Another Angel with a Sharp Sickle Revelation 14:17

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 heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. 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 he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped”, and in chapter fourteen and verse seventeen of Revelation John saw, “another angel … having a sharp sickle” where we read:

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

The verse reads, “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, ...” John began with the words, “and another angel” which means “and one other certain messenger, envoy or one sent” “came out” or “proceeded and departed from” “of the temple” which means “the sacred place consisting of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies” “which is in heaven” or “that is located in the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. John watched as “another angel” proceeded from the “temple” which was located in “heaven”.

The verse continues, “... he also having a sharp sickle.” John added the words, “he also” which means “in addition this angel or messenger” “having” or “was holding, owned and possessed” “a sharp sickle” which refers to “a keen, swift and quick pruning hook or hooked vine knife such as reapers and vine-dressers use”. John saw this “angel” also possessed a “sharp” harvesting pruning-hook.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how God has employed several “messengers” to carry out His work of harvesting during the tribulation period. Though He could do all these things with simply a word, He chooses to use “angels” to “reap” His harvest. God desires to include not only “angels” but also people in His harvesting of souls upon the earth. In the gospel of John, chapter four and verse thirty five we get an idea of God's heart toward the harvesting of souls where we read, “Do you not say, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest”, and God's intent through His Son Jesus is to have “all people” to be “saved” and “reaped”. May all who read these words know and understand God's eternal desire for them.

Next time John watches how, “another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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