March 14 - The Great Harvest (pt. 1)

March 14 – The Great Harvest (pt. 1)
Revelation 14:14-20

I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia."

Here it is again. The cloud with one like a son of man on it. We aren't to forget this image. When Jesus returns on the cloud, it's over. He IS coming to reign and we continue to read that He will be on the cloud.

He is seated with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. The sickle has been kept sharp in preparation for the harvest.

Sometimes it's difficult to comprehend the textures of meaning within these verses once they are translated into English. This crown is the victor's wreath, not a ruler's crown. It represents a conquering hero who has won the right to judge.

From the angel, another angel comes and calls to the son of man. It might seem odd that an angel gives instructions to the Lamb, the son of God. But, consider that this is probably a messenger coming from God. The Lord God Himself resides in the temple. This is a message from God that the time of harvest is ready. He has accepted the first fruits, the 144,00, the wave offering.

We have heard about the harvest in the Gospels. I read these passages now with a completely different understanding after seeing them in context with the Revelation.

Matthew 13:24-30. The Parable of the Weeds

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away."

Do you see God planting His people on the earth. When they weren't paying attention, they became distracted by the things of the earth.

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them (the weeds) up?" (Mt. 13:28)

"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn." (Mt. 13:29-30)

We are easily distracted by weeds in our gardens. Given a moment's thought, I can think of numerous distractions in my own life. These are the things that separate us from God.

John's word in Revelation takes his readers back to the Old Testament as well. In Joel 3:13, we read "Swing the sickle for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow - so great is their wickedness!"

We are about to see two distinct harvests. The first harvest is completed by the Lamb of God, the one seated on the cloud. He swung his sickle over the earth and the earth was harvested. The second harvest is completed by an angel. This is not a retelling of the first, but a completely different harvest.

William Barclay says that the Lord reaps the harvest of his own people, while the angel reaps the harvest of those destined for judgment.

The Lord comes to care for His own!