] that link directly to other Scriptures.
"See, I speak a secret to you: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Cor 15:51-52 [ISRV])
But besides these that were written down by Sha'ul. What did our Master Yahuwshu'a say in Matt, Mark and Luke ?
"All these are the beginnings of birth pains. ... But he who has endured to the end shall be saved. ... And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the sake of the chosen ones those days shall be shortened. ... See, I have forewarned you. So if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe. For as the lightening comes from the east and shines to the west, so also shall the coming of the Son of Adam be. ... And immediately after the distress of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Adam shall appear in the heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Adam coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much esteem. And He shall send His messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matt 24:8, 13, 22, 25-27, 29-31 [ISRV])
Do you see the common links yet ? Here's more !
"And Yahuwshu'a began to say to them, take heed that no one leads you astray, for many will come in my name saying. 'I am he' and they shall lead many astray. ... And you shall be hated by all because of My Name. But he who shall have endured to the end, he shall be saved. ... For in those days there shall be distress, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which 'Elohim created until this time, nor ever shall be. And if the Master had not shortened those days, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen ones, whom He chose, He shortened those days. ... But in those days, after that distress, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers in the heavens shall be shaken. And then they shall see the Son of Adam coming in the clouds with much power and esteem. And then He shall send His messengers, and assemble His chosen ones from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven." (Mark 13:5-6, 13, 19-20, 24-27 [ISRV])
I really like what Luke recorded in his book :
"Then [Yahuwshu'a] said to them, 'Nation shall rise up against nation, and reign against reign. And there shall be earthquakes in various places, and scarcities of food and deadly deseases. And there shall be horrors, and great signs from heaven. ... And there shall be signs in the sun and on the earth anxiety of nations, in bewilderment at the roaring of the sea, and agitation, men fainting from fear and the expectation of what is coming on the earth, for the powers of the heaven shall be shaken. ... And then they shall see the Son of Adam coming in a cloud with power and much esteem. And when these matters begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:10-11, 25-26, 27-28 [ISRV])
The Recurring Factors :
Those who endure till the end !!
Those days were shortened for the sake of the Chosen Ones (the Elect) !!
Then after the distress (Tribulation) of those days !!
Then the sign of the Son of Adam coming !!
No Secret Rapture going on here.
Then He sends His messengers (angels) with the great sound of the Trumpet !!
No Secret Rapture thing going on here either.
Then He gathers up His Chosen Ones (the Elect) !!
"Immediately after the Distress (Tribulation) of those days."
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So, with all of this Scripture evidence, even that which was spoken by Our Master Yahuwshu'a; The "Churches" still continue to propagate the lie that the "Rapture" is before the Great Distress (Tribulation) of these days !!
Even Dani'el said at 12:9-12
"And he said, 'Go, Dani'el, for the words are hidden and sealed till the time of the end. Many will be cleansed and made white, and refined. But the wicked shall do wrong - and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who have insite shall understand. And from the time that which is continual is taken away, and the abomination that lays waste is set up, is one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who is waiting ernestly, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty five days'."
That sure does sound like enduring to the end to me !!
I mean, do the math.
After the 1,290 days; the blessed, chosen, elect, called out ones, are encouraged to endure to the 1,335th day !!
Just like Matt 24:13 and Mark 13:13
Endure to the end !!
Not endure to "Just before" the great tribulation, not even endure to "Half way through"; But endure to the end !!
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Because of the false teaching of the "Churches" concerning the rapture being before the Tribulation, and the multitudes believing their "rapture theory"; expecting some sort of early secret escape, then will be fulfilled what is written at 2 Kepha (Peter) 3:4 ...
"Where is the promise of His coming?"
Then they will say among themselves:
"Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them." (YermeYahu [Jeremiah] 16:19)
~~~
So, since the "Early Secret Rapture" is a lie.
Then what Our Savior YaHuWSHu'A the Messiah spoke [at Matt 24:29-31], was the absolute Truth, when He said...
