A Study on Revelation Chapter 14: Part 6 – Thrust in thy sickle, and reap
In this study I will discuss the remaining 7 verses of Revelation chapter 14 that deal with the reaping of the Earth on the Last Day.
Rev 14:14-15 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with aloud voice to him that sat on the cloud,"Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
The reaping of the Earth occurs on the Last Day, Judgment Day; but before I discuss the reaping of the Earth, I would first like to discuss the rescue of the all the Christians who have attained Salvation. First of all, I agree with all those who teach there will be 2 rescues of the true believers. The first rescue being the Rapture of the firstfruits harvest, which is described in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:38-44 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this: that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
The passage above clearly indicates that the coming of the Son of man will occur very unexpectedly; when people are living normal lifestyles as they are eating and drinking, and celebrating normal life events. Then, at an hour when people least expect, Christ will come and Rapture certain people out of the world, as one is taken, and the other is left. The flood that comes to take everyone away is the final tribulation period when the 7 angels begin to sound the 7 trumpets of Revelation chapters 8 and 9. Then there is the second rescue, which will occur with the resurrection of the Last Day.
John 6:39 This is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all He has given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
It is very clear that at the coming of the Son of man will occur unexpectedly at a time when people least expect. It will transpire in a split second, as the flash of lightning that flashes from East to the West, and living people will be removed from the world; this will be the first rescue of the firstfruits harvest.
Luke 7:34-37 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding [at the mill] together: theone will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left. And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So he said to them, "Whersoever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
Matthew 24:26-28 Therefore if they say to you: look, he is in the desert! do not go out, or: look, he is in the inner rooms! do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The rescue of the firstfruits harvest of believers is a completely different and separate even from the rescue of the main harvest of believers on Last Day. Those that are rescued with the firstfruits harvest will be as eagles gathered together wheresoever the body is; whereas the second rescue of the main harvest of believers will occur at the resurrection of the Last Day. This event is described in Rev 11 when God's witnesses are killed by the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit, and then resurrected three and a half days later. In Rev 9 we read that an angel that falls from heaven will open the bottomless pit (only fallen angels fall from heaven and angels are often describes as stars).
Rev 9:1-2 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit...
Rev 11:7 And when they [God's witnesses] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Some people teach that the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit are demons, others teach they will be Nephilim, while others teach they will be genetically engineered transhuman cyborgs; I do not know for sure, and the Bible does not tell us; but this beast will assist in the complete eradication of Christianity and the beheading and execution of all the Christians of the world.
Rev 13:-15 And he [the Antichrist] had power to give life unto the image of the beast; that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
I don't believe that the 2 witnesses literally represent 2 people, but that they represent all the tribulation saints who had been left behind after the first rescue of believers, and they had been evangelizing the world as witnesses of the gospel of Christ's salvation. They will all either die of natural causes such as cataclysmic events, war, or disease, or be killed because they did not worship the image of the beast, which the beast will mandate.
Rev 11:8-10 And their [God's witnesses] dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And all they of the people, and tribes, and tongues, and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put into graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth.
God's witnesses tormented the unsaved because they were witnesses of God's plan to destroy them all in a lake of fire, and after the beast from the bottomless pit kills them, the world will greatly rejoice over it. They will believe that they have not only defeated Christianity, but will also believe they have inherited the Earth as victors of the war against Christianity. However, after a period of three and a half days, all the tribulation saints will be resurrected from the dead, and ascend up to heaven in a cloud; this is the second rescue, and is referred to as the resurrection of the Last Day.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, “Come up hither.” And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
When the tribulation saints are resurrected from the dead, they will ascend into heaven to join Christ and the 144,000 firstfruits saints. This second and final rescue of all the true believers that Christ has purposed to save, will mark the end of God’s Salvation plan for mankind, and it is now Judgement Day, the Last Day, the day when the Lord Jesus will thrust in his sharp sickle, and reap the world.
Rev 14:14-25 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with aloud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
This is also the Day of Judgment for Satan and all the fallen angels who were reserved for the judgment of the Last Day.
John 12:48 He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him: the word that I have spoken will judge him in the Last Day.
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more,things that pertain to this life?
2 Peter 2:4 For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for Judgment.
Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their original estate, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, for the Judgment of the Great Day.
And now it is that Great Day of Almighty God, and the Lord Jesus and his angels will thrust in their sickles, and reap the Earth.
Rev 14:16-20 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped . And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The book of Joel also has a description of this event.
Joel 3:12-16 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the winepress is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Another description of this event is also found in Revelation chapter 19.
Rev 19:11-21 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The winepress represents the fierceness of the wrath of God, and this is the day when God will cast the beast and the Antichrist into the lake of fire.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that performed miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
All the unsaved will be destroyed by fire, and the cosmos as we know it will also pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat
2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
After Christ and his angels destroy death, and hell, and Satan’s kingdoms by fire, God will create a new and heaven and a new Earth for all the true believers, the Sons of God, to live in for all of eternity.
