The Day of Harvest

INTRODUCTION

Today we are jumping back into the book of Revelation - the final book of the Bible and one of the most interesting, and encouraging. It’s the only book with an attached blessing for those who read it, speak it and apply it to their lives.

So we are unapologetic in our motivation for this journey. I want God to bless our church! I want you to walk in the blessing of God for your life. But that blessing is attached to hearing and obeying his Word.

The book of Revelation is “apocalyptic literature.” That means it uses highly figurative and often symbolic language to convey important truths.

Some assume since the language is apocalyptic that means the truth conveyed in somehow only metaphorical or spiritual in nature.

That’s not how we’ve been interpreting the book. Our approach is that the events described in the book of Revelation will be real events that happen in human history at some point in the future.

Review of Revelation

I’ve encouraged you to think of the book of Revelation as four sets of seven.

In Revelation 2-3 there are seven letters to seven different churches.

In Revelation 6 there are seven seal judgments that correspond to seven disasters that take place on the earth. (four horsemen are unleashed - the fourth containing authority to kill 1/4th of those living on the earth)

In Revelation 8-9 there are seven trumpet judgments that correspond to God’s judgment on all those who live on the earth. (1/3 of the earth, the fresh/salt water, living creatures/people on the earth are destroyed)

Finally in Revelation 15-16 there are seven bowl judgments that correspond to God’s final act of judgment on those live on the earth. (this time not fractional judgment. It’s sweeping & total!)

This morning, we find ourselves on the precipice of those bowl judgments. So I’m titling this series “the Day of the Lord.” It’s the final judgment of God on those who live on the earth.

Interludes

On either side of these three sets of seven judgments are breaks or interludes. They further extrapolate the events of the seals, trumpets and bowls but from a different perspective (often a heavenly perspective).

In Revelation 7 God marks 144,000 people from the 12 tribes of Israel followed by an innumerable multitude from every nation on the earth.

In Revelation 10-11 John has an angelic vision (of Christ) followed by a vision of two witnessess who prophecy against the antichrist.

That vision is followed by an extended parenthesis from Revelation 12 all the way to Revelation 14.

Revelation 12 depicts the universal and historical battle between God & his people and Satan & his resistance.

Revelation 13 depicts this battle from an earthly perspective (Satan’s rage against the church through the antichrist and the false prophet)

Revelation 14 depicts this battle from a heavenly perspective (warning of God’s coming judgment on those who reject him and persecute his people).

Context to the Text

Today’s text is sandwiched between God’s promise of judgment (end of 14) and the execution of that judgment through the seven bowls of wrath (all of 15-16).

It’s been over a month since we last looked at Revelation 14 so you may not remember the context.

Revelation 14 opens with a picture of God’s people being sealed and protected, standing with Jesus on Mount Zion (heavenly or earthly we weren’t for sure.)

That picture of protection was followed by three angelic pronouncements to all of those who lived on the earth. I presented them as the three responses people must make upon hearing the Gospel.

Those who trust in Jesus and persevere to the end are bestowed a blessing in Revelation 14:13

Revelation 14:13 (CSB)

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”

That promised blessing is followed by a description of two harvests. Those two harvests are what we’re looking at today in Revelation 14:14-20

Revelation 14:14–20 (CSB)

14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the temple in heaven. 18 Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.

Harvest Of Mercy

Living in West Texas we know all about harvesting season. We may even have people in this room who harvest wheat or harvest a cotton crop every year.

Harvesting season is typically a time of great joy because it gives the farmer the reward of his patience endurance and diligent effort.

This passage contains TWO harvests. Some see them as two harvests of God’s judgment but I see it differently.

Why Two Harvests?

In ancient times, particularly in Israel, there were two main harvests.

The harvest of grain (i.e. barley, wheat, lintels, etc) generally happened during the spring (March/April/May).

The harvest of grapes (figs, pomegranates, etc) generally happened in the summer (June/July/August).

This passage also presents us with two harvests. You might think of this first one as a grain harvest and the second as a grape harvest.

The first a harvest to display God’s mercy and the second a harvest to display God’s wrath.

