Revelation 14:14–20
14 14:14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 14:15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 14:16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 14:17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 14:18And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 14:19So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 14:20And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.1
1 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters
Section Overview
The visions of chapters 12–14 end with two harvests. John again divides humanity into two groups: those who are saved (Rev. 14:14–16) and those who will be judged (vv. 17–20). The first harvest is the work of the Son of Man, who has a sickle in his hand to harvest the earth (v. 14). An angel instructs him to complete the harvest (v. 15), and he does so and reaps the earth (v. 16). This harvest could refer to judgment, but it more likely refers to salvation. For the second harvest, another angel comes with a sharp sickle (v. 17), and this harvest is definitely one of judgment. Still another angel tells him to gather the vintage from the grape harvest (v. 18). The angel swings his sickle, and the grape harvest is thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath (v. 19). The blood from the winepress is so plentiful that it reaches as high as a horse’s bridle (v. 20).
Section Outline
- VI. Signs in Heaven and on Earth (12:1–14:20) . . .
- G. Two Harvests (14:14–20)
Response
God’s purposes will be realized and his kingdom will come. Those he intends to save will be harvested and brought into the kingdom forever. Those who are wicked and pursue evil will not escape judgment. Final salvation and judgment can seem unreal during our present lives, so John reminds us repeatedly that the last day is coming and summons us to be ready.