Dubious Harvester - Rumor notes 145

 

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 lacks all the credentials of the Son of Man. It merely comes out from the temple in heaven, paralleling the assistant angel of the first.
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 assistant angels differ in origin. The latter one relies on fire possibly of the altar for his authority. His emphasis is on the sharp sickle. The second angel mentions vine clusters while the first doesn't mention anything specific.
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.	Again, the first harvest is very simple while the second elaborates on vintage wine, wrath and elaborate descriptions of bloodshed.

Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle

This 'also ran' harvesting angel reminds us of an imposter that shows up elsewhere. Here he is described as coming out from the temple which is in heaven, yet that description alone does not prove he is working on God's side, but only that he may have originated in heaven. But Lucifer first began his career as a covering cherub in heaven, but he was later was cast out. Despite that he can continue to claim that address when aids in promoting his deceptive credentials.

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:7-9 NAS95)

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2)

I leave open the option that I may be wrong in my strong suspicions about this second harvest. But there are so many clues accumulating in my study of this that I don't feel safe ignoring them. Satan is a master deceiver, the father of lies, and the nature of deception is that it can often be extremely compelling, meaning it is easy to believe it is true because it resembles so closely what is true. We see this repeatedly in our study of this book, and we must apply the testing criteria received at the opening of this book and apply it to every passage.

Note how this reaper is said to come out of the temple, while the previous reaper makes no such claim but simply is seen as simply sitting on a cloud. It is the assistant to the first reaper who is reported to come out of the temple, yet even then it is not identified as the temple in heaven as this one does. So the first assistant comes out of the temple while here it is the reaper who comes out of the temple. This alerts us to the incongruities between these two harvests that should make us wary of assuming both of them are cooperating with the forces of light.

He also had a sharp sickle

If this is a counterfeit harvester (note there is no mention of him being a reaper but simply as also having a sharp sickle), then very likely the methods he will use to harvest will be different than the methods relied on by the true Reaper. There is good reason for the adage 'the grim reaper,' for it is intended to elicit fear, while the reaper of those who obey the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus live in His love which casts out all fear.

In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:17-18)

Satan designed an entire counterfeit system to God's original design, and his system operates through reward incentives and threats of forceful punishments as its version of reaping. The kingdom of heaven defines reaping in terms of natural fruit, cause and effect rather than imposed penalties. This understanding is key for discerning the differences between these two harvests. From this perspective it is easier to see that the way this second harvest unfolds radically diverges from the simple way in which the previous harvest was accomplished. This is the difference between natural outcomes acknowledged versus artificial penalties and rewards that defines the system of Satan's kingdom.

When people sin, they earn what sin pays--death. But God gives his people a free gift--eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ERV)

If Satan also has a sickle, consider how he uses it to harvest souls based on his kind of judgment.

Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2)

The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death; for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. (Romans 7:10-11)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; (Romans 8:1-6)

Satan's sickle is operates by guilt, shame, condemnation, fear and punishment by death for breaking the law. He hijacks the commandments of God and manipulates them to bring about death, despite the fact that they were never intended to be used for that purpose. Thus his false harvest involves bloodshed and unspeakable violence as reinforcement of his version of justice, because that is how his system asserts its authority in his kingdom of darkness.

There are two harvests, but the methods relied on betray who is doing the harvesting. Our opinion about what is going on here will be directly affected by how much we believe the truth that God is just as His Son, the violently slaughtered Lamb, reveals Him to be. How so we see this second harvester using his sickle of judgment? Let's take a much closer look at the motives and methods and disposition as measured by the principles of light and love.

Throughout most of the Old Testament, the judgments asserted as coming from God appear to align more with the methods of the enemy of love. This has caused so much confusion, and we need to give allegiance fully to the Son who has been sent to clear up our confusion, to show us the real truth of God's heart in contrast to the mixed messages of all those who came before Him.

Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire

This angel is a collaborating angel paralleling the angel with the first reaper. Rather than coming out from the temple, in this instance the assistant is said to come out from the altar and has power over fire. This should alert us to pay close attention to what is coming into focus about the nature of this second harvest. Let's start by looking at other mentions of the altar starting in this book.

The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, "Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!" The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them.

Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. (Revelation 9:13-19)

The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 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." I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments." (Revelation 16:4-7)

This strongly resonates with a previous description connected to the altar.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course. (Revelation 6:9-11)

In our study of this previous passage we saw that the desire for revenge on the part of those loyal to God, reflects an immature appreciation of God's motives and methods for defeating evil. While they were not rebuked, but were affirmed for their loyalty, they were instructed to be patient and wait until such time as the more advanced truth of God's heart would become more fully revealed through the martyrs who would come after them, who had a better appreciation of the principles of light and love and would lay down their lives for more noble reasons than those previous.

The timing of these references to the altar may also provide clues. The souls under the altar crying out happens during the opening of the fifth seal. When the seals are finished and trumpets are given to seven angels prepared to sound them, we find the following event with an angel again involving the altar that includes smoke, incense and fire, all important symbols associated with the altar here.

I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (Revelation 8:2-6)

A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise, and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:1-2)

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!" (Revelation 14:18)

Here is a sequential listing of key phrases taken from every mention of the altar in this book.

the 5^th seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls cried for God to judge and avenge

preliminary to trumpets

an angel stands over the altar with a censer and much incense to add to the prayers

the saints, or their prayers, are on the golden altar

in the 6^th trumpet a voice is heard from the horns of the golden altar

interlude before 7^th trumpet someone said, measure the altar and those who worship in it

second harvest another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire

during 3^rd plague the altar says, true and righteous are your judgments

If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:23-26)

What is this telling us? Jesus links earthly style judgment to the altar for an important reason. This contrasts two very different ways of relating to those around us and how we perceive the meaning and purpose of the altar and worship. Our perceptions of how to come to God at the altar determines what we believe the altar represents, and that thinking also affects our disposition with others around us, especially those with whom we have conflicts.

Jesus explains here that if we ignore or resist forgiving anyone, resist seeking reconciliation as far as possible with anyone who has cause to feel resentment towards us, we posture ourselves under the authority of Satan's system of judgment, so the results will come from his standards of justice measured by balance scales. There is no other option. We choose the version of judgment we experience by the kind of judgment we endorse in the way we relate to others around us.

Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. For you will save the afflicted people, but the haughty eyes you will bring down. (Psalms 18:24-27)

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head. (Obadiah 1:15)

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)

These alert us to the creation principle of cause and effect, reproduction after its own kind.

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. (Romans 2:1)

So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12-13)

he who has power over fire

Both power and fire are trigger words involving key concepts competing for definition from both sides of this conflict. The enemy would have us view power seductively, and wants us to imagine that God's fire involves using His power to inflict severe torment on any who dare resist His will. Let's look at this more closely.

I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11:3-6)

Power and fire figure prominently in the lives of many of God's people throughout history who sometimes used their gifts from God as fire-power that did more to darken the truth about God's heart rather than shedding greater light on the reality of God's character of love and light alone.

Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under. You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the God who answers by fire, let him be God." All the people answered, "It is well said." (1 Kings 18:22-24)

It happened at the time of the offering of the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.

Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, he is God; Yahweh, he is God. (1 Kings 18:36-39)

I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. (Revelation 13:11-13)

He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

Asserting that God is fully supportive of every fiery demonstration done in His name, and is the reason we should believe and obey Him is problematic at best. The insistence that destructive fire and force is God's way of gaining compliance and includes His method of punishing, all originates with the enemy who is the father of lies. This lies at the very heart of paganism, but is absent in the revelation of God's true character as displayed and taught by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

"Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:10-12)

I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. (Luke 12:49-51)

Did Jesus bring division by fiery arguments, confrontations, punishment involving force, condemnation? No, the division He brought about came through His revelations that God's fire is strikingly different from how He has been represented by those claiming to represent Him. God's fire as reflected through the lens of Jesus' life on earth, is the fire of passionate love, not destructive fire to punish and arouse fear. This is what causes division between those who come to see God through Jesus' eyes versus those who embrace the good/evil paradigm of God reflected in paganism and that originated with the occupant of the Tree of Good and Evil.

The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn't repent and give him glory. (Revelation 16:8-9)

Notice the warning embedded here – it is those who refuse to change their mind, believing that God is behind the scorching heat, that this fire they experience is a direct punishment inflicted on them by God – this assertion is actually blasphemy of His character. Sadly most Christians, yea most people on this planet, embrace this blasphemous lie about God and presume it is simply a fact of religion. Yet here this is clearly identified as blasphemy against the reputation of God, and clinging to this dark view of Him never brings Him true glory.

They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. (Psalms 74:7 KJV)