Read with Me
Revelation 14:14-20 (HCSB)
Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and One like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. Another angel came out of the sanctuary, crying out in a loud voice to the One who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the sanctuary in heaven. Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from earth’s vineyard, because its grapes have ripened.” So the angel swung his sickle toward earth and gathered the grapes from earth’s vineyard, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.
Listen with Me
After the three visions of Angels in verses 1-12 and the assurance that God has those who die while in him safe in verse 13, John is shown two visions of harvests.
The reaper of the first harvest looks like a human being rather than an angel, and He is shown to John wearing a golden crown and seated on a cloud as if on a throne. This is a clear allusion to the coronation scene in Daniel 7:13, where Jesus is seen returning to heaven after his mission on earth is done.
This first harvest, announced by God through an angel, is the harvest of those who belong to Him. The focus is on those who have suffered under the Great Tribulation, and who are now ready to be rescued, to be received into God’s presence. Jesus is shown as a reaper in this scene because those who are being harvested are those who are saved by faith in Him and in His saving work.
After the first harvest is safely brought in, another harvest is called for. This time the reaper is an avenging angel, and the harvest is of the grapes of God’s wrath. The persecution of God’s people has been so egregious and the leaders of Rome so impervious to God’s conviction of their hearts and so unwilling to repent, that they have filled the cup of His wrath to overflowing. Now God’s wrath will be unleashed on them, and their own blood will be poured out in a great flood, just as they produced a flood from the blood of God’s faithful people.
Pray with Me
Father, there is a lesson here for all of us, not just of comfort that You will avenge Your people in due time, but also the lesson that we cannot rebel against Your will or refuse to repent when You convict our hearts. If we do, the time will come when the harvest of Your wrath is ripe, and we could easily be swept away with all those who are also rebellious and unrepentant. Lord, help me to be instantly responsive, not only to Your commands, but to Your conviction as well. Amen.