Many of remember Paul Harvey using this line years ago, “And now you know the End of the Story.”
Revelation 14:6-20 (NKJV) The Proclamations of Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. 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 ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Reaping the Earth's Harvest
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Reaping the Grapes of Wrath
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
Do you know anyone who warns their child multiple times about something they are not supposed to be doing? My wife and daughter both have this trait. It can be a fault, but it is due to their inability to do “Tough Love.” But, there is another case. In this case (vv.6 & 7), God is about to deliver His wrath on those still living on this earth. If anyone has not received the mark of the devil, it is their last opportunity to worship our Creator, for His wrath is about to be poured out.
Those with the devil’s mark are doomed. They are promised that they will be tormented forever and ever (vv.9-11).
Those in Babylon have already felt God’s wrath for this city, which there are many guesses to which city this is, since Babylon fell hundreds of years ago. Many believe this to be the USA. I myself believe that it is Rome. One must remember, that these are all guesses although educated in nature.
Where is His church at this point in the future? Many theologians believe that they are in Heaven with the LORD and have been since Revelation chapter four, since there is no mention of the church after that.
Most of us believe in a “Rapture” which will be questioned by many, since the word does not appear anywhere in the Scripture. The Greek word “rappos” is used and it means to be “caught up” and is used in Thessalonian by Paul.
If we look at today’s scripture, verses 14 through 16, we may notice that the scene, if you will, is taking place in a white cloud. John records that the Son of Man is sitting on this white cloud.
As a basis for why I believe that this is describing the “Rapture”, we need to look at a couple of key passages:
Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV) 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
From this scripture, we are absolutely certain that Christ will appear in like manner as He ascended 2000 years ago. He was received by the clouds (v.9), and upon His return, He will be received by us, in the clouds.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NKJV) 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.
There is going to be several things involved with Jesus returning for His saints. There is a descension (the opposite of ascension), a shout, the voice of an archangel and a trumpet of God.
Let’s take a brief look at that in Revelation Eleven.
Revelation 11:15-19 (NKJV) 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thundering’s, an earthquake, and great hail.
We just read about the seventh trumpet being sounded and there were loud voices in heaven. It is important to note that in verse 15, we are told that the kingdoms of the world have become once again the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Amen.
At this juncture, the kingdoms of this earth no longer belong to Satan and his thugs. God is about to rapture His children and destroy what is left on His earth.
Also, important is where another angel is recorded by John as exiting the temple, basically telling Jesus that it is time to reap. That ties in nicely with Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:36-37 (NKJV) 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
So, the one who knows when it is, would have to be in the temple and it would have to be God, since He is the only one who knows the time of our rapture. It would be great if we could find scripture that would indicated that God is in the temple at this point.
Revelation 15:5-8 (NKJV) 5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then 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. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
God is in fact in His temple and He is alone. The seven angels are about to deliver the seven bowls of God’s wrath, and so in Chapter 14, this is just about ready to occur, and that is precisely why His church must be raptured, as promised.
Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:21-22 (NKJV) 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24 confirms that we are to be gathered, we saints, at this point. In Matthew 24:22, we are told that the days of the great tribulation will be shorted for us less no flesh be saved.
The wrath of God is thought to be in the last year of the Great Tribulation, based on Daniel and Revelation. That would make sense since we now know that for us, having it shortened and knowing we will not be around for His Wrath is comforting, or should be.
So, in verse 16, the rapture has occurred, and it is now time for God’s Wrath in verse 17. Again, an angel is coming out of the temple in heaven where God has closed Himself up.
What happens here, is much different than in the previous verses. Now there is a winepress involved and it is called the “great winepress of the wrath of God.” These have to be those who took the mark of the devil and they are about to suffer through seven bowls of God’s Wrath.
There is a lot of blood involved and elsewhere we can read that the birds were scheduled to feast on the dead carcasses and some on the blood (like vultures).
To “End this story”, we must jump through the bowl judgments, through the battle of Armageddon, through the millennium and finally through the White Throne of Judgment. Those will be separate sermons next year.
But where the “End of this story” for we saints begins, is when we witness the New Earth, New Heaven and New Jerusalem. There we shall live with our God and His Son, forever and ever. Amen.
So, what’s the message here? Is it a “scare tactic?” I say not! It is a warning with its basis—LOVE.
We are to abide in His Word and His Spirit so that none of this will be of any surprise. We are to be prepared—READY.
We need to get the Word out literally. This will be the END but a terrible BEGINNING for those who do NOT believe. We mustn't sit by and allow these billions of people to not only experience God’s Wrath on this earth but also the torment of the “Lake of Fire.”
Let’s promise ourselves to be more active in bringing lost souls into our church before it is too late.
God loves you and so do I.