"And immediately after the distress of those days... then the Son of Adam shall appear... and they shall see the Son of Adam coming on the clouds of heaven... And He shall send His messengers with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His chosen ones..."
But remember, the dead in Messiah shall rise first !!!
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#2. The Dead in Messiah
Now, concerning those who are dead (asleep) in the Messiah.
There are many Scriptural references to the thought and understanding that when a person dies, they enter their rest until the return of YaHuWSHu'A where they will be resurrected from the dead.
In fact it is even another well known practice for Headstones to read "Rest In Peace".
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Dani'el 12:2
Yohanan (John) 11:24-26*
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How does this fit in with with the "Modern" idea that a person immediately goes to Heaven upon their death ?
It Does Not fit in at all with Scripture.
Let's first take a look at the above *verse: "And whosoever liveth and beliveth in me shall never die."
Many "Modern" priests, pastors, ministers, etc. have twisted this into the dogma of "going straight to heaven when you die" !
The correct Hebrew thought is that when one dies in this phyisical, mortal existance, he/she goes into his/her "rest". And therefore being in this state of spiritual sleep, is then awakened at the resurrection of the dead. (1 Thess 4:16)
Let me try to illustrate this in another form:
In this life, after a long day. When a person lays down to sleep. That person wakes up after that sleep, into a new day. This is the Physical condition.
In the Spiritual Condition. After a long life, a person lays down into a state of spiritual sleep (dies), to be awakened at the Resurrection.
This is very much in line with the statement by Martha at verse 24, "at the last day"; which also agrees with what Sha'ul (Saul) stated at 1 Cor 15:52, "at the last trump".
So, now let us get into even greater detail concerning the False Doctrine of the "Immediate Resurrection into Heaven and Eternal Life".
The "Churches" teach or promote the idea that when you die you go straight to heaven to be with the messiah (christ).
I need to ask you, "Is there supposed to be One resurrection of the dead (1 Thess 4:16), or millions of resurrections prior to the return of YaHuWSHu'A ?"
We need to take a real close look at this most fundemental question between "Truth" and Error.
The first thing I need to do, is say that the vast majority of "Churches" all teach the innacurate doctrine (the lie) of immediate placement in heaven upon death.
They base this partly upon what YaHuWSHu'A spoke to the thief at Gulgoleth (Golgotha).
What is not taught to the assemblies/congregations (and thereby forgotten), is that YaHuWSHu'A did not rise and go to heaven on the Day of His Murder; and not even the next day. But till three days later!
Read Yohanan (John) 20:11-17
"... I am not yet ascended to My Father:"
So, there is just No Way that the thief, let alone Our Savior YaHuWSHu'A, to be in Heaven/Paradise, at their death, Three Days prior !!!
But this is just another one of the ways that "Mystery Babylon" and Her Harlot Daughters have "twisted the scriptures" just enough to push their own corrupted doctrines and theology.(2 Pet 3:16b)
In fact, the proper Hebrew understanding of Luke 23:43, is:
"Truely I say unto you this day, you will be with me in paradise." or...
Of a Truth I say to you this moment, or even...
Truely I tell you right now,
The statement made by YaHuWSHu'A was one of immediacy and a sort of urgency for the peace of the hearer, as the day of Passover was fast at an end and their deaths were imminent.
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Since all are agreed that the word of Shaddai 'El is "Truth" (Yohanan 17:17) "Set them apart in your truth - Your word is truth."
And that anything that is contrary to Truth, is therefore Error (2 Kepha [Peter] 2:18-19) "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they entice through the lusts of the flesh,... Promising them freedom, though they themselves are the servants of corruption."
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It is therefore profitable to Study the Scriptures (2 Tim 2:14-15); "Of these things put them in remembrance, earnestly witnessing before the Master, that they strive not about words to no profit... Study to show thyself approved to 'Elohim, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth."
