Revelation 14:17 Commentary and Bible Study

As other Scriptures tells us, the angels also are involved in this final harvest of the world (Matthew 13:39-42, 49-50; 16:27; 24:30-31; 25:31-32; Mark 13:27). The first angel mentioned also carries a sharp sickle and is to be involved in the great harvest. Just as there will be believers alive on earth at the time when the Lord returns, so there will be many unbelievers. These will be reaped as simply as a stem of wheat is cut down by a sickle. They will fall, powerless to prevent the end of their lives and the removal of all that they have built on earth.Another angel comes from the temple having power over fire. Such power is evidently necessary because fire will be the instrument of judgment of the wicked and the angels who administer it must be able to handle it. Peter tells us that at this time, ‘The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up’ (2 Peter 3:10). This angel is the agent of God’s vengeance on the wicked. Those who have so long scorned his name and refused to bow the knee before his Son will be overpowered in a moment. Fire will burn them as worthless stubble and they will not escape. The prayers of God’s children will finally be answered in a vengeance more terrible than any that believers could have delivered.The command is given to thrust or ‘send’ in the sickle. No longer will there be any hesitation. When the day of grace is over, in a moment, wrath will be revealed. It is wrath that was always waiting in the wings. Men may mock and ridicule the Lord and his word all their lives, but like Voltaire, at the end they will tremble at death. The earth is compared to great clusters of grapes, ripe to be picked. The image makes us think of something good, something desirable. Grapes are a choice fruit. When they are ripe they are very attractive, covered with a bloom that shows no human hand has touched them; promising sweet tasting clusters or, in the case of wine grape varieties, plentiful juice to be extracted in the press. But the image immediately changes.