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| .Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. | Patience
of the saints Comparison with earlier patient saints gives perspective,
note
a.
Patience Or "perseverance." note b. Identified in note c. Commandments ... faith The foundation for a complete relationship, note d. |
| .13 ¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. | Voice
John heard the voice of the glorified Christ who told him to writer re0111.
We may assume that the voice is the same here. The first note recognizes
the comfort we may draw at the death of a loved one. In note
d, we consider the command to write.
Die ... from henceforth We put the verse in perspective in note b and identify the blessing in note c. Labours From Greek kopoi, meaning "hard work" that results in weariness. As 2co0605, 1th0103. Works do follow From erga, meaning "activities," a term with broader meaning. For symbolic significance see note e. On another page, find an interesting pattern in the text from here to the end of the chapter (14) and another harmonizing all of the chapter. Note f. |
| .14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. | Looked
... white cloud John must have first seen the cloud 1ki1844.
See note. Also ac0109,
lu2127,
re0107
Like ... Son of man It was Jesus, but different. Crown ... sickle You can understand what these symbolize. |
| .15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. | Another
angel John frequently uses this term. Here the angel could be different
from the three of verses 6 to 9 or a new one on the scene which was one
of the three. I have taken the latter position. The difference isn't critical.
Out of the temple See note. Time is come Human probation will one day close je0820. The coming out of the temple also indicates the end of probation le1623. Reap The grain represents the righteous. They are received into heaven before the grapes are trampled (time of trouble of Dan. 12:1). See note. |
| .16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. | Thrust
in Christ does not descend all the way to the earth at the time
of His coming 1th0417.
Earth reaped See mt2431. |
| .17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. | Angel ... out of the temple As in v15 but this angel would announced the fate of the wicked. |
| .18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. | From
the altar ... fire Pictured in re0805.
Also fire would punish the beast followers re1410.
Gather the clusters Grapes come in bunches parallel to the tares (weeds) sown by an enemy being gathered in bundles to be burned. See note. Fully ripe No question about the justice of God in gathering the wicked at this time. |
| .19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. | Gathered
the vine ... winepress See note.
Wrath of God Not in a spirit of hatred but in justice. Compare re1501. |
| .20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. | Winepress
outside the city As will be the destruction of the wicked at the
end of the thousand years re2009.
Christ Himself rides a white horse and treads the winepress re1915.
Horse bridles With more than this the horse would be submerged or swimming. [1600] furlongs 184 miles or 295 km. What does this mean? I simply don't know although I have shared some thoughts. Perhaps it is a prophecy we will be able to understand by events yet to transpire. The Bible provides enough that we can know so we will not run out of exploring and being able to praise God. |
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