Revelation 14:17-20 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And 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 So 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 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.
The announcement and commencement of the great harvest continues with an angel who comes from the heavenly temple. The angel from the altar is the messenger from God announcing the time of the harvest is to begin. This is the word for which creation has been waiting: “It is enough. Time to end in order to begin.” The harvest is mentioned in Matthew 9:37-38, Mark 4:29, Luke 10:2, John 4:35-38. Who is harvest is mentioned in Matthew 13:24-30, 40-42: both the wheat (believers) and tares (unbelievers). The blood that flows 1,600 stadia is symbolic of this great battle and harvest.
This passage is not easy nor pleasant to read because of the judgment of God that will fall upon those who reject the Lamb. We must respond in faith and obedience to the gospel in this life. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Judgment is not something we like to think about. The emphasis in preaching today, especially among holiness people, is love. That is important, but the message of judgment is also strong in the Bible and must be taken seriously and even preached. The best way to avoid condemnation is to accept the remedy for our problem now, rather than shake our fists at God in rebellion.
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