Revelation 14:14-20
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
After the warnings of worshipping the beast and his image, more angelic messengers are shown to John for us to read and know of God’s judgement in the harvest to come. The Son of Man is seen on a cloud as the one who ascended into before the apostles and will so return (Acts 1:9, Revelation 1:7), and He wears the crown of ultimate authority. But He also has a sharp sickle with a blade ready to reap the harvest of men’s souls as another angel urges for God’s will to be accomplished. This reaping of judgement at this time is ready, for the gospel has been proclaimed and many chances and warnings given to the world. A second angel with another sickle and one with fire begin the harvest at its fullness of time by God’s reckoning of His wrath on sin in judgement to avenge His saints at last (Revelation 6:10). So much blood will result that it will cover almost 200 miles and will be 5 feet deep; the extent of the wrath of God on sin, and of the sheer number of how many will not have repented is staggering and sobering. How essential it is for us to be about our Master’s business of the gospel before hearts are so hardened that irreversible judgement catches up with the lost!
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