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Revelation 14:14-20

The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The moral seasons of humanity.

"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," etc. There are three moral seasons implied in this section of the Apocalyptic vision.

I. THE RIPENING SEASON. "And I looked [saw], and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the [a] Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle" (). This language may be taken as an illustration of that supreme Divinity that presides over all the moral seasons of mankind. He is glorious. He is encircled with a "cloud," dazzling and splendid, he is human. He is "like unto the Son of man." Supreme Divinity is full of humanity, and humanity is full of God. He is royal. He has "upon his head a golden crown." He is "the King of kings, and Lord of lords." He is absolute, he has "in his hand a sharp sickle." He has the power to put an end to the whole system whenever he pleases; he kills and he makes alive. Such is the Being that presides over our histories, our lives, and destinies. Our world is not left to chance or fate, blind force or arbitrary despotism. There is an intelligent Being over it, all glorious, yet human, royal and absolute. He presides over the ripening season. Months before the sickle is thrust in the ripening has been going on. There are two classes of principles, good and evil, which are seeds growing in all human souls. Both are implanted. Neither of them is inbred. The seed of evil is not constitutional; the seeds of good are almost exterminated by the seeds of sin. "A man sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat." The spirit of evil implants the one. "An enemy came and sowed tares." The Son of man implants the other. Both, in all souls, are constantly growing and advancing to ripeness. Although human nature is made for truth and right, it can grow error and wrong. It can develop a false impression or an erroneous sentiment into a upas that shall spread its baneful branches over empires, and poison the heart of ages.

II. THE HARVEST SEASON. "Thrust in [send forth] thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come" (). All life culminates in maturity. "First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." Growth is but life running into ripeness, the river runs to the ocean. "The harvest of the earth is ripe, the grapes are fully ripe." In connection with this it is suggested that the harvest is under the direction of a supreme intelligence. "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud" (). The angel had no power to snatch the sickle from the Divine hand and employ it. The Divine permission is absolutely necessary; life and death are with him. "There is an appointed time for man upon the earth." No creature or combination of creatures, however mighty, can abbreviate or prolong the appointed period. There are no premature deaths in human history. Angels, it may be, in countless numbers await his behest. They are reads to strike down when he permits. Death is ever on the wing; silently and stealthily he approaches every human being, and strikes the moment he has permission.

III. THE VINTAGE SEASON. "Thrust in [send forth] thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe" (). The vintage is a section of the harvest. The vine reaches its maturity and has its harvest, as well as the ears of corn, and the pressing of these grapes is the vintage. Three things are suggested in connection with this vintage.

1. Divine severity. "The great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trod, ten without the city, and blood came out of the wine press" (, ). Grapes in the press were usually trodden by the feet of men (see , ; ). The idea of severity could scarcely fail to be conveyed to the spectator whose feet trampled on the soft, blooming, beautiful grape, so that the juice like its very blood streamed forth. "The wrath of God." There is no wrath in God but the wrath of love. Divine law is but love speaking in the imperative mood; Divine retribution is but Divine love chastising the child to bring him back to the right and the true.

2. Great abundance. "Blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles" (). That is, the juice flowing like a deep river, rising to the very bridles of the horses. Who shall measure the final issues of the moral seasons of humanity?

3. Extensive range. "A thousand and six hundred furlongs" ()—a hundred and fifty miles. A definite number of miles for an indefinite space. The final issue of souls will be as wide as immensity.—D.T.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:1-20Revelation 14:1-20 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONThe Harvest and the Vintage. (a. d. 95.)Revelation 14:13-20 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE HARVEST AND THE VINTAGE. (A. D. 95.) Here we have the vision of the harvest and vintage, introduced with a solemn preface. Observe, I. The preface, Revelation 14:13. Here note, 1. Whence this prophecy about the harv…Matthew Henry on Revelation 14:14-20Revelation 14:14-20 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryWarnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righte…The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20Revelation 14:14-20 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe harvest and the vintage. It is held by many that both these refer to the same fact of God's judgment against sin and sinners. And no doubt, at times, the "harvest," does mean such judgment (cf. Joel 3:13; Jeremiah 5…The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20Revelation 14:14-20 · The Pulpit CommentaryJudgment again represented. In the spirit of the former words, and as a further confirmation of them, the process of judgment is again set forth under fresh images. So is consolation borne to the suffering and afflicted…The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14Revelation 14:14 · The Pulpit CommentaryAnd I looked, and behold a white cloud; and I saw, introducing a fresh phase of the vision (see on Revelation 14:1, etc.). White; the heavenly colour (see on Revelation 3:18, etc.). Cloud is the symbol of Christ's glory…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:1-20EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Harvest and the Vintage. (a. d. 95.)THE HARVEST AND THE VINTAGE. (A. D. 95.) Here we have the vision of the harvest and vintage, introduced with a solemn preface. Observe, I. The preface, Revelation 14:13. Here note, 1. Whence this prophecy about the harv…Matthew HenrycommentaryMatthew Henry on Revelation 14:14-20Warnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righte…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14And I looked, and behold a white cloud; and I saw, introducing a fresh phase of the vision (see on Revelation 14:1, etc.). White; the heavenly colour (see on Revelation 3:18, etc.). Cloud is the symbol of Christ's glory…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20Harvest time. Any attempt to interpret the visions of this book as if they followed each other chronologically only, will inevitably fail. Sometimes, at any rate, the visions are such that they overleap the near future…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20The harvest and the vintage. It is held by many that both these refer to the same fact of God's judgment against sin and sinners. And no doubt, at times, the "harvest," does mean such judgment (cf. Joel 3:13; Jeremiah 5…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20Judgment again represented. In the spirit of the former words, and as a further confirmation of them, the process of judgment is again set forth under fresh images. So is consolation borne to the suffering and afflicted…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 14:15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud; another angel; in addition to those already mentioned, not implying that he who sat on the cloud was an angel. Out of the…Joseph S. Exell and contributors