Of Blood and Wine - Rumor notes 148

 

Revelation 14

17 Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth's grapes are fully ripe!" 19 The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 The winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out from the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.

First Harvest	Second Harvest	Differences
14 I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.	17 Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle.	The second harvester could represent trained experts by the Son of Man. They come out from the temple in heaven in Revelation 15:6.
15 Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!"	18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth's grapes are fully ripe!"	The first harvest prepares the agents who assist in the second. In the second, the angel instructing has authority over fire like Elijah did. But the reapers are told to use their sickle to reap, not fire. This is more in line with the disposition of the Lamb than with Elijah's.
16 He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.	19 The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 The winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out from the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.	The first harvest seals the mature agents who in turn are used by the One on the cloud for carrying out the second harvest. Their outpouring of praise and prayers as described in the next two chapters produce reactions of wrath and plagues and much bloodshed.

Here we continue with an alternative proposal for interpreting the second harvest of chapter 14 that deviates significantly from the previous one offered.

threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God

This action could resonate with Satan's being cast out of heaven. We examined that previously and noted how it was not a direct act on the part of God but rather was due to the incompatibility between light and darkness, love and distrust, truth and lies. That is all part of the difference between how God operates versus how Satan and his followers use coercion and subterfuge to achieve their ends.

Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, and small and great."

I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:15-21)

Note who is itemized here to get a hint of who is thrown into the winepress of the wrath of God. Keep in mind that wrath means letting go of protection, not angry aggression.

Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why are you red in your clothing, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore my own arm brought salvation to me; and my wrath, it upheld me. I trod down the peoples in my anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth. (Isaiah 63:1-6)

How is Jesus related to this metaphor? Jesus identified with the consequences of all His enemy's sins and gave every human being a new identity as beloved child of God. That means there is no excuse for anyone being lost. He has already taken the full effects of all the sins of the world that has resulted from our embracing a false identity that contradicts what God says about us. Christ absorbed all the effects of sin, setting every person free to embrace His identity as their own if they will simply believe what is true about God's disposition towards them. He forever put to death our false identity, pouring out His blood that represents our death to the old creature identity in order that any willing to accept Him can receive His Spirit to empower them to live a new creature life in the image of Christ. Their lives then become fruitful with the fruit of His indwelling Spirit.

The winepress was trodden outside of the city

This first passage places the winepress as inside the vineyard.

Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up, gathered out its stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in its midst, and also cut out a winepress therein. He looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. (Isaiah 5:1-2)

So why does it say here in Revelation that the winepress was trodden outside the city?

He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. (2 Chronicles 33:15)

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.' So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. (Matthew 21:37-39)

Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. (Mark 12:5-8)

The lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.' "But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? (Luke 20:13-15)

For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate. Let us therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach. For we don't have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. (Hebrews 13:11-15)

If the current interpretation of this harvest is valid, involving the 144,000 representing and reflecting the true Messiah, then it would make sense that they will be treated with the same derision as He was treated. They must be willing to identify with Him and suffer His reproach just as He did, knowing that this world is no place for them because their true identity does not have its origin here.

let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name

This alerts us again to the centrality and potency of the primary weapon relied on by the special ops forces of the Lamb – the New Song which is the continual sacrifice of praise. Why is it a sacrifice to praise God, to confess His name? Because it cuts against the emotional grain of natural reactions to how the world around us defines who we are and our place in society and even our own feelings of worthlessness, condemnation and desires to fit it and feel accepted.

Confessing His name is all about choosing to identify ourselves exclusively by the Word of God and not allowing anyone else to dictate what we believe about God or ourselves. This struggle will become so intense that it will require giving up on life itself in order to cling to the truth of God's goodness and faithfulness despite the whole world compelling us to accept the beast's version of God or face extermination. This is why these people do not love their own life unto the death, because death is the certain punishment threatened against all who resist accepting the identity and God-picture imposed on the world by the image to the beast as we studied in chapter 13.

blood came out from the winepress

For my sword has drunk its fill in the sky. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment. Yahweh's sword is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom. The wild oxen will come down with them, and the young bulls with the mighty bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat. (Isaiah 34:5-7)

I heard the angel of the waters saying, "You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things. For they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this." (Revelation 16:5-6)

I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (Revelation 17:6)

We need to be cautious to not fall into the trap of presuming that loyalty to God will deliver us from suffering or even death. These duel harvests describe horrific events about to come on the whole world that are presently unimaginable but will be very real. They describe a level of bloodshed unknown since the beginning of the world, but necessary in order that evil may be fully disarmed of any credibility and that fear loses all power to control those remaining loyal to the Lamb.

even to the bridles of the horses

While the symbol of bridles may not be a direct part of the meaning of the blood in this next passage, it can be a connecting link to other passages that contribute to this symbol of harvests that involve the participation of the agents representing the true Lamb to the whole world.

Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. (James 3:1-3)

In this context, bridle is a symbol of self-control. This is insignificant as harvesting is about revealing character that has been formed. Character involves a regulated life or the catastrophic results of lack of self-control. Judgment exposes and reveals one or the other under pressure.

In those days, the father will be beaten together with his sons, in one place; and brothers shall fall together with their friends, in death, until a stream shall flow with their blood. For a man shall not be able to withhold his hands from his sons nor from (his) sons’ sons in order to kill them. Nor is it possible for the sinner to withhold his hands from his honored brother. From dawn until the sun sets, they shall slay each other. The horse shall walk through the blood of sinners up to his chest; and the chariot shall sink down up to its top. (1 Enoch 100:3)

This next passage is rather lengthy but has become a pivotal in this study as there are a number of metaphors and words that resonate with this harvest in chapter 14. We start with the passage mentioning the bridle, then return to examine the context of the whole chapter in light of what is being proposed about a surrogate harvester here being those called the 144,000. There is much to process in this passage as we navigate its potential meanings in light of the Lamb's version of God.

Behold, the name of Yahweh comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire. His breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction; and a bridle that leads to ruin will be in the jaws of the peoples. (Isaiah 30:27-28)

Here we find close correlation to what we read in Revelation. An overflowing stream that reaches to the neck coupled with reference to a bridle. Now let's go back and unpack the larger context of this passage, keeping in mind that as with other prophecies in the Old Testament, this is a dual application prophecy that has both local and cosmic potential applications.

The burden of the animals of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, of the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to an unprofitable people. For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I called her Rahab who sits still. [Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who acted immediately to hide Israelite spies to save their life because she had faith that their God was more trustworthy than those of her people. Here God likens Egypt to a Rahab who did not respond, betraying His people instead of working actively to save them. Note also the vivid references to the fiery flying serpent (resonating with the Tree of Good and Evil serpent), lions, trouble and riches – all connected to the economy of Satan's kingdoms.]

Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever. For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of Yahweh; who tell the seers, "Don't see!" and to the prophets, "Don't prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits. Get out of the way. Turn aside from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."

Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on it; therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant. He will break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing, so that there won't be found among the broken piece a piece good enough to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern." [God is here exposing how heaven sees clearly what is really going on among His chosen people.]

For thus said the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, "You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence." [This is a key and eternal truth necessary to embrace God's design of reality and a correct relationship with Him.]

You refused, but you said, "No, for we will flee on horses;" therefore you will flee; and, "We will ride on the swift;" therefore those who pursue you will be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one. At the threat of five, you will flee until you are left like a beacon on the top of a mountain, and like a banner on a hill. [Throughout this and many other places, God seeks to inform us of the results of violating principles of cause and effect, though many times it is worded as if God were imposing the consequences. Often this is due to the perspective of the prophet or writer.]

Therefore Yahweh will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for Yahweh is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears you, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won't be hidden anymore, but your eyes will see your teachers; and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way. Walk in it." [This paragraph indicates a learning process where people are being transitioned into a new paradigm in order to perceive reality from heaven's perspective and to let go of old paradigms and assumptions. I don't believe everyone addressed throughout this chapter are necessarily of the same group or disposition. Some were willing to learn while others remained intransigent.]

You shall defile the overlaying of your engraved images of silver, and the plating of your molten images of gold. You shall cast them away as an unclean thing. You shall tell it, "Go away!" [Instructions to despise false sources of identity and cling to God as our sole Source of identity.]