Now I must say that this view I have is a minority view. But the more I’ve thought about this passage in relation to its context the more convinced I become that John is presenting two DIFFERENT harvests in this text.

Different Harvester

I want to give you some reasons why I think these harvests are different.

First, the different description of the harvester.

In the first harvest Jesus himself throws his sickle out across the earth and reaps the harvest. The second harvest isn’t done by Jesus himself, it’s carried out by an angel. There’s not much debate that Jesus is the one being described in verse 14.

The second noteworthy thing about the harvester is that Jesus is seated not standing. He’s seated on a cloud (where as in Revelation 19 he’s riding on a horse). We know when Jesus comes in judgment that he will come with the clouds but the fact that he’s seated here suggests to me its a different harvest.

The third noteworthy thing about the harvester is the type of crown that he is wearing. Here in verse 14 the Greek word for crown that is used is the word “stephanos” or “a golden victors crown.” (in Revelation 19 Jesus is wearing the the diadema, kingly crown)

Typically the stephanos is correlated with endurance and conquest whereas the diadema is associated with power and authority.

Difference in Harvests

The second reason I think these are two different harvests is because of the description of the harvests.

The word used in Revelation 14:15 to describe the ripeness of the of the first harvest is the Greek word “xeraino” whereas the word used in the second harvest is “akmazo.”

The first carries the idea of being “dried up” and can be used to convey the idea of something being ripe. The second carries more of the idea of “being at it’s prime” meaning it’s the perfect time to pick the fruit.

While it could be John uses different words to convey the different images of a grain harvest versus a fruit harvest I think something else might be going on. Because they are different verb tenses as well.

I think the idea of the first is that is we don’t harvest now then the produce is going to go bad. It’s getting OVER ripe.

I believe what John is saying of this first harvest is that it’s a harvest of God’s mercy.

Remember, these 144,000 have been obedient to the Lamb, following him wherever he leads.

Part of that I believe is their preaching of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. (just like we see in Matthew 24)

As the Gospel is being preached people are being saved but here comes the angel from the temple saying the time is running out.

God’s offer of grace is drying up and running out because the wickedness of this world is perfectly ripe for the pouring out of his wrath. So choose! Choose salvation quickly before the wrath comes!

Finally the harvesting of the first harvest just ends with a simple statement “the earth was harvested.” Whereas in verse 19 the harvesting done by the angel is thrown into the great winepress of God’s wrath. The first harvest was merely harvested. The second was harvested and then trampled. Those seem like two different harvests to me.

Which Harvest Will You Be In?

Which harvest describes you? Will you be in the harvest of wheat that hears the Gospel and responds with repentance and faith? Or will you be the harvest of grapes that hears the Gospel and responds with hardness of heart and rebellion against God?

Will you experience God’s mercy or are you a vessel being prepared for God’s wrath?

The answer to that question is determined by your response to the Gospel.

Jesus describes this dynamic in the Gospels. In Matthew 13 he gives the parable of the sower and the parable of the wheat and the tares.

Matthew 13:37–43 (CSB)

37 He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.

A Word to Unbelievers

The idea in both is that some people hear the Gospel and respond with repentance and faith. Others hear the Gospel and respond with rebellion and rejection.

God is patient in allowing both types to grow. But his patience has a limit. There will come a time when the weeds are so bad that they choke out the production of the wheat.

And when the day of harvest comes - whichever of those two you are - you will be forever.

Do not mistake God’s patience in judgement for his indifference towards sin.

Judgment will come! Will you be ready?

Illustration: Think of God’s patience as a creditors forbearance of a loan. The fact that you don’t have to repay the loan right now doesn’t mean the debt is forgiven.

One day the days of patience will be over and the debt will be paid. Will you pay that sin debt yourself or will you respond to God’s offer of grace to pay that debt through your faith in Jesus Christ?

A Word to Believers

For those of us who are Christians this is a reminder to be faithful in preaching the Gospel because the days are short. There may not be much more time before the end is here.

As Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 9:37-38 “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.””

