Preview of Armageddon

Rev. 14:14-20

Introduction:  With the prospect of war on the horizon these days, probably most of us have wondered if we are going to move into WWIII or Armageddon.  There are Christians worrying the earth might be destroyed by a world war.  The Bible guarantees us that the world is going to be around for another 1007 years.  There will be seven years of Tribulation Period and 1000 millennial reign of Christ. 

This passage brings us to preview the war of Armageddon.  The Lord taught us that the wheat and the tares in the beginning stages look too much alike to separate.  Satan’s weeds are so much like the wheat that only God can reveal the difference in the harvest.  The harvest is not ready and it is evident which is the difference.

Jesus also taught us that in the end there will be a harvest and here what this will look like.

The good seed and the bad seed are exposed by their fruits, and the time has come to separate the two.  The tares are bundled and burned while the wheat is gathered into the barn. 

I. The wheat harvest vv. 14-16

A. The Reaper v. 14

1.  This obviously is the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The white cloud refers to the shekinah glory of God

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”    Matthew 24:30

3.  He was the Sower in Matthew 13 and now He is the reaper in Revelation.

4. He comes with a golden crown which refers to His royalty as the coming King.  Jesus is the only One who is authorized positionally to wear the crown.

5. Sickle points to His judgment when He comes-He knows what the harvest is and what to reap.

6. He is the focal point of Revelation.

B. The ripeness vv. 15-16

1.  The angel bears a message from God to accomplish His plan.

2. The tare symbolizes that which is sown by the evil one.

3. According to Matthew 13:40-42 the harvest is the end of the age which will include two stages:

a.  Weeds will be bundled.

b. Weeds will be burned.

4.  Notice that only God knows the difference.

II. The grape harvest vv. 17-20

A. The fact vv. 17-18

1.  The temple in heaven refers to Isaiah 6:1ff

2. There are three types of vines in the Bible

a.  Israel’s was God’s vine, planted on earth to bear fruit for God’s glory.

b. Christ is the Vine and we are His branches to bear fruit for Him John 15

c. Vine of the earth refers to the world’s system which captivates the minds of the people in the Tribulation Period will be destroyed.

3.  According to Joel 3:13 “this grape harvest is a picture of Christ’s judgment on the world during the Tribulation Period

“Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: Come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; For their wickedness is great.”   Joel 3:14

4.  The picture is that of the harvesters of grapes who would gather barefooted the grapes-the juice would squirt on them and get on their clothes, feet, etc.

5. The grapes are fully ripened ready for the judgement and He who shed His blood will now shed blood in judgment.

B. The fullness vv. 19-20

1.  Now the war not the battle will be terrible in the valley of Jehoshaphat-from Dan to Beersheba-200 miles-Jezreel Valley-Armageddon takes place there

2. It will be filled with human blood four feet deep of God’s judgment on His foes.

3. This will be complete destruction-slaughter beyond anything the world has ever known.

4. Just as the grape harvest was messy so will be Armageddon.

5. The harvest of sin is reaped and the vine of the earth is cut down and cast into the winepress.

6. This campaign begins about the middle of the Tribulation Period and concludes with the return of Christ in His Second Coming. 

Conclusion:  God will come to sift out the wheat from the tares.  He is the only One who knows the difference because He sees into the heart of man.  He knows what is on the inside of every man’s heart.  What is on the inside of your heart?  Is it joy of the Lord and the peace of God, or is it worldliness, lusts, and unconfessed sin.  This is why God wants us to keep our hearts right with God.