He will give the rain for your seed, with which you will sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground will be rich and plentiful. In that day, your livestock will feed in large pastures. The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that till the ground will eat savory provender, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork. There shall be brooks and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [What kind of towers? Resonant with the tower of Babel? This almost seems to envision a takeover of blessings against the land of curses.] Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, in the day that Yahweh binds up the fracture of his people, and heals the wound they were struck with.

Behold, the name of Yahweh comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire. His breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction; and a bridle that leads to ruin will be in the jaws of the peoples.

You will have a song, as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goes with a flute to come to Yahweh's mountain, to Israel's Rock. Yahweh will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the descent of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, storm, and hailstones.

For through the voice of Yahweh the Assyrian will be dismayed. He will strike him with his rod. Every stroke of the rod of punishment, which Yahweh will lay on him, will be with the sound of tambourines and harps. He will fight with them in battles, brandishing weapons. And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. (v. 32 KJV) For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, for the king it is made ready. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. Yahweh's breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it. (Isaiah 30:6-33)

I want to unpack these last two verses as most translations often obscure the actual content of the Hebrew words behind this. We start with a transliteration of verse 32.

Every/all – foundation/grounded/an appointment – tribe, branch/rod or staff for correction, or to use as a scepter/bread of life – crossing place/transition/passing/overwhelming – Yahweh – dwell, settle down, let fall, give comfort, make to rest – tambourines – harps – engaging in war/fight – brandishing/offering/shaking/ wave – to feed on, consume, overcome, prevail.

This pattern resonates with both how God related to Pharaoh in the plagues that fell on Egypt, as well as the 7 last plagues we will examine in chapter 16. It also resonates with Isaiah 28.

Again we see a pattern found elsewhere alerting us to principles we have found recurrent throughout our study of Revelation. The way God's agents are to overcome evil is not by counterforce but with love, light, the New Song, praises and celebration of God's goodness, kindness, blessing and through reflection of His true character before the watching universe.

Most translations render this as forced punishments imposed by Yahweh on all those in defiance of His will. Yet this contradicts the revelation of God in Jesus Christ who is the only true Witness worthy of trust to reveal the true heart of Yahweh. The weapon most effective against the enemies of Yahweh is praise to Him, thanksgiving, songs of victory celebrated by those in tune with their leader, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Revelation 14:14-16:21 the advance troops of the Lamb accomplish the overthrow of the very capital of Satan's empire using this strategy which is singing the New Song accompanied with the harps of God (Revelation 14:2-3). The contents of the bowls poured out by those dressed identical to Jesus (Revelation 1:13; 15:6) is their prayers and praises which acts as a catalyst that elicits violent torment in the minds of all who remain determinedly resistant to embracing the truth of God's glory as His love, who deny that there is no darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:5). This is how God's loyal followers are to fight (2 Chronicles 20:21; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5), not by might or by power (Zechariah 4:6) but in sync with God's Spirit through praise, joy, thanksgiving and intercessory prayers (Revelation 5:8) with love for their enemies.

What is the fire of Yahweh's breath that has long been ready? Combine this with the truth about God's fire in light of the following passages, and these verses take on a whole new meaning.

As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink: for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you. (Proverbs 25:20-22)

Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord." Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head." Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)

This is vital to understand if we are to appreciate the true nature of God's heart and how love will overcome the power of evil, and light will overcome darkness. God will not resort to violence to force anyone against their will. That is the spirit of Satan and has been projected back onto God by our twisted ways of thinking. God will overcome evil with good just as He instructs us to do. This is consistent throughout Scripture when viewed through the lens of the One sent to show us the Father.

But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:44-48)

But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don't withhold your coat also. (Luke 6:27-29)

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. (Luke 6:35-37)

as far as one thousand six hundred stadia

Stadia comes from a word meaning stade, a measure of distance, by implication a stadium or race course. It's probably not incidental that the word stadia in Revelation only shows up in these two places. This could infer that they may be in sharp contrast to each other.

At this point I have little to offer about the potential meaning of this, but here are some various passages that might be potentially related in some way.

The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. (Revelation 21:16 NIV)

Possible connection to water flow from under the east gate of the temple in Ezekiel 47?

When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. (John 6:19)

25 X 24 = 600 30 X 20 = 600 24 elders, maturing process of humanity overcoming fear.

Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:13)

60 X 10 = 600 10 associated with the Law, unveiling of truth about OT by Jesus.

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. (John 11:18)

15 X 40 = 600 40 days of intimacy with God. 40 days of intercession by Moses.

40 days strength for Elijah to Mt. Horeb. 40 years in wilderness. 40 days of temptation.

