The Reaping of the Earth Revelation 14:16

After writing about the “beast or the antichrist” and “the dragon – the devil or Satan” being worshiped by people upon the earth, John the apostle wrote, “ 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. 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”, and in chapter fourteen and verse sixteen of Revelation John heard the angel on the cloud instructed to, “thrust in his sickle...and the earth was reaped” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth;” John began with the words, “and he that sat” which means “and the One who was like the Son of man who sat, was sitting and dwelt” “on the cloud” or “upon the bright, brilliant and shining cloud” “thrust in” which means “inserted and put forth” “his sickle” or “his pruning hook or hooked vine knife such as reapers and vine-dressers use” “on the earth” or “upon the arable land, territory, country and region”. John watched as the “angel like the Son of man” used his “pruning hook” to take a “harvest” from the world.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the earth was reaped.” John continued with the words, “and the earth” which means “the arable land, country, territory and region” “was reaped” or “was harvested or like crops being cut down”. John watched as the “angel like the Son of man” “harvested” His believers from the world.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how there will be a time of “reaping” in the tribulation period. Though the church was taken to heaven in the “rapture” of the church, there will be a time during all the chaos in the world where Jesus will receive His believers unto Himself. God currently desires every person to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, but should they wait until all havoc breaks out on the earth, the plan of “salvation” remains – repent of sins, ask God for forgiveness and believe and trust in Jesus Christ as a personal “Savior and Lord”. May all who read these words know and understand.

Next time John watches as there appeared, “another angel … having a sharp sickle”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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