Rev 14:1-5
The Bloody Harvests
We have been preaching through the book of Revelation for some time.
By chapter 14. I believe we are into the 2nd half of the tribulation.
It is the time that Jesus referred to as the great tribulation
\\#Matt 24:21\\ and that Jeremiah referred to as ‘the time of Jacob’s
trouble." The anti-Christ, I believe, has been filled with the devil
and now has his control over the unified nations and the one-world
economy. The false trinity will be worshipped and the Jews and
Christians will be persecuted and killed.
At this point, God gives a warning to those who participate in this
false system. In fact, there are three announcements given through
three angels in this chapter (probably not literal).
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them,
saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the
beast and his image, and receive his mark in his
forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath
of God, which is poured out without mixture into
the cup of his indignation; and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence
of the holy angels, and in the presence of the
Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up
for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor
night, who worship the beast and his image, and
whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
However, as soon as the anti-Christ puts his kingdom together, it
will start to crack. Notice another of the announcements given here.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel,
saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great
city, because she made all nations drink of the
wine of the wrath of her fornication.
This prophecy is being given just after the half way point of the
tribulation, meaning God has determined the anti-Christ’s fall from
its height.
But even though the anti-Christ’s system will be limited and fragile,
it will be deadly, powerful, and cruel. Such is what we want to look
at in Revelation 14.
This chapter, I believe, divides itself in several way.
1. In time….
a. \\#Rev 14:1-5\\ Describes that present time.
b. \\#Rev 14:6-20\\ Are prophetic, describing what will
happen from that present time until the end of the
tribulation.
2. In events…
a. \\#Rev 14:1-5, 13-20\\ Describe three major harvests. By
harvest, I mean three major slaughters or killings.
b. \\#Rev 14:6-12\\ Describe three angelic messages.
This morning, I want us to consider the three major harvests or
slaughters which will take place from around the middle of the
tribulation until the end. Hold on. Things are going to get very
bloody.
I. \\#Rev 14:1-5\\ The First Harvest (Slaughter) Is of the Witnesses
A. \\#Rev 7:1-8\\ described the calling of the 144,000 Jews.
1. We call them witnesses not because the text tells us so
but because \\#Rev 7:9-17\\ describe a great host of
souls standing before God which we suppose to be the
final result of their ministry.
2. Their ministry is responsible for winning an uncountable
host to Jesus!
B. Some believe, I think falsely so, that the 144,000 will be
indestructible.
1. I do not see that from the Bible.
2. In fact, from chapter 14, I would say that they are killed
by the time we get into the 2nd half of the tribulation
for this is their welcome home.
C. Bible verses:
1. \\#14:1\\ They are on the spiritual Mount Zion.
2. They are all there—all 144,000.
3. \\#14:3\\ They are singing their own song, a song that
only they could sing.
a. \\#Rev 5:9\\ We, the redeemed, will have a song that
is for us to sing.
b. This is their song for they have a common bond for
Jesus.
4. \\#14:4\\ They did not defile themselves but remain as
virgins.
a. That means that they did not compromise or quit on
Jesus!
b. They paid the price of their lives!
5. They are the first fruits of the harvest. Israel has
three harvests.
a. The first fruit - These 144,000 are the first.
b. The main harvest - We will read of this harvest in
a moment.
c. The latter harvest - I think this will be those
who are saved by the end of the millennium.
D. So all of the 144,000 are killed.
1. Does that mean that God is left without a witness?
2. God called two men who are actually called witnesses
\\#Rev 11:3\\.
a. This witnesses will be invincible until their ministry
is completed, near the end of the 3 1/2 years.
b. The truth is God is very concerned that people hear
the gospel—even though He knows most will reject it.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel
to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue,
and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and
give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment
is come: and worship him that made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
c. Again, I do not think that is literally mainly because
that is not the way God works.
(1) He does not send angels to tell people about
Jesus. He sends people to tell people about
Jesus.
(2) But I think it does emphasize that even with the
persecution by the anti-Christ, that God’s
people still proclaim the news that Jesus saves!
II. \\#Rev 14:13-16\\ The Second Harvest (Slaughter) is of the
Righteous
A. Whereas I think the first harvest will complete just into the
second half of the tribulation, I believe the next two
harvests will start just into the second half of the
tribulation and conclude at the end of it.
1. In other words, I believe these next two harvests are
being prophesied.
2. Why? Mainly because I don’t know of any single event that
would fulfill all that the prophecy suggests.
3. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen all at once. It just
means that I don’t believe it will happen all at once.
B. The second harvest is the harvest of the righteous.
1. During the tribulation, especially the 2nd half of the
tribulation, the anti-Christ will seek out and kill Jews
and Christians.
2. This is taught throughout the Bible.
(a) Let’s remind ourselves of the anti-Christ’s new buy &
sell program.
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell,
save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name.
(b) And the words of Jesus.
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination
of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing where it ought not, (let him that
readeth understand,) then let them that be in
Judaea flee to the mountains:
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go
down into the house, neither enter therein, to
take any thing out of his house:
16 And let him that is in the field not turn
back again for to take up his garment.
