THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH
Revelation 14:14-20
In verses 14-20, we have two visions that portray the final administrations of God in this earth. They are the vision of the harvest of the earth and the vision of the gathering of the grapes of wrath.
I. NOTICE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO VISIONS
A. MANY SEE THEM AS DEPICTING THE SAME THING
B. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE VISIONS IS IN THE PERSONALITIES WHO GATHER THE HARVEST
II. FIRST, THERE IS GOING TO BE A HARVEST OF THE EARTH
A. THIS HARVEST IS CONDUCTED BY NONE OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST
B. THIS HARVEST IS DESCRIBED IN OTHER SCRIPTURES
NOTE: We call it the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. It is recorded in Matthew 13:24-30 where Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds (tares) among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
MATTHEW 13:37-43:
“He answered, ‘The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
- This has a dual application to God’s people
- But, these words of Jesus also refer to the end times
C. EVERY CHILD OF GOD IS COMFORTED BY THIS GREAT TRUTH
III. IT IS THE VISION OF THE GATHERING OF THE GRAPES OF WRATH
A. THIS VISION REFERS TO THE JUDGMENT OF GOD UPON ALL THE UNBELIEVERS WHO ARE ON EARTH AT THIS TIME
B. THIS JUDGMENT IS CARRIED OUT BY ANGELS
John writes: “Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, ‘Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe’” (verses 17-18).
C. THIS JUDGMENT IS DESCRIBED AS GATHERING THE GRAPES FROM THE VINE OF THIS EARTH
NOTE: John describes it like this: “They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.”
D. THIS VISION DESCRIBES THE END RESULT OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON
NOTE: We will study this battle in detail when we get to Chapter 19.
John writes: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With Justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but He himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury (wrath) of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! (Revelation 19:11-16).
THAT IS THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS UNBELIEVING WORLD ON THAT GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF GOD’S JUDGMENT.
CONCLUSION
This judgment is described by the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Writers as THE DAY OF THE LORD!
. Revelation 21:8 says: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
But, God wants people to have life in Christ.
John 3:36 states: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
WILL YOU GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS NOW?
