JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL

REVELATION 14:12-20

Lesson 18

Intro: The message of hope runs like a golden thread throughout the patterns of God’s word.  While studying the severe judgments, God always provides for His own a place of refuge.  Our last study closed as we considered the end of Satan and the Trinity of evil.

In verse 11 we see that there will be torment forever and ever and, there will be no rest or reprieve for those who worshipped the trinity of evil.

         I.      Blessing is pronounced upon the saints of God. (Vs 12,13)

a.       Here is the proper perspective of works and faith.

1.       The commandments of God are kept. (You don’t say one thing and do another.)

2.       Throughout the experience faith in the Lord Jesus is a key component.

a)   Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb. 11:6)

b)   Turning to faith in Christ moves one from judgment to the receiver of divine pardon and with no condemnation.  (Rom. 8:1)

b.       A blessing is pronounced for those who die in the Lord. (Vs 13)

1.       To this point in human history, it has been the desire to live rather than to die.

a)   But at this point in human history, which is the great tribulation, it is better to go to be with the Lord then to experience the wrath of the Lamb against a godless world which has given allegiance to Satan.

b)   Rest in the Lord and be rewarded for what has been done.

c)   Consider Rev. 22:12, which speaks of those rewards.

       II.      The time of harvest on the earth (Vs 14-16)

a.       This is an Old Testament truth.

1.       Jer. 51:33 – Judgment clearly the theme

2.       In Joel 3:11-16, we see judgment with the sickle mentioned as the harvest of sin which bears its fruit.

3.       The words, “I looked and behold” indicates another major theme is to be introduced.

b.       The Son of Man ( Vs 14)

1.       The white cloud has been a symbol of the second advent of Christ. (Acts 1:11 and Luke 21:27)

2.       Without doubt the individual mentioned here is our blessed Lord. (Rev. 1:17, II Thess. 2:8)

3.       The golden crown (Matt. 25:31 – Dan. 7:13,14)

c.       A sharp sickle ( Vs 14)

1.       Sickle is mentioned 11 times in the Bible and 7 of these are here in our text.

a)   The earth is about to be cleared of its ill and sinful ways.

b)   The climactic judgments relating to the second coming are in view.

d.       The fact that the second angel comes from the temple indicates this judgment is proceeding from the righteousness of God. (Vs 15)

1.       The rotten moral condition of the world is dealt with now.

2.       The phrase, “the harvest of the earth is ripe,” indicates or implies that judgment is over due.

3.       The time has come for judgment to reach forth and accomplish its intended purpose.

e.       From verse 16 we learn the Son of Man is the one who does the judging.  (John 5:22-23)

      III.      The judgment of God (Vs 17-20)

a.       Another angel now comes from the temple having a sharp sickle.

1.       Again here the thought is concentrated upon judgment.   (Sharp sickle indicates the severity of the judgment.)

2.       In verse 18, we have another angel coming from the alter exhorting the angel from the temple.

a)   The angel from the alter would indicate he is acting in response to the prayers of the saints.

b)   The saints have been praying for divine judgment upon the wicked.

c)   The fact that this angel has power over fire seems to show the purging judgment of which he is capable.

3.       Twice the sharp sickle is mentioned, and now they are to harvest the clusters of the vine, which contain fully ripe fruit.

a)   These grapes are seen as fully ripe and bursting with juice. 

b)   The time has come for the final harvest.

1)       The church and Israel were to bear the fruit of righteousness.

2)       Here is a vine producing wickedness and corruption.

4.       The vine is used often in the Bible ( Ps. 80:14-15, Isa. 5:2-7 Jer. 2:21, Hosea 10:1)

b.       The wine press of the wrath of God (Vs 19,20)

1.       In Deut. 32:31-35, Moses long ago spoke of this Day of Judgment.  (Rev. 19:15 is the actually literal fulfillment of all the Bible predictions.)

2.       In verse 20 we are told that the blood shall run or be spattered to the horses bridles for a length of 180 to 200 miles.

a)   Josephus says that when Titus took Jerusalem, the Roman soldiers slew so many that the blood ran down the streets. “Fires of many houses were quenched with men’s blood.”

b)   Here the armies of the world will be gathered to do battle with the Son of God.  (Again in Rev. 19:15, the sharp sword that goeth from His mouth will deliver the final blow.)

3.       Again in Isa. 34:7,8 and Isa 63:1-6, we have the Old Testament prophecies of this event.

a)   Armageddon is not the thought of some man but rather the prediction of the God of the universe.

b)   Remember, for the child of God and the Church, this will be a scene we shall view from Heaven.