Rev 21:1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new Earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; andthere shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Rev 14:14-15 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with aloud voice to him that sat on the cloud,"Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
The reaping of the Earth occurs on the Last Day, Judgment Day; but before I discuss the reaping of the Earth, I would first like to discuss the rescue of the all the Christians who have attained Salvation. First of all, I agree with all those who teach there will be 2 rescues of the true believers. The first rescue being the Rapture of the firstfruits harvest, which is described in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:38-44 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this: that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
The passage above clearly indicates that the coming of the Son of man will occur very unexpectedly; when people are living normal lifestyles as they are eating and drinking, and celebrating normal life events. Then, at an hour when people least expect, Christ will come and Rapture certain people out of the world, as one is taken, and the other is left. The flood that comes to take everyone away is the final tribulation period when the 7 angels begin to sound the 7 trumpets of Revelation chapters 8 and 9. Then there is the second rescue, which will occur with the resurrection of the Last Day.
John 6:39 This is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all He has given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
It is very clear that at the coming of the Son of man will occur unexpectedly at a time when people least expect. It will transpire in a split second, as the flash of lightning that flashes from East to the West, and living people will be removed from the world; this will be the first rescue of the firstfruits harvest.
Luke 7:34-37 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding [at the mill] together: theone will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left. And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So he said to them, "Whersoever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
Matthew 24:26-28 Therefore if they say to you: look, he is in the desert! do not go out, or: look, he is in the inner rooms! do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The rescue of the firstfruits harvest of believers is a completely different and separate even from the rescue of the main harvest of believers on Last Day. Those that are rescued with the firstfruits harvest will be as eagles gathered together wheresoever the body is; whereas the second rescue of the main harvest of believers will occur at the resurrection of the Last Day. This event is described in Rev 11 when God's witnesses are killed by the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit, and then resurrected three and a half days later. In Rev 9 we read that an angel that falls from heaven will open the bottomless pit (only fallen angels fall from heaven and angels are often describes as stars).
Rev 9:1-2 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit...
Rev 11:7 And when they [God's witnesses] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Some people teach that the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit are demons, others teach they will be Nephilim, while others teach they will be genetically engineered transhuman cyborgs; I do not know for sure, and the Bible does not tell us; but this beast will assist in the complete eradication of Christianity and the beheading and execution of all the Christians of the world.
Rev 13:-15 And he [the Antichrist] had power to give life unto the image of the beast; that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
I don't believe that the 2 witnesses literally represent 2 people, but that they represent all the tribulation saints who had been left behind after the first rescue of believers, and they had been evangelizing the world as witnesses of the gospel of Christ's salvation. They will all either die of natural causes such as cataclysmic events, war, or disease, or be killed because they did not worship the image of the beast, which the beast will mandate.
Rev 11:8-10 And their [God's witnesses] dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And all they of the people, and tribes, and tongues, and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put into graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth.
God's witnesses tormented the unsaved because they were witnesses of God's plan to destroy them all in a lake of fire, and after the beast from the bottomless pit kills them, the world will greatly rejoice over it. They will believe that they have not only defeated Christianity, but will also believe they have inherited the Earth as victors of the war against Christianity. However, after a period of three and a half days, all the tribulation saints will be resurrected from the dead, and ascend up to heaven in a cloud; this is the second rescue, and is referred to as the resurrection of the Last Day.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, “Come up hither.” And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
When the tribulation saints are resurrected from the dead, they will ascend into heaven to join Christ and the 144,000 firstfruits saints. This second and final rescue of all the true believers that Christ has purposed to save, will mark the end of God’s Salvation plan for mankind, and it is now Judgement Day, the Last Day, the day when the Lord Jesus will thrust in his sharp sickle, and reap the world.
Rev 14:14-25 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with aloud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
This is also the Day of Judgment for Satan and all the fallen angels who were reserved for the judgment of the Last Day.
John 12:48 He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him: the word that I have spoken will judge him in the Last Day.
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more,things that pertain to this life?
2 Peter 2:4 For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for Judgment.
Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their original estate, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, for the Judgment of the Great Day.
And now it is that Great Day of Almighty God, and the Lord Jesus and his angels will thrust in their sickles, and reap the Earth.
Rev 14:16-20 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped . And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The book of Joel also has a description of this event.
Joel 3:12-16 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the winepress is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Another description of this event is also found in Revelation chapter 19.
Rev 19:11-21 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The winepress represents the fierceness of the wrath of God, and this is the day when God will cast the beast and the Antichrist into the lake of fire.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that performed miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
All the unsaved will be destroyed by fire, and the cosmos as we know it will also pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat
2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
After Christ and his angels destroy death, and hell, and Satan’s kingdoms by fire, God will create a new and heaven and a new Earth for all the true believers, the Sons of God, to live in for all of eternity.
Rev 21:1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new Earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; andthere shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
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