40 days Jesus remained after resurrection.

Noah was 600 years old when the flood came (Genesis 7:6).

The number 6 can be representative of humanity.

The number 1,000 symbolizes the presence of God as the most holy place is 1,000 square units.

Summary

Before we move onto the next chapter, I would like to summarize the nuances and relationship between these two harvests along with the implications of how some of the words can alert us as to the nature of each one and who may be involved, both doing the reaping and those being reaped.

The first Reaper is pretty clearly identified as being Jesus Himself who is sitting on a cloud with an instrument in His hand and ready to reap.

An angel comes out from the temple in heaven to cry out to Him to go ahead and reap because the harvest of the earth is ripe. This may indicate that everyone on earth is ripe for reaping, not just one side or the other. While this first harvest seems to involve only those being saved, this alert that the earth is ripe may be important to keep as context for both harvests.

There seems to be evidence that this angel may possibly represent both those crying out for this harvest to take place, as well as possibly being the ones that are harvested. This aligns with the idea of a people who are hungering and thirsting, desperate for righteousness and who are willing to be transformed. Compare this with Jeremiah 30:5-10 where it talks prophetically about an experience called 'the time of Jacob's trouble'.

The nature of the word translated crying is extremely intense, desperate, those begging God to stop at nothing to do whatever it takes to transform them into mature reflectors so the image of God may be restored in their souls to anchor them in His likeness. This comes from krazo meaning to scream, cause an outcry, to clamor, shriek, exclaim, intreat, beg earnestly.

This harvest involves a sharp instrument in the hand of Christ, something unusual in this book as the rest of the time it is seen as a sword and always in His mouth. This harvest seems apparently quick, decisive, simple, clean and efficient with no resistance. This means the Reaper is allowed to be more directly involved in their transformation process.

The second reaper has an ID that corresponds to the assistant angel described in the first harvest. This could indicate this representing the same individual or even the 144,000.

There is no mention of where or how the sickle is located in relation to the reaper, leaving it possible that this reaper may be able to use only words such as is represented by the sword being only in the mouth of Jesus. Rather than hands on interaction with those being reaped, they can only speak and demonstrate the truth in love and praise for God because of continued lack of permission and authorization on the part of those who are being reaped. (Revelation 16)

The assistant angel for the second harvest comes out from the altar and has power over fire. This is noticeably different from the previous assistant and with significant overtones and implications.

This second angel calls out with a great cry (krauge in the Greek) to the reaper. This word means an outcry (in notification, tumult or grief) – to clamor, even crying.

The earth's grapes are fully ripe. In the first harvest there is no mention of grapes. This harvest is not only significantly different, but given its extended description it appears to involve a harvest of wickedness more likely than a harvest of godly fruit.

Application

Whether or not we have time each week to discuss this further, it would be well for each one of us to contemplate how the things the Spirit is bringing to our attention may be integrated into our own experience and circumstances and how we relate to God and those around us. Think of some things the Spirit has brought to your attention and take time to listen quietly and reflect on how we may alter our own disposition to give permission for the Spirit to do a work in our own heart. If we merely learn head knowledge without allowing it to accomplish actual heart transformation, we may actually be found to be opposing the very work the Spirit seeks to do in us, for the most important thing, the highest priority for us must be to experience genuine heart transformation as we let go of our resistance to God's love.

How does my disposition affect which harvest I may be found to experience?

Am I willing to cry out, even scream in total desperation for Jesus to do whatever it takes to grow me up into His likeness and reflect His image in my soul?

Whether or not I am actually a part of the 144,000 who are matured to work intimately with the Lamb, am I willing to embrace only His disposition and motives and turn away from using any method out of harmony with how He treats people?

Am I willing to let go of all desire for power to use against those who I see as enemies?

How much could God trust me with a gift like power to use fire?

Am I willing to lay aside all resistance and humble myself to let Jesus fulfill His desire to transform me to be willingly vulnerable and be freed from all cravings for vengeance against anyone?

Can I trust God to effectively win over evil without ever resorting to use of force but with complete respect for every person's freedom?