A Seven-Angeled Sign - Rumor notes 149

 Revelation 15

1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished. 2 I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. 4 Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed."

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky

A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelation 12:1)

Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:1-3)

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. (Revelation 15:3)

In the New Testament, only these two verses couple great and marvelous to each other. As our view of God's activities are refined through the revelation of His heart by His Son Jesus Christ, it becomes clearer how these corroborate a goodness-only kind of God.

In the Old Testament there are five verses that have both of these words. Four of them involve God with one describing Uzziah, a king of Judah who set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper. (2 Chronicles 26:5) Where these two words show up in relation to him is in the description of some of his inventions of war. He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, until he was strong. (2 Chronicles 26:15)

Here are more verses containing both of these words (in the original):

If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, "then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues-great and prolonged plagues-and serious and prolonged sicknesses. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59 NKJV)

Then the lord will render notorious your calamities, and the calamities of your seed, great and surprising calamities, and severe and sure diseases. (Deuteronomy 28:59 ABP+)

For who is the one hiding you counsel, and sparing words, and imagines to hide you? And who announces to me things which I knew not, great and wonderful, things which I had no knowledge? (Job 42:3 ABP+)

For a child was born to us; a son was given to us, of whom the sovereignty became upon his shoulder; and his name is called, Messenger of great counsel, wonderful, counselor, mighty God, potentate, ruler of peace, father of the eon about to be. For I will bring peace upon the rulers, and his health. (Isaiah 9:6 ABP+)

And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, (Daniel 9:4 NKJV)

Here are a few more verses that resonate with the same theme:

But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God, who does great things that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number; who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields; so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety. (Job 5:8-11)

Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. (Psalms 17:7)

Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him. (Psalms 98:1)

Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh's works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. (Psalms 111:1-2)

Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. (Psalms 145:6)

therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden. (Isaiah 29:14)

Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?" says Yahweh of Armies. Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness." (Zechariah 8:6-8)

seven angels having the seven last plagues

There is a helpful saying I learned in school long ago as an assist for unpacking the meaning of messages being read. It was a series of questions that can be applied to anything to sort of cover the bases in order to appreciate more fully the intent of the writer. The questions were each summarized with a single word – Who, What, Where, When, How and Why.

When I apply that list of questions I find a surprising tight fit with this chapter. Let me just summarize and then we can dig deeper into each one as we move through this chapter.

Who – seven angels.

What – they have seven last plagues related to God's wrath, and are given bowls full of something.

Where – John sees a sea of glass mixed with fire.

When – when these people have overcome the beast, his image and the number of his name.

How – they are standing on top of the sea, using harps of God and singing songs of victory.

Why – because God is great and marvelous, righteous and true, holy and worthy of worship.

The tell-tale clues here connect these 7 angels to God's loyal friends who follow the Lamb wherever He goes and who rely on His methods alone. They may well be the 144,000.

The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. (Revelation 15:6-8)

These 7 plagues will be unpacked in greater detail in the next chapter. But before we jump to conclusions about how or why they transpire, we need to better understand this chapter first.

Notice the identifying feature here of the last 7 plagues and how it links to the meaning of God's wrath in the rest of this sentence. This alludes to the plagues that came on Egypt during the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery by God. In that story there are 10 plagues, with the first 3 affecting everyone including God's people in Goshen. But beginning with number 4 God made a distinction between those loyal to Him and the unbelieving Egyptians during the last 7 plagues.

What is the significance of this distinction, and how might this impact how we interpret this prophecy? This final round of plagues expose a clear distinction so there is no longer any question as to who everyone on earth is serving and from whom they are deriving their identity.

I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am Yahweh in the midst of the earth. I will put a division between my people and your people: by tomorrow shall this sign be. (Exodus 8:22-23)

"They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him." (Malachi 3:17-18)

God is the one taking the initiative to make the distinction here. Keep in mind the context we have been seeing for several chapters, how those who worship the beast, the image and have the mark are similar to those who wielded power in Egypt. The mark of the beast will also involve a counterfeit day of worship based on a false view of God that makes Him out to be like the dragon. This will be concentrated in an imposition of forced worship on a substitute day refuting the true day of rest that symbolizes God respect for the freedom of each person to choose for themselves who they will serve.

Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you. (Exodus 31:13)

Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them. (Ezekiel 20:12)

I am Yahweh your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them; and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God. (Ezekiel 20:19-20)

It is no coincidence that the word sign is directly linked with the true Sabbath, and that sign is also describing what is outlined in this and the following chapter.

These plagues are identified as the last ones because this is the point in history where it finally becomes completely clear whose side each person has chosen to be on permanently.

in them God's wrath is finished

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. (Revelation 15:8)

This phrase is of extreme importance, so an accurate understanding of the true meaning of God's wrath is essential to properly unpack the symbols of these chapters. We have reviewed this many times, but as a reminder, God's wrath involves His strange act to withdraw His protective power from around people who have so stubbornly resisted His love and truth that He is blocked from preventing terrible but inevitable consequences from taking over their lives.

For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim, he will rage as in the valley of Gibeon; to do his deed--strange is his deed! and to work his work--alien is his work! Now therefore do not scoff, or your bonds will be made stronger; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land. Listen, and hear my voice; Pay attention, and hear my speech. (Isaiah 28:21-23 NRSV)

The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" (Revelation 16:17)

I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I will keep it night and day. Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together. Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Let him make peace with me. (Isaiah 27:3-5)

"Your words have been stout against me," says Yahweh. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against you?' You have said, 'It is vain to serve God;' and 'What profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Yahweh of Armies? Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.'

Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name. They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him. (Malachi 3:13-18)

How does this discernment happen? By observing the reaction of those exposed by the glory of God through the praises, thanksgiving and reflection of His character in His children on earth.

Discernment is what true judgment involves. The greatest light of truth about God and reality comes alone through the witness of Jesus, and He declared that His light is the cause of true judgment, defined as what happens in reaction to His words and presence. Truth, light and love polarizes people as it exposes their disposition and character, making obvious what was obscured previously. That summarizes what is happening in these two chapters we are are coming into now.

The incarnation, teachings, life, death and resurrection of Christ as a human was the greatest act of judgment ever. He plainly said that it will be the words He has spoken that will be our judge on the final day of God's judgment. Particularly in the last hours of His life leading up to His death, we see parallels that can shed light on the nature of these plagues that will be experienced by the rejectors of God's mercy. At the grand climax of Jesus' suffering that was caused by absorbing the effects of all the sins of the world into Himself, He triumphantly cried out, It is finished! That is the anchor point for appreciating what these ensuing chapters reveal to us about the nature of God's wrath. This is key for unpacking the true meaning behind the symbols used in these two chapters.

The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:1-2)

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:26-28)

I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. (John 17:4)

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3)

Not only is exposure of God's truth and love finished, but also the fruit of sin will be completely exposed. This is what we found as we studied the two harvests at the end of the previous chapter.

But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:23-24)

What we have listed here are parallels that have already been experienced and exposed by Christ's suffering. This time however, this same testimony will be exhibited on a global scale through faithful witnesses, a select group in Revelation – the Lamb's special ops forces. I believe these are who are represented in this chapter, because they so thoroughly identify with the Lamb that God can entrust them with the privilege of channeling His glory in the darkness of depravity and evil, once again inducing an explicit distinction between those who serve God and those who do not. They reflect God's glory in their patient endurance and total dependence on Christ in them, their hope of glory, the true reflector of God's heart. This is in sharp contrast to the sinister views of those reacting violently to the terrible 'punishment's' the wicked imagine as being inflicted on them by God.

This 'finish' is a key thread that runs through this book and cannot be ignored. We find it in strategic locations that help to organize in our thinking how these sets of 7's intersect with each other. Here are clues that can help weave the larger picture together.

I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.

The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:1-2, 5-7)

It is key for understanding the meaning of this thread, to trace the true identity of this mighty angel along with the contexts where He shows up. He is also found in the prophecies of Daniel.

"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased." [This back and forth relates to searching the scrolls for better understanding by those in the time of the end. That is us right now. This is a promise that wisdom and knowledge will be increased for those searching and praying for it, to improve appreciation for how God will accomplish final resolution of the problem of evil with His methods alone.]

Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:1-7)

Let's gain an even clearer ID check on this man in linen mentioned by Daniel in this passage that so closely parallels what we are reading here in Revelation.

In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (Daniel 10:4-6)

Both this description and the one in Revelation 10 correspond closely to what is described as Jesus in Revelation 1 and other places. This is important to help clarify in our thinking the identity of the active agents at work in the various prophecies.

It is pre-incarnate Jesus who is the Prince of God's chosen people that was referred to by an angel in the hearing of Daniel.

It is Jesus who previously had taken on the form of an angel (Philippians 2:7) called Michael, that name meaning One who is like God.

It is Jesus who stands above the river, while from John's perspective He is seen as having one foot on the land and one on the sea/waters.

It is Jesus who lifts His hand and swears with an oath, emphasizing the extreme importance of what He is declaring as being absolutely infallible and trustworthy.

In Daniel's vision this 'Angel,' who at that point had not yet taken on the human form we now call Jesus, declared under oath that it shall be for a time, times, and a half. Whatever it is (and this is hinted at in the words that follow), it comes to an end after this specified period of time repeated in various places prophetically, including in Revelation 11. This is the same period of time as mentioned in Daniel when Michael says, when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. In Revelation we find something similar outlined.

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. I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11:1-3)

This same number is repeated, albeit in different formats, three times between these two passages. This must involve something very aggressive and hostile to the people of God, a force that will break their power in pieces and trample their holy city. In Daniel it is seen in the future while in Revelation it is more present tense. This is expanded in Revelation 10-11 involving two witnesses, and this description is strategically placed as happening just before the 7^th trumpet sounds.

This brings us back to where we began, looking at the key players who are involved in all this.

but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)

It goes without saying that one of the prophets this is referring to is the prophecy we looked at by Daniel. This prophecy is paralleled in Revelation as a launching pad to expand on it.

Let's condense this some to help wrap our mind around it to see how the pieces might fit with each other. Keep in mind the context in which we are working here. We are seeking to identify implications of something very profound, large and mysterious being brought to a finish point, a culmination, a point of clarity and fuller resolution, for awareness instead of continued mystery.

A key point here is when these 7 angels complete their assigned tasks, then God's wrath is finished. Let's see how this idea of being finished links with the other references here.

In chapter 10 in the time just preceding the 7^th trumpet, the mystery of God is finished.

In the prophecy of Daniel, finished is linked to a specific period of time – 1260 years.

The same number is found in Revelation with further context in chapter 11.

When creation was finished, God rested on the seventh day.

When redemption was finished by Christ on the cross, God rested on the Sabbath day.

When sin is full grown (finished, completed) it brings forth death.

The final finish described by Paul includes a hint at what we are finding here in chapter 15.

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:23-24)

Christ is the one who created this world in concert with the Father and the Spirit. When the creating work was finished, the Sabbath became a commemoration of that victory. This has a lot to do with finishing, completion of a final resolution of all doubts that our creation was designed to address.

On the cross Christ again finished a work He came to do. That work was again to address the lies, doubts and theft of the peace and harmony throughout the universe caused by the agitation of the enemy who became exposed as the Son of God allowed the very heart of evil to torture and kill God while only responding in love and forgiveness to the point of death. At the completion of that demonstration, both of ultimate evil and full revelation of God's heart, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'It is finished!' This is who Paul refers to as being the first fruit. So how might 'those who are Christ's' fit into this finishing of the mystery and/or the wrath of God here in the time of the end?

I find it likely that this group of beings are portrayed here as being entrusted by the Lamb to demonstrate the same revelation of God's heart, this time on a worldwide scale. They suffer similar abuse, resistance and contradiction of sinners as did Christ, only this time there is no redemptive death needed, only a final revelation through humans to fully convince the entire cosmos that God is love and is fully worthy of all trust, because He can accomplish what He says He can do, by transforming sinful human beings into matured specimens of glorious humanity restored to their original design to give expression to the image of their Maker and develop His likeness of character.

Thus the mystery of God is finished – the mystery of how rebels can become authentic saints.

Thus the wrath of God is finished – releasing rejectors of His mercy to the effects of their choices.

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?