Understanding the Two Harvests of Revelation 14

Revelation 14:15-20

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

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

17 And 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, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that 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 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.

20 And the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

The harvest of the earth in Revelation 14:15-16 represents the gathering of God's faithful commandment-keeping people at the second coming of Christ, while the clusters of the vine of the earth represent the wicked who have fully ripened for destructionSSP 263.2+2.

The Two Harvsts of the Earth 🌾🍇

The close of human probation is followed by two distinct reapings that finalize the destiny of the entire human raceEVRR563+1.

• The Wheat Harvest: When the Son of man sits upon the white cloud with a golden crown and a sharp sickle, He is gathering the "wheat" of the earthSSP 263.2+1:14. This harvest consists of the objects of God’s final mercy—those who have kept the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revelation 14:12, 14-16HST September 4, 1844, page 34.32+1. This gathering occurs at the second advent, when the saints are redeemed and established in the heavenly kingdomSSP 263.2+2.

• The Vintage of the Earth: Following the gathering of the righteous, a different angel appears to gather the "vine of the earth"SSP 263.2+1. Unlike the heavenly vine—where Christ is the true vine and His people are the branches—this earthly vine is of Satanic origin, characterized as the "vine of Sodom" whose grapes are gall and whose wine is the poison of dragons Deuteronomy 32:32-33SSP 263.2.

The Clusters of the Vine of the Earth 🍷

The clusters of the vine of the earth are not the people of God; they represent the unsaved and the enemies of the truth who have reached the full measure of their iniquityEVRR526+2.

• Ripening in Sin: Just as the righteous are ripened by the final message of mercy, the unbelieving are prepared for destruction by their rejection of the truthBIAD 69.2+1. This ripening includes the growth of spiritualism and the habitual practice of sin and selfishnessPTUK April 19, 1894, page 246.8+1.

• The Winepress of God's Wrath: These clusters are cast into the "great winepress of the wrath of God" because they have chosen the pleasures of sin over salvationSSP 263.2+1. This winepress represents the execution of divine judgment, specifically the seven last plagues, which are poured out without any mixture of mercy Revelation 15:1EVRR563+2.

The Treading of the Winepress 🐎

The treading of this winepress is a symbolic picture of the final conflict and the total destruction of those who oppose GodEVRR526+1.

• Massive Slaughter: The description of blood coming out of the winepress up to the horses' bridles for sixteen hundred furlongs signifies an appalling and worldwide slaughter of the ungodly Revelation 14:20EVRR526+1.

• Christ the Avenger: Although Christ trod the winepress of suffering alone at His first advent to purchase salvation, He returns as the King of Kings to tread the winepress of wrath alone as the legal Avenger and Judge Revelation 19:11-16+1EVRR674+2.

• Final Separation: This event marks the end of the day of vengeance, ensuring that sin and sinners are forever separated from the presence of the Lord 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9DAR 636.2+2.