Revelation of John 14:18
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Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
from the altar--upon which were offered the incense-accompanied prayers of all saints, which bring down in answer God's fiery judgment on the Church's foes, the fire being taken from the altar and cast upon the earth. fully ripe--Greek, "come to their acme"; ripe for punishment.
Open source ↗After an account of the great trials and sufferings which the servants of God had endured, we have now a more pleasant scene opening; the day begins now to dawn, and here we have represented, I. The Lord Jesus at the head of his faithful followers (Rev 14:1-5). II. Three angels sent successively to proclaim the fall of Babylon and the things antecedent and consequent to so great an event (Rev 14:6-13). III. The vision of the harvest (Rev 14:14, etc.).
Open source ↗14:18-20 The ripe . . . grapes (see Amos 8:2) that are trampled in the winepress emphasize God’s power to judge (see Rev 19:15; Joel 3:13). • Winepresses were built outside cities and towns; here, the city is Jerusalem. The bloody river of death stretched about 180 miles. God’s enemies stand no chance when the Son of Man comes in judgment. The carnage here is closely linked with the final battle in Rev 19:17-21; God is just and fair in giving people exactly what they deserve (see 16:5-7).
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.
Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire.