The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

REVELATION 14:10KJV
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Revelation 14:10 (KJV)

What does Revelation 14:10 mean?

Revelation 14:10 describes a person facing the full force of God's anger, pictured as drinking undiluted wine from a cup, and being tormented with fire and brimstone in front of holy angels and the Lamb. The verse uses strong imagery to show the seriousness and completeness of this judgment.

In this part of Revelation, John is relaying a warning from an angel to people who worship the beast and its image. The language draws on Old Testament pictures of God's wrath, using the idea of a cup filled with wine to represent punishment that is not lessened or mixed with mercy. The mention of fire and brimstone, along with the presence of angels and the Lamb (Jesus), highlights the public and unmistakable nature of this judgment.

The Greek behind Revelation 14:10

  • "Wine" (οἶνος, oinos): This word refers to literal wine, but here it is a symbol for the outpouring of God's wrath. The image is of wine that is "without mixture," meaning it is not watered down, so the punishment is complete and undiluted.
  • "Wrath" (θυμός, thymos): This word often means intense anger or passion. In this verse, it emphasizes the depth and seriousness of God's response to evil.
  • "Tormented" (βασανισθήσεται, basanisthēsetai): This word means to be subjected to severe distress or suffering. The use here underlines the real and conscious nature of the punishment described.
  • "Brimstone" (θείῳ, theiō): Brimstone is another word for sulfur, which, when burned, produces a suffocating smoke. In the Bible, fire and brimstone are often associated with divine judgment, as in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Why Revelation 14:10 matters

  • The verse clears up the idea that God's judgment can be avoided or softened; the imagery of undiluted wine shows that this is a complete and final response to persistent rebellion.
  • It emphasizes that this punishment is not hidden or private, but happens "in the presence" of holy angels and the Lamb, making it a public act of justice.
  • The verse connects to the larger message of Revelation, where choices about worship and loyalty have serious, lasting consequences, and God's justice is shown to be both certain and righteous.

Where else these words appear

“out” Greek G2767 · used in 2 verses

  • Revelation 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

“brimstone” Greek G2303 · used in 7 verses

  • Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
  • Revelation 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
  • Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

“tormented” Greek G928 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
  • Mark 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
  • Revelation 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

“wrath” Greek G2372 · used in 18 verses

  • Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
  • Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
  • Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.