This is the Fortieth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Revelation. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on February 7, 2016. This message looks at the harvest of judgment at the end of the age. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes. Please note that the sermon notes are not necessarily a full transcript.
SERMON AUDIO:
SERMON NOTES:
VV.14-15:
“Son of Man” + cloud = Christ
- Daniel 7:13-14
Son of man is common terminology for Christ. The identification of this angel as Christ is not without problems. There are some unanswered questions:
- Why is Christ taking orders from an angel? One possible answer is that the angel is simply relaying the Father’s command.
- Why is Christ doing essentially the same work as an angel?
These questions may never be satisfactorily answered. However, one thing to keep in mind is that Christ leads the way. This is His operation, His judgment. If He has chosen to use certain other angels to assist Him in the harvest, so be it.
The harvest is a typical OT figure used to denote divine judgment.
- Joel 3:12-13
- Jeremiah 51:33
This harvest is the judgment spoken of by Jesus, and comes at the end of the age.
- Matthew 13:38-42
V.16:
The parable of the sower will cast some light on this harvest.
- Matthew 13:24-30
The wheat and the tares grow together, and may appear to be very similar. Such is the case with satan’s weeds. For a time they may be very hard to detect, but no longer. Now they stand in dark contrast to God’s true children. The good seed and the bad are exposed by their works. The weed is dangerous, hindering the growth of the wheat, and poisonous if eaten. It symbolizes those who are sons of the devil.
Now the time has come for the harvest. Jesus explained that the harvest would occur at the end of the age, and happen in two stages. First the weeds would be gathered in bundles, then they would be flung into the fire. It is now time for the separation of the wheat from the tares.
For two thousand years the saints have watched satanic cults spring up and flourish. After the rapture of the church no doubt they will prosper even more. They will be fed by the bold reign of the antichrist during the tribulation. Believers during this time will find themselves surrounded by cults, wickedness and false prophets on all sides. They will deceive many, but the Lord makes no mistakes. He cannot be deceived or mocked.
- Galatians 6:7
When the harvest time comes, He will swiftly separate the false from the true. With a swing of His sickle, it is done! “The earth was reaped“. . . So we have the culmination of God’s judgment.
VV.17-18:
Here we have two angels emerge from heaven. One with a sickle, and one with authority over fire. These are those angels who assist Christ in the work of judgment at His coming.
- Matthew 13:49
This angel who comes from the altar and has authority over fire would represent the prayers of the saints.
- Revelation 6:9-11
- Revelation 8:3-5
Twice daily the priest would burn incense with that fire and offer the burning incense in the Holy Place as a symbol of the people’s prayers. This angel is coming from the heavenly altar to ensure that all the prayers of all the saints for judgment and the coming of the kingdom are answered. He calls for judgment to start, and so it does.
The clusters of the vines of the earth are those unbelievers. They are of the worldly system (the earth), not of Christ. Those of Christ are not of this world.
- John 18:36
V.19:
Notice that the angel harvests the wicked and presents them to God for judgment. They are trampled under the wrath of God, not the wrath of angels. They should only wish that it were the wrath of angels, because the angels have no power or authority comparable to God. When God’s wrath is poured out, none will be able to stand.
V.20:
This is a picture of Christ coming to the battle of Armageddon. This is the slaughter of all the enemies of God who are still alive, facing the destruction at Armageddon, the final battle against God’s enemies, staged on the Plain of Esdraelon.
- Isaiah 63:6
- Revelation 16:14-16
- Revelation 19:11-21
The judgment will be so swift and so severe, that blood will flow as freely as the juice from ripe grapes. It will flow as high as a horse’s bridle (4′) for about 200 miles. It will be a scene, the likes of which the world has never seen.
“outside the city.” God will ensure that this bloodbath will occur outside Jerusalem, as if God wants to protect the city from the carnage all around.
God’s judgment no trivial matter and its not a topic that we can avoid; however, judgment can be avoided. Jesus wants laborers to enter the harvest, so that the lost might come to Him and escape the harvest of judgment.
- Matthew 9:37-38
The truth is, that there will be a harvest of damnation for those not in the harvest of salvation. The prayer of believers is necessary to the fulfillment of the harvest.
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on February 9, 2016
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