Journey Through The Bible
  Old Testament Reading: Joshua 16-18
 New Testament Reading: Revelation 14

Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested (Revelation 14: 14-16).

Throughout the New Testament, a harvest is pictured as winning lost souls to Christ. What Christian can forget Jesus’ words, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few (Matt 9:37 & Luke 10:2) or when He said, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35).

But here in Revelation 14, Jesus sits on a white cloud with a sharp sickle in His hand. He swings the sickle, and the earth is harvested, not in evangelism but for judgement. It is a harvest of God’s wrath. The Day of Reckoning has come, and the sinful world reaps a harvest of eternal punishment.

As we have previously seen in the book of Revelation, God in His mercy, has delayed His judgements for more people to turn from their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The words of the Apostle Peter ring clear, The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).

Even now, as Jesus prepares His harvest for judgement, God pauses once again and sends His Angel. Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Revelation 14: 6-7).

We must not mistake God’s kindness for weakness. His restraint in delaying punishment despite the wickedness of the world is a testimony to His love and mercy. But you can be certain the Day of Reckoning is coming like a thief in the night to rob death, sin, rebellion, injustice, and immorality of all their power. Today, God is speaking to the world in grace. But one day, He will speak in wrath and the harvest of sin will be reaped.

While the wicked are harvested for judgement, Believers will be nourished by God’s presence forevermore. What a contrast we see between verses eleven and thirteen. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image (v11). And blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on … they will rest from their labors (v13). There is no rest for the wicked, but there is eternal rest for all the saints. It is far better to reign with Christ forever than with Antichrist for a few short years.