Revelation 14 - Introduction

The Fifth Vision - The Final Day of Judgment (chapter 14).

We must see this vision as a whole. Revelation 14:6 are parenthetical. John says in quick succession ‘I saw the Lamb on Mount Zion' with the pure firstfruits, and ‘I saw one like to a son of man, having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle' ready to harvest the earth who are ‘dried up' (v. 15)', and then describes the gathering of the vintage for the winepress of the wrath of God (18-20). First the firstfruits, then the harvest and then the vintage.

The first picture draws attention to the One Who was slain and redeemed men for Himself, gathering His own as the firstfruits without blemish and without spot, having made them wholesome grain and fruit, the others draw attention to the Son of Man Who has received His kingdom and is now about to exert His authority with a sceptre and sickle of judgment on those who are a dried up harvest and to deal with them in the light of the wrath of God against sin. It is the final judgment of the righteous and the unrighteous.