Lynn Willis Supporter Obedient Daughter of the High King of the Universe

I interpret this to mean that the entire world will be judged... when you harvest a crop, there is some that is good, and some that is bad, but either way the entire crop is dealt with at harvest. Some of the crop goes to market, and some is used to feed the stock.

Same with us... some are good in God's eyes i.e. believers, obedient and faithful, and some are bad, unbelievers, disobedient and unfaithful, but either way ALL will be judged/harvested appropriately in the proper season/end (end times as referenced in Revelations).

A simple view I know but... just the way it translates to me!

Blessings,
in HIM,
Lynn

January 03 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Carolyn Hostetter Supporter Wife, mother, grandmother, retired church administrator

In my humble opinion, I would think that Matthew 13:24-30 would give the answer. This is the parable about the wheat and the tares. All will be harvested, but only the true believes will be recognized by Jesus.

January 03 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Billy P Eldred Supporter

First, let me state emphatically that this is just my opinion. Many would disagree with me but this is the way that I understand the book of Revelations. 

The verse you refer to is the Rapture of the saved. I believe that there will be a mid-tribulation Rapture not a pretribulation Rapture. I base this on many things. In the book of Daniel and elsewhere, we are told of a period of seven years that there would be a great Tribulation. Also Daniel speaks of times, times and half a time (three and one half years) which is also mentioned in Revelation having to do with the seven year Tribulation period. Other verses speak of one thousand two hundred sixty and one thousand two hundred ninety days, also three and one half years. It is clear that the mid-point of Tribulation is important. 

Secondly, it is clear that Christians are present through the first half of Tribulation and are spoken of frequently during the first half of the book of Revelation. Those who teach of a pretribulation Rapture teach that these are those who get saved after the Rapture. I personally don't believe that once believers are taken out that there could be a mass of conversions with none to witness to them. Also 2 Thessilonians chapter 2 speaks of One who holds back the man of Lawlessness until He is taken out of the way. I believe this One is the Holy Spirit. And I believe that Rev. 13:10 is the time when He will be taken out of the way. "If anyone will be taken into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone will be killed with the sword, he will killed with the sword." Which is another way of saying in the vernacular of the time it was written, you can no longer be saved. (Because the Holy Spirit will no longer be present.) 

Also we are told (Also in 2 Thessilonians I think) that "the gift of tongues is for the believer" (so that they may become believers), but "the gift of prophecy is for believers." In the beginning of the book of Revelation, we are told that it is a book of prophecy. In other words it was written for believers. Why would believers need to know it if we were not going to be there? 

The way that I understand the seven year period of Tribulation is that for the first three and one half years, Satan will be allowed to persecute the Saints. This will be a last chance for the unsaved to be saved. After this period, God steps in and says I have had enough. He will then take out His people (the verse you mentioned the Harvest of the Earth) and the Holy Spirit and then poor out His wrath on those remaining who chose the Beast (Satan) and took his mark. 

There are many other verses and references to this period on which I based my conclusions but due to space here I think the above conveys the gist of it.

January 04 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Revelation 14:16: And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

This revelation was given to disciple John, for after the rapture of the church, (1 Thes 4:17) the antichrist will come and force the people to take the mark of the beast on their forehead or their hand. (Rev 13:16/14:11) For then there will be an angel in heaven during this time having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, for every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, who will then reveal to those who have the right discernment to fear God and give glory to Him. For the time of the harvest will be at hand, the earth's harvest will be ripe, and the hour of judgment will come. (Rev 14:6-7,15) This preaching will be done by revealing through the angel, especially during the end times, and the Lord shall see those who do not endure sound doctrine but after their lust heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears. (2 Tim 4:3)

During this time there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanliness. For it shall come to pass that in the land prophets having unclean spirits shall be put to shame, and the Lord shall cut off two parts of the people therein that shall die and the third shall be “left to be refined through fire.” (Zech 13) For there shall be an unclean spirit coming out of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the prophets working miracles and leading the nation to a battle of the great day of the Lord coming at Armageddon. (Rev 13:5/16:12-16)

Then shall the Lord Jesus come, (John 21:23) and His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem, for those who shall be “refined” shall flee to the valley of the mountains for He shall come with all the saints that shall “be with them.” For on that day, the light shall not be clear nor dark, but it shall be neither day nor night for the whole earth will be harvested. (Zec 14:4-6/Rev 14:1) 

Zechariah 14:4: And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof towards the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

March 08 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Daniel Veler Supporter

The Harvest is taught in Matthew 13:39: The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
In revelation you see the Harvest explained with more information added to it.

If you will notice in Revelation, at the harvest the wicked are not cast into the furnace at this time. They are cast into the wine-press of the Wrath of God. They are not cast into the Lake of Fire yet. Why are there differences between the two accounts? The reason is because the writer in the gospel is recalling the teachings of Christ, whereas in Revelation we’re seeing the account explained by the Lord himself.

In Revelation 14:19: 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. 

Do you see the difference? The wicked will suffer the seven vials of God wrath first. The righteous will not. They are gathered unto the Lord. 

Just to give you a little more information concerning the wicked suffering the wrath of God: It is written in Job that all the wicked are brought forth to the day of wrath. Job asked the question to those around him, "Are the wicked reserve for the day of judgment?

Here is what Job writes: Job 12: 29: Have ye not asked them that go by the way? And do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

What Job is telling us here is that the wicked are brought forth to the day of wrath, which means they, too, will suffer the seven vials of the Wrath of God.

March 13 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kenneth Heck Supporter

There is some confusion for Christians between the word "earth" and "world" in the Bible. For example, Rev. 16:14 says "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." The earth in this context appears to be a part of the world, but not identical with it. 

The harvesting or reaping of the earth is done with a sickle, suggesting the use of sharp metal blades. Swords, spears and arrows were the primary weapons during John's lifetime. Notice that the earth is harvested first for grain and next for grapes, an allusion to the bread and wine of holy communion. 

These two harvests refer to great battles against the 10-horned beast in the future which will be won by the forces of God near the region of the Holy Land. Looking at the Old Testament, we find the battle of Bozrah (Isa 63:1-6) with a suggestive reference to Christ's intervention. For the harvest of grapes there is the battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat where the sickle and winepress are mentioned (Joel 3:9-15). In each case the gentile nations of the earth around Israel are gathered together - under the beast - to destroy Israel, but suffer astounding defeats and incredible casualties.

January 05 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report