Page 82 - Gods Plan of the Ages

the Lamb. They are the first to pass through death into the resurrection life of Christ. Later
in this same chapter we see the next group to be resurrected.

Revelation 14:14-16
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of
man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another
angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud,
"Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the
earth is ripe." Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth
was reaped.

The harvest allegory is clearly being employed in this chapter. We have seen the
firstfruits, now a second resurrection is occurring. The earth is being reaped. Those who
have come to maturity must be gathered together to be presented before theFather.
Immediately after this we see a third and final reaping of the earth.

Revelation 14:17-20
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp
sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and
he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp
sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." So
the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the
earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press
was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses'
bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

In this chapter we see a distinct parallel to Paul's words in I Corinthians chapter
fifteen, and to the three feasts of Yahweh with their associated harvests. This chapter of
Revelations begins with the firstfruits of Passover standing on Mount Zion with Christ. It
ends with the grapes of Tabernacles being harvested and trodden underfoot. In between is
the wheat harvest of Pentecost. John further elaborates on the enemies of God in this
chapter.

Revelation 14:9-11
Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone
worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he
also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup
of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up to the
ages of ages; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image,
and whoever receives the mark of his name."

Christ must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. How fitting it is that
the Holy Spirit pictures these enemies as grapes. What marvelous design is seen in
Yahweh's creation where the grape harvest is in the end of the year, long after the barley
and the wheat have been gathered in. There is an appointed time for all things.