19:3a

a second time they called out: The Greek clause is literally “they said a second time.” It indicates they spoke more. It does not mean that they repeated exactly what they said earlier.

called out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called out is literally “said.” Translate this word as you did in 19:1.

19:3b

Her smoke rises: This phrase refers to evidence of the punishment that was given to Babylon. The beast and the ten kings will burn the city named Babylon (17:16) but God’s punishment lasts forever. The Greek grammar and the Berean Standard Bible have the focus on the smoke. The focus is not on who burned her here. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

her smoke (New Century Version)
-or-
the smoke from her ⌊punishment⌋

forever and ever: The Greek phrase is literally “into the ages of the ages.” The word “age” refers to a very long time. So the phrase “the ages of the ages” refers to eternity. For example:

for timeless ages (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

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