Knowing, that in them, we recieve the knowledge that is contained within all Scripture (2 Tim 3:14-15) "But you, stay in what you have learned and trusted, having known from whom you have learned. And that from a babe you have known the Set-Apart Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for deliverence through beliefe in Messiah YaHuWSHu'A. All Scripture is breathed by 'Elohim, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of 'Elohim might be fitted and equipped unto every good work."
Now, we need to remember that since we have recieved from Our Heavenly Father YaHuWaH, the Set-Apart Spirit; then we are able to discern between the instructions given by the perfect word of 'Elohim, and the false doctrines set forth by men.
"They are of the world, therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them."
But, "We are of 'Elohim - the one knowing 'Elohim hears us. He who is not of 'Elohim does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of the Truth and the spirit of delusion." (Yohanan [John] 4:5-6)
OK !! So the Dead in Messiah rise first (1 Thess 4:13-17)
"Now brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep... For if we believe that YaHuWSHu'A died and rose again, so also 'Elohim will bring with Him those who sleep in YaHuWSHu'A. For this we say to you by the word of the Master, that we, the living who are left over at the coming of the Master, shall in no way go before those who are asleep. Because the Master Himself shall come down from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of 'Elohim, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. Then we who are left over, shall be caught away together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air - and so we shall always be with the Master."
With all of those sounds going on; "A SHOUT", the "Voice of the Chief Messenger", "the Trumpet of 'Elohim"... sure does blow a Big Hole in the balloon of all the "Church" theologians who promote the "secret" rapture thing.
Here is another Great Scripture that ruins their false doctrine of the early removal of the "Church".
1 Cor 15:51-52} "See, I speak a mystery to you: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptable, and we shall be changed."
This all falls in line with several other fine Scriptures that are many times either forgotten or just plain left out and ignored, because it does not fit in with "Their" false doctrine rapture theory.
Here are more Fine and Excellent Scriptures that touch on those descriptions of Our Savior "Coming in the Clouds".
Acts 1:9-11 } "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud recieved Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same YaHuWSHu'A, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven."
Other Supporting Scriptures: Matt 26:64, Mark 14:62
Rev 1:7 } "Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him..."
And here is another very interesting Scripture Fact, that the False Teachers fail to tell their congregations, as it bears the same Chronology as in Matthew 24:30-31 and Mark 13:26-27
I will give some clarification (in parenthesis) as we read:
Revelation 14:14-19a } "And I looked and saw a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like the Son of Adam (YaHuWSHu'A), having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another messenger came out of the Dwelling Place (the temple), crying with a loud voice to the One sitting on the cloud, 'Send in your sickle and reap, because the hour has come for you to reap, because the (wheat) harvest of the earth is ripe'. And the One sitting on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped (of those asleep/dead in Messiah). And another messenger (Gabriel) came out of the Dwelling Place (the Temple) which is in heaven, and he too held a sharp sickle. And another messenger (one of the Sharaphim) came out from the alter, having authority over the fire, and he cried with a loud voice to him having the sharp sickle, saying, 'Send in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine (the Chosen/Elect) of the earth, because her grapes are ripe'. And the messenger thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth." {confirming Scripture Yohanan (John) 15:1-5 ]
A final word that I would like to impart to you is that the Dead in Messiah are at rest/asleep, awaiting the Resurrection, at the Last Trump! To be raised at the Triumphant Return of YaHuWSHu'A the Messiah. (1 Cor 15:51-52)
Besides, I am very glad that Our Heavenly Father YaHuWaH 'El Shaddai, has seen fit for those who are "at rest/asleep", awaiting the resurrection, are not at all aware of the continued difficulties and suffering, etc., of loved ones who are still alive.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 } "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing;..."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
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#3. The Fate of the Wicked, Un-saved, Un-repentant...
Ok, so the question is,"Will Wicked Un-repentant mankind be alive partying in Hell, or Burn forever in the Lake of Fire?
My simple answer...
Neither !!! They will not even come close to lasting that long. After the Last Judgement (Heb 9:27, Rev 20:12-15), their fate will be the "Second Death". This is Final, and Total Annihilation. The Ultimate Separation from Life !
If they have rejected YaHuWSHu'A The Messiah, who stated that He is, "The Way, The Truth and The Life". Then they have rejected "The Life".
What is the opposite of Life... DEATH !
~~~
Now, for My not so simple answer :
First, as usual, I must set up a sure foundation in which to build this answer upon.
So, let us look at several important Scripture references to the fact that, apart from the Father YaHuWaH, and the wilful rejection of His Only Son YaHuWSHu'A, there is No Life !
Mankind was created from the dust of the earth:
"And YaHuWaH 'Elohim formed the man out of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And the man became a living being." { Bereshith [Genesis] 2:7 )
And as a result of sinful disobedience (Bereshith [Genesis] 2:16-17), man was seperated from the sprirtual, and eventually the physical life, that only comes from YaHuWaH.
"By the sweat of your face you are to eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you return." {Bereshith 3:9)
Let's take a closer look at this seperation from YaHuWaH, and the state of spiritual and physical non-existance in death.
"For in death there is no remembrance of You; who gives You thanks in the grave?" {Tehillim [Psalm] 6:5)
"For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything, nor do they have any more reward, for their remembrance is forgotten." {Qoheleth [Ecclesiastes] 9:5)
And what does the Pre-incarnate Son of Shaddai 'El YaHuWaH have to say on the matter:
"But he who sins against me injures himself; All who hate me love death !" {Mishle [Proverbs] 8:36)
Even Mal'aki (Malachi) looks at the final outcome of the wicked:
"'For look, the day shall come, burning like a furnace, and all the proud, and every wrongdoer shall be stubble. And the day that shall come shall burn them up', said YaHuWaH of hosts, 'which leaves them neither root nor branch'." {Mal'aki 4:1)
And our Master YaHuWSHu'A said to His Disiples, that the Devil and his associates can only destroy the "body"(flesh), but that the rejection of YaHuWaH's redemption through the Messiah results in the Total Destruction of the Body and Soul (flesh and spirit) of the individual being.
"And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being and body in Gehenna."{Matt 10:28)
Now let's take a closer look at "Gehenna", known as the Valley of Hinnom. Our Savior YaHuWSHu'A used this (physical) place as a figure/type of the (spiritual) Lake of Fire.
The Physical place of Gehenna was located just to the south of Yarushalayim (Jerusalem), and was used as the city dump.
Everyone brought their garbage and refuse there to be burned; totally, destroyed, turned to ashes and blown away with the dust or carried off with the winter rains, because the area was within the "Torrent Valley" of "Hinnom".
Way back in antiquity, there was a man by the name of "Hinnom", who happened to be a Jebusite property owner. This Hinnom was the owner of the city dump. And the Valley of Hinnom became known as Ge-henna.
So let's take a look at the purpose of this place called Gehenna, that the Messiah used symbolically.
In order to keep the garbage, waste, even dead bodies (these dead bodies were usually cats, dogs, etc., even dead criminals) that were tossed into the fire. In order to keep all of this decomposing corruption and filth from spreading disease, germs, etc.; A fire was kept burning 24/7 in order to "Completely Destroy" all that was tossed into it.
All that was tossed into it, was totally consumed and turned to dust and ashes.
The same will be done to all of unrepentant wicked mankind!!
Let's see how Our Savior used this as an illustration.
Yohanan (John) 15:6
"If anyone does not stay in me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up. And they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."
The last time you threw something into a burning firepit, whether it was a small log, or cardboard, paper, whatever...
How long did it last ?
Not very long !!
A much quicker outcome is in store and waiting for wicked unrepentant mankind.
They do not get to "live" forever, partying in the "Grave" (She'ol) or "Hell" (Haides) or even burning forever in the lake of fire.
Right after the Final Judgement, their further existance is permanently and completely terminated, Eternally!!!
"And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."{Revelation 20:14-15)
Here it is quite plain that if one is not in the "Book of Life", then they get to suffer the second death.
Let me emphasis this a bit...
Destroyed, Consumed, Turned to Dust and Ashes! The Second Death !!
Summation :
The First Death... is that which results in the complete seperation from this Physical Life.
The Second Death... is that which results in the complete seperation from the Spiritual Life.
For the lack of better terms, it is the ultimate state of total non-existance! That's right; Zero, Zilch, Nada, Siyonara, Good-bye, Poof !!!
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Final Note:
The only ones who are Specifically Mentioned as getting to share in the eternal Torment of the "Lake of Fire", are the Beast (the World Government Leader), the False Prophet (the World Religious Leader), and haShatan (Satan, the Devil)!!!{Rev 19:20; 20:10)
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But what about the scripture that reads, "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:"...
((( This needs to be properly read in its entire context. )))
And will now be explained in detail.
Revelation 14:9-11
"And the third messenger followed them, and said with a loud voice,'If any man worship the beast and his image, and recieve his mark in his forehead, or in his hand; The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of 'Elohim, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Set-apart messengers, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name'."
1. "If any man worship the beast..."
2. "and receive his mark..."
3. "will be tormented with fire and brimstone..."
4. "the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever..."
5. "they have no rest day or night..."
6. "who worship the beast..."
7. "whosoever receiveth the mark of his name..."
The above underlined terms are all in the Present Tense:
"Worship", not worshipped
"Receive", not received
and "Receiveth"(aka.Receives).
This must all be kept in mind when it comes to the understanding of Scripture and especially the Book of Revelation.
The Book of Revelation is in a particular layout, both chronologically and in the point of veiwership of the Apostle Yohanan. I will not overwhelm you with un-nessecary scripture as the false pastors, preachers, teachers do.
I shall of-course get right to the point.
The time frame of the above passage (Rev 14:9-11) is during the Great Distress (aka. The Tribulation).
[1].The 144,000 from the tribes of Yisra'el have just been sealed (Rev 14:1-5); [2].The Everlasting Gospel is being preached throughout the world (Rev 14:6-7); [3].Mystery Babylon falls and those who have received its mark are subject to and suffer the earthly/physical Wrath of Shaddai 'El YaHuWaH (Rev 14:8-10); [4].Right in the middle of this chronological timeframe is the severe physical torment that YaHuWaH allows to come upon the Un-repentant masses who have rejected Messiah YaHuWSHu'A (Rev 14:11(more in connection with this verse shown below); [5].The faithful in Messiah YaHuWSHu'A are encouraged to perservere and endure to the end (Rev 14:12-13); [6].Then the dead in Messiah are raised up (Rev 14:14-16); Then those who are still alive and remain are caught up to be with Messiah YaHuWSHu'A, in the presence of their enemies (Rev 14:17-19); [7].And then the wicked, un-repentant masses are totally annihilated (Rev 14:20).
~~~
Now we shall focus on the torment of the Un-repentant/Wicked Masses that are spoken of in the Midst of the Tribulation (Rev 14:11).
This Torment that befalls the wicked is described in some detail in the following corresponding scriptures of the Book of Revelation.
Rev 9:4-6, 10, 17-18, 20-21
Rev 16:1-2, 8-11, 21
Rev 19:2-3
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So, the Torment of the Wicked, Un-repentant Mankind is experienced while still alive on this earth, just Prior to the Return of Our Savior YaHuWSHu'A.(Rev 14:8-11)
Then at His appearing, Wicked/Un-repentant Mankind is annihilated/destroyed and are removed from this physical existance.(Rev 14:20)
And yet the "Smoke" of their Torment will continue to ascend up for ever and ever.(Rev 14:11a; 19:3)