The Harvest of the Earth (Revelation 14:14-20)

E.P.I.C. Word of Truth

John sees "one like unto the Son of man" sitting on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle (Revelation 14:14). This imagery of “one like unto the Son of Man” signifies the authority of this figure to carry out this harvesting.

Notice verses 15-16, “another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth…” (Revelation 14:15-16).

We see here “one like unto the Son of Man,” at the cry of “another angel” thrusts in his sickle and reaps the harvest of the earth, gathering the faithful to God (Revelation 14:15-16). This harvest represents the righteous being brought into the presence of the Lord.

Mark 13:27 "And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."

In stark contrast, another angel emerges from the temple in Heaven, also holding a sharp sickle. This angel is instructed to gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, representing the wicked, and cast them into "the great winepress of the wrath of God" (Revelation 14:17-19).

The ensuing imagery of blood flowing from the winepress, reaching "unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs" (Revelation 14:20), vividly depicts the severity of God's judgment upon the unrepentant.

May this sobering vision drive us to deeper faithfulness and a greater commitment to the Lord, as we await the day when He will bring His righteous judgment upon the earth. May we be found faithful, proclaiming His gospel and standing firm in our testimony, until that glorious day when we are gathered into His eternal kingdom.