17 But woe to them that are with child, and to
them that give suck in those days!
18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the
winter.
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such
as was not from the beginning of the creation
which God created unto this time, neither shall
be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those
days, no flesh should be saved: but for the
elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath
shortened the days.
(c) Since Jesus was quoting Daniel, let’s read what Daniel
said directly.
Da 7:25 And he shall speak great words against
the most High, and shall wear out the saints of
the most High, and think to change times and
laws: and they shall be given into his hand until
a time and times and the dividing of time.
Da 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not
by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and
shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
3. If you are thinking that all you have to do after the
rapture of the church is to get saved, think again.
(a) Every Christian will be wanted by the anti-Christ—
not for questioning or imprisonment—but for death.
(b) Remember, every Christians will have to refuse the
mark of the beast.
(1) You will not be able to buy or sell—anything.
(2) No food, no water, no shelter, no place to hide.
(c) You say, "Well, I will take the mark then."
(1) You cannot and be a Christian.
(2) Those who take the mark are damned
\\#Rev 14:9-11\\.
(d) The tribulation is not going to natural disaster or
a difficult situation. It is going to be an all out
war with technology and the devil himself hunting
for you.
C. Let’s come back to the text. Why do I think this is a
prophecy of Christians being persecuted? Because of the way
it is worded.
1. \\#Rev 14:13\\ It starts with a pronounced blessing upon
those who die.
a. There is rest and reward promised to them.
b. That is not the promise to the damned but to the
saved.
2. \\#Rev 14:14\\ It is not the anti-Christ who kills these
but the "Son of man" who gathers them home.
a. He does it with a sharp sickle implying that it is
a fast, swift death.
b. But it is still death.
c. Perhaps this Biblical image is where we get the story
of the Grim Reaper—however, death for the saint is
not grim! It is blessed.
3. \\#Rev 14:15\\ The harvest is ripe.
a. This is not tares but the harvest—grain, wheat—
things to be brought into the storehouse not to be
burned.
b. Ripe - Meaning it is time for them to be gathered.
(1) The saved do NOT belong on this world.
(2) We belong with the Lord.
(3) When the time comes, Our Lord gathers us to
Himself.
(4) That is what He will be doing the last half of
the tribulation.
(5) This then is the harvest of the grain!
III. \\#Rev 14:17-20\\ The Thrid Harvest (Slaughter) is of
Unrighteous
A. The third harvest is also prophetic. It is the harvest of the
unrighteous which now begins in earnest.
1. That is a difficult thing to say since already no less
than 1/2 of the world’s population has dead.
a. \\#Rev 6:8\\ tells us that 1/4 of the world’s
population dies as a result of the war, famine, and
disease that hits the world at the beginning of the
tribulation.
b. \\#Rev 9:18\\ tells us that another 1/3 die by the
demonic army which attacks the world toward the end
of the 1st half of the tribulation.
c. When added together, 1/4 and 1/3 equal 1/2.
2. Yet as bad as that was, this will be worse for this is God
killing most of the remainder of the population for their
offenses against Him.
B. How do I know that this is the harvest of the unrighteous?
Notice the details.
1. \\#17\\ An angel comes out with another sickle to indicate
another speedy harvest.
2. \\#18\\ This angel is directed by another angel who comes
out of the holy altar and has authority over the fire.
Fire from the altar is a picture of judgment.
3. \\#19\\ Once the grapes are harvested, they are cast into
the winepress of God’s wrath.
a. The grapes are not being gathered into the storehouse.
b. They are being destroyed!
c. Grape juice in the Bible is often a picture of blood
and the winepress is a picture of God’s judgment.
4. \\#20\\ Makes it clear that this the case by saying the
that blood comes out of the winepress.
5. This is a picture of God executing judgment upon the
wicked during the last half of the tribulation.
C. Some associate this image with the Battle of Armageddon. I
no longer believe it is. Why? Several reasons.
1. The fact the Battle of Armageddon is not mentioned here at
all.
2. It’s placement in the Book.
a. This is Revelation chapter 14.
b. We are just getting into the 2nd half of the
tribulation here.
c. The Battle of Armageddon will not be mentioned until
Revelation 16, closer to the end of the tribulation.
3. The distance that the blood will flow.
a. \\#20\\ 1,600 furlongs is 200 miles.
b. The Valley of Megiddo is a smaller valley, only about
20 miles long and 7 miles wide.
c. It is part of the larger Jezreel Valley but from end
to end, the whole Jezreel Valley is only about 35
miles long.
d. In fact, if we run the Megiddo, Jezreel, and Jordan
valleys together from their beginning to below
Jerusalem, they don’t total more than around 90 miles
in length.
e. In fact, from the most extreme points of Israel, from
north to south, the entire country is only 263 miles.
f. The bottom line is that these valleys are just
physically too small to be fulfilled in those
valleys.
4. All of this section seems to me to be symbolic.
D. So does that mean that this will not literally happen?
1. That I don’t know.
2. However, there WILL be enough people killed that their
blood could fill up a valley up to the horse’s bridle!
3. That would be billions of people!
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