The Reaping Begins

Revelation 14:9-20

Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.  And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”  So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.  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.”  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.  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 (about 200 miles).

Three things to take away from Revelation 14.  John’s vision tells us that 1) Eternal fire and sulfur will come upon those who take the mark; 2) Those who kept a faith in the Lord will finally receive their reward; 3) Jesus, coming on a cloud, will bring death to those who remain on the earth, having not recognized God’s omniscience and grace.  

Fire and brimstone preachers for 100’s of years have preached eternal damnation, fire, and endless torment for those who do not believe and follow Jesus Christ.  Today, many would say that was wrong, that these preachers were too judgmental, too condemning,  and pushing people away from the church.  But, in reality, shouldn’t we be telling them the truth?

We are not following Jesus Christ just to avoid Hell, but it is one of the facts we mustn’t avoid discussing.  We follow Jesus Christ because we love God and want to spend eternity with Him.  We follow the good and turn from the evil.  There is a hope in this life that is greater than the evil.  It comes from something greater than what we see before us in this world.  Let us not forget that Satan has been given rule over this world for a time, but that time is finite.  Our hope is our Creator, the One who is in control of all things, even the authority given to Satan..  

God is our eternal hope; Hell is separation from God for eternity.  It’s black and white.  In verse 14, a voice from heaven tells John to write that those who die in the faith will receive the reward of rest in the Lord, and that He sees their deeds and labor.  We are seen by the Almighty.  Our deeds, good and bad, are known, for He is omniscient and sovereign over all things.  It is so critical for each of us to take this as a calling to share with our loved ones and friends, so they may also celebrate in this hope.

Jesus and His angels will bring judgment on the earth, on all of those who have defied God throughout the tribulation.  Despite receiving multiple signs and warnings, they continued to turn from Him.  This refusal will set their eternal destiny, and as much as it hurts, it is a decision they have made through their own free will.  God does not intend that any are lost, but mankind has free will to deny this love.  God doesn’t send anyone to Hell; they choose to be apart from Him, and He will oblige them. 

This reaping will be so great as to create a flowing river of blood for 200 miles (or so) at 5-6 feet deep.  I picture I-45 from Houston to Dallas as a river of blood from those Jesus and the angels will reap with the sickle.  The average person contains approximately 1.3 gallons of blood.  One could imagine that it would be greater than 150 million people to create a river of blood for 200 miles.  We must be diligent in our prayers for those whom we know are not saved.  This reaping will take place, and I, for one, do not want any of my friends or family included.  The days are short, and the harvest is plenty.  We must be busy doing the Lord’s work.