The reality of God’s coming judgment should force us to a posture of humble zeal for evangelism. We are God’s chosen means of making known his offer of mercy. How will they know and respond if they never hear?

We must be willing to open our mouths - even though it may cost us our very lives - because faith only comes by hearing. And hearing by the Word of Christ. The reality of the coming harvests should motivate us to be faithful in missions and evangelism.

The Harvest of God’s Wrath

That leads me to the second harvest of this passage and that’s the harvest of God’s wrath.

This harvest will bring death rather than life and destruction rather than salvation.

Let’s read it again in Revelation 14:17-20

Revelation 14:17–20 (CSB)

17 Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the temple in heaven. 18 Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.

The Characters

This harvest of wrath falls on those who follow the beast. Their allegiance is to the unholy trinity of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet.

Notice this judgment is carried out by two angels who come from God’s temple in heaven.

The fact that they come from the heavenly temple means they’re not carrying out their will or acting on their own. They are commissioned to execute judgment by the Father.

The angel with the sharp sickle is instructed by an angel with “authority over fire” who “came from the altar.”

We’ve seen this altar before. In fact, every time we see this alar in the book of Revelation it is associated with the prayers of the saints for justice upon those who have shed their blood. (Rev 5:8, 6:9-10; 8:4-5)

The fact that this angel has authority over fire symbolizes that he has been given the authority by God to unleash God’s judgment. Fire is always a symbol of judgment in the Scripture.

The mention of the altar suggests that this judgment being unleashed is in answer to the prayers being prayed by the saints.

God is answering the prayers of his people for justice to be served!

It’s a fulfillment of Joel 3:13

Joel 3:13 (CSB)

13 Swing the sickle

because the harvest is ripe.

Come and trample the grapes

because the winepress is full;

the wine vats overflow

because the wickedness of the nations is extreme.

All of this imagery is seen by John in anticipation of the events themselves. Those events will be described in detail in Revelation 15-16 with the bowls of wrath.

Trampling Grapes

What are we to make of the language of “trampling grapes” and it being done “outside the city” and the blood of the people flowing up to a horses bridle and for 180 miles?

Let’s start with the trampling of the grapes.

ILLUSTRATION: It’s gross to think about now but the way they made wine back then was by putting lots of plump juicy grapes in a vat and then barefoot bill and betty would go around stomping on those grapes while the juice would flow out of the vat into the caskets for fermentation.

John is suggesting that during the end of days it won’t be grapes that are trampled but PEOPLE! Not just any people, but wicked people.

The trampling of grapes = the death of the wicked.

John says the blood of the wicked flows up to a horses bridle and for 180 miles. Other translations translate Revelation 14:20 as 1,600 stadia (lit translation.)

That detail is symbolically important. The number 1,600 is four times four times 10 times 10. (4 squared and 10 squared)

We’ve already seen the number 4 used to represent the entirety of the earth. That multiplied by 100 seems to indicate a sweeping judgment on every wicked person who lives on the earth.

Outside the City

The second question is “where is this city” and why does the trampling happen “outside the city.”

Some assume the city is “mystery babylon” which we will meet later on in Revelation 17. I don’t think that’s the case.

The city I think is a reference to God’s “holy city” which is the city of Jerusalem.

Zech 14:1-4 says Jesus during the battle of Armageddon Jesus will stand on the mount of olives and split that mountain in two to create a vast valley outside the city.

Whether it’s a reference to the literal Jerusalem (as seen by the preterists and most futurists) or some figurative new Jerusalem is debated.

Some take it more figuratively. God’s holy city is the place where God’s holy people dwell and so the fact that this trampling is OUTSIDE the holy city means that God’s people will not experience the wrath.

The OT passages John is pulling from suggests a literal location outside the literal city of Jerusalem! (Joel 3: 2, 12, 14, Zech 14:1-4)

The point is, that day the entire earth will face a Valley of Decision. A day of choosing that separates those who belong to the Lord from those who do not.

Jesus Suffered Wrath For Us

It’s also an allusion to the fact that Jesus was crucified “outside the city. ” He was trampled by the wrath of God during his crucifixion by the Romans. They crucified Jesus “outside the city” as a way to highlight His shame and reproach.

But Jesus wasn’t carrying HIS shame, but ours. It wasn’t HIS reproach it was ours. Jesus suffered “on the cross for the wicked outside the city!” (Heb 13:12; Jn 19:20)

The description of this judgment is horrific. Whether literal (which I take it that way) or symbolic, the actual judgment itself is unimaginable. But that’s exactly the kind of hell that Jesus went through on cross FOR US.

He suffered OUTSIDE the city so that through repentance and faith we could be brought INTO the new Jerusalem, safe from condemnation and secure in the love of God. But to receive that grace we must come to him outside the city no matter the cost.

A Two-Fold Message

So Revelation 14 has a two fold message. For the people of God it’s an encouragement to endure. For those who are not it’s a warning of coming judgment.

It encourages the people of God to persevere in their obedience to God’s commands and their faith in Jesus Christ. They hear the promise that one day they will stand purified and glorified in the presence of their God, God’s firstfruits of the harvest.

Revelation 14 is a warning to those who follow the Beast. Judgment is coming. Justice WILL BE served. Eternal torment awaits those who reject the Gospel and persist in their sinful rebellion against God.

Which message do you need to heed?

A message of encouragement? Of faithful endurance and sacrificial obedience no matter the cost?

Or a message of warning? Of inescapable judgment and eternal torment if you refuse to repent. I don’t apologize for letting God’s Word be clear.

CONCLUSION

As we bring today’s message to a close I want to present you with three points of application.

You could put each one under a different heading.

First, the reality of the harvests ought to inspire greater FAITH in our Savior.

Jesus first came to wear a crown of thorns. He suffered and died so that you could be forgiven. You can escape the hell of the coming judgment but only if you repent and put your faith in Jesus.

Don’t mistake God’s patience in judgment for his indifference towards your sin. Why would you delay? Don’t wait another day. Today is the day of salvation! The time is running out. What if today was the day of judgment? Would you be ready to face your king?

This is also true for Christians. If God the Father were to unleash Jesus to come and get us today would you be ready?

Are there any areas of compromise in your life that would bring shame upon the second coming of Jesus? Why would you continue to live in that sin with the reality of what’s coming.

You don’t have to look hard to see that the wickedness in our world is bad bad and getting worse. There’s plenty of reason to believe that our generation is the generation that sees the rise of the antichrist and the return of the king.

Don’t be caught off guard. Walk by Faith! Hope in God.

Zeal For Evangelism

The second point of application is this. The reality of the harvests ought to inspire greater LOVE for the lost.

When unsaved people hear of God’s coming judgment, for many, they just get angrier and more hard hearted. For Christians it should have the OPPOSITE effect.

If you ARE a Christian - how can we not be zealous for missions and evangelism if this future is inevitable? How can we sit complacent and comfortable knowing that one day everybody outside of faith in Jesus Christ will suffer eternal torment?

Our lack of evangelism is not the reason they will suffer eternally in a place called hell. They will suffer eternally for THEIR sin. But our lack of evangelism may be the reason they never have an opportunity to respond to God’s gift of salvation.

Their sin is on them. But our sin is on US.

Let the reality of hell create within you a zeal and commitment to missions and evangelism.

Hope For the Future

Finally, the reality of the harvest ought to inspire hope for the future. A hope that motivates patient endurance no matter how hard things get.

The reality of hell is a heart breaking idea. But it’s also a comforting idea. It means that our God is a God of justice. There are certain injustices in this world that MUST BE MADE RIGHT for things to be right.

You’ve heard the saying, “all is well that ends well.”

It’s a comfort to know that vengeance belongs to the Lord and he will see that justice is served.

Even our own sin and acts of injustice will be atoned for. Atonement will either made made for us by Jesus and his death on the cross. Or atonement will be made through the eternal punishment of sin in a place called hell.

That means when we are mistreated, used and abused we don’t have to feel helpless. We can entrust ourselves to the God who judges justly.

We don’t have to compromise ourselves or our integrity to try and ensure justice through some other means. We can hope in God and fix our eyes on that future whereby he makes all things good.