In verses 17-20, we see the second of the two visions that bring chapter
14 to a close. We also said the purpose of these two visions is more about
salvation rather than condemnation, because the salvation discussed in
Revelation is about salvation-through-suffering. This vision about harvest and vintage
will show us more clearly why it is strikingly so.
In these verses, an angel came out of the temple in heaven and like the
Son of Man, he too has a sickle. In this vision, there is yet another angel with
power over fire. He came out of the altar calling out loudly to the one with
the sickle, to gather the vintage. He is specifically told to put
in the sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe. So that angel with the sickle swung straight into action and gathered clusters
of grapes and throw them into the great wine press of God’s wrath.
Why did John say here that grapes were thrown into the wine press of God’s
wrath? The book of Isaiah is very likely the source where John got his
material. In Isaiah 63, we see a royal figure. He is the Messiah whom the
prophet had developed from Isaiah 9 and 11, and also from the Servant described
in Isaiah 42 and 53. He is seen to be treading the grapes all by Himself. His garment
is being stained with the juice of the crushed grapes in the process. He is
seen to do so to seek vengeance on the people. He does so by crushing and trampling
on the people who had destroyed God’s earth and enslave God’s people. Standing
alone, this would have led us to conclude that harvesting the grapes and
throwing them into the winepress of God’s wrath is referring to the coming judgement.
But in John’s references in Revelation 19:13-16, the stain on the Messiah’s
clothes was His own blood. In Revelation, we are told repeatedly that the Lamb
had conquered through His blood and His sacrificial death. And His followers
are to do so in the same way. It’s true
that the way God works out salvation and the way He works out His wrath are
vitally connected. They both met at the cross and also in the martyrdom of the followers
of Jesus. So N.T. Wright said that "The wine press is where God’s wrath is being prepared, for Babylon and
those who worship the monster to drink. And the wine is the lifeblood of the
martyrs who are being harvested."
Verse 20 tells us that the wine press was trodden outside the city. This
makes it clearer on the above explanation. If this is about judgement than the
wine press should be right in the heart of the city and not outside it. Outside
the city as we know is a reference to where Jesus was taken to be crucified. Interestingly,
in Acts 7:58, Stephen the first martyr of the church was also taken “outside
the city” to be stoned. It’s hard to comprehend the horrid description of the “blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for
a distance of two hundred miles.” Bear
in mind that we are dealing with symbols here in Revelation. Whether this refers to the enormity of God’s grace or judgement,
it’s hard to tell.
God will ultimately bring His plan to fruition. In the meantime, Christians
are called to endure the trials and suffering with joy. So like James had said,
let us consider it all joy, when we face
different kinds of trails. When we confidently face them with patience and endurance,
it will yield amazing results. We will certainly come to a point where we will
be complete and lacking nothing. We have
nothing to lose!
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