Tag: sharp sickle
“The Harvest of Earth is fully ripe!”
Scripture reading for December 21st: Revelation 14
Key Scriptures: Revelation 14:12-16 “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a Son of man, with a golden crown on his Head, and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him Who sat on the cloud, “Put in Your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So He Who sat on the cloud swung His sickle across the earth and the earth was reaped.”
John heard a voice from heaven commanding him to write down a Revelation “beatitude’ that would call the saints to patient endurance. It was a “Blessed indeed” Word from the throne echoed by the Holy Spirit concerning those who would die in faith during the final days of the tribulation. These would rest from their labors and their deeds of faith would follow them. The final call to patient endurance for the saints came with another vision John beheld. There was a white cloud, and seated on this cloud was Jesus Christ, crowned as King of Kings, and holding a sharp sickle in His hand. An angel appeared and passed the command from the throne–“Put in Your sickle, and reap. . .” for the hour had come when the harvest of earth was fully ripe! God would avenge His people whose blood had been shed on the earth!
Revelation 14:17-18 “Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I hear Your call to me for patient endurance even in the time I live on the earth. Evil is multiplying and Your people are despised. Help me to endure and thrive as I trust in You and give me boldness to share Your promise of blessing for all who trust in Jesus. I believe the harvest of earth is ripening fast and fields of souls are white for harvest!
Revelation 14:19-20 “So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1600 stadia.”
The Harvest of the Earth!
Scripture reading for December 19th: Revelation 14
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 14:14-16 “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. The 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.”
Revelation 14 ends with a description of two harvests. These Scriptures describe the first harvest and apparently Jesus Christ as the One with the sickle who is told by an angelic messenger to “reap”. With that command, the earth will be harvested! But this chapter continues with the description of another angel who also has a sickle and a companion in charge of the fire. This angel is commanded to reap the clusters of grapes from earth’s vine, which were ripe, and throw them into the wine-press of God’s wrath! The righteous are gathered to God and the wicked will go to judgment!
Observations for over-comers: There are only two possibilities for each person after life on earth is over: eternal life in God’s presence through Jesus Christ or eternal wrath in the Lake of Fire. “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the wine-press is full and the vats overflow–so great is their wickedness!” (Joel 3:13)
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!
Scripture reading for December 18th: Revelation 14
God is merciful and full of compassion for all He has made. He does nothing by judgment unless he warns the people created in His image. In this chapter we find God sending angels to proclaim the “eternal gospel” to all who live on the earth. The first angel proclaimed, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7) God called out to all men to honor and worship Him. He identified Himself as the Creator of the heavens and earth! A key belief of our day is evolution–a denial of a God who created and the substitution of time and chance for Him. Men will do anything to deny God so that they may do as they please.
The third angel John saw announced: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11) God clearly warns those on earth of the eternal punishment coming to those who worship the beast or receive his mark. This punishment involves smoke, burning sulfur, and complete lack of rest day or night–forever!
“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes, says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds follow them.”” (Revelation 14:13) John was told specifically to write this statement of blessedness! Those who die in Christ rest and will surely be blessed and rewarded!