The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 14:15b,
"Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
An angel comes out of the temple (indicating he has orders from the Father on his throne) and calls out "in a loud voice", verse 15a, (indicating a final and authoritative command from the Father) to "one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head", verse 14, to reap. It is time for the harvest of the earth, the harvest of mankind. Those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will be awarded their place in God's family and bestowed with the wonderful riches of the lavish inheritance God blesses them with. The remