The smoke that rises up “FOR EVER AND EVER”. (Rev 14:11; 19:3)

Dear in Christ,

Those who believe in eternal conscious torment (ECT) frequently refer to passages like Rev 14:11; 19:3 to prove their point. And, all that those who reject ECT do is to try to claim that the Greek words translated as “for ever and ever” really means “age during” or “age while”. This is absolute nonsense as the same Greek phrase as the one used in Rev 14:11; 19:3 is also used in Rev 4:9, 10; 10:6; 15:7 to say that God lives for ever and ever. God cannot be living for “age during” or “age while”.

Rev 19:3: (KJV) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up [G1519] for ever[G165] and ever[G165].
Rev 19:3: (GNT_BYZ) και δευτερον ειρηκεν αλληλουια και ο καπνος αυτης αναβαινει εις[G1519] [PREP] τους αιωνας[G165] [N-APM] των αιωνων[G165] [N-GPM]

Compare the highlighted Greek text above with this one:

Rev 4:9: (KJV) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth [G1519] for ever and ever[G165],
Rev 4:9: (GNT_BYZ) και οταν δωσιν τα ζωα δοξαν και τιμην και ευχαριστιαν τω καθημενω επι του θρονου τω ζωντι εις[G1519] [PREP] τους αιωνας[G165] [N-APM] των αιωνων[G165] [N-GPM]

There’s nothing - syntactically or semantically - to prove that the smoke won’t rise up for ever and ever. But, contextually, yes, there are ways to prove that this is not talking about eternal torment.
 
If you have studied the 14ᵗʰ and 19ᵗʰ chapters of Revelation, you wouldn’t have missed out on how those chapters draw heavily from the 34ᵗʰ and 63ʳᵈ chapters of Isaiah, both being chapters about the destruction of Edom (Isa 34 is the prophecy, Isa 65 is the fulfillment).

The theme of treading the winepress of God's wrath (Rev 14:17-20 and Rev 19:15) are from Isa 63:1-6. The imagery of the vesture of the one on the white horse being dipped in blood (Rev 19:13) is drawn from Isa 63:1-3.

Knowing that Rev 14ᵗʰ and 19ᵗʰ chapters draw heavily from Isaiah's narratives about Edom, doesn't it make more sense to look for the interpretation of “smoke rising up” (Rev 14:11; 19:3) in Isaiah 34 and 63?

Isa 34:10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; THE SMOKE THEREOF SHALL GO UP FOR EVER: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

Malachi 1:3 makes it plain that Edom, the land of Esau, was LAID WASTE (past tense) by the time the scripture was written.

Mal 1:3 And I hated ESAU, AND LAID HIS MOUNTAINS AND HIS HERITAGE WASTE for the dragons of the wilderness.

Isaiah 63 also narrates the fulfillment of the prophecies against Edom / Bozrah / Seir (found in Isaiah 34, Jeremiah 49:7-22, Ezekiel 25:12-14 and 35:1-15, and Obadiah).
 
Historically, Edom was laid waste by Babylonians and Nabateans ravaging them, several times during 200-600BC.

If the smoke of Edom has to go up for ever (Isa 34:10), literally, we should be able to see it happening in Bozrah, in Tafilah Governorate, Jordan or Mount Seir (the region stretching between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba). But, that's not the case. Apart from the chimneys of residences or factories, we won't get to see any smoke that goes up for ever.

What could “smoke going up for ever” mean?

If we learn anything from the example of Edom, it means: complete desolation of the land and the scattering abroad of the people thereof.

In Christ,

Tomsan Kattackal

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PS: If you want to claim that Edomites are Arabs, all that I can suggest you is to study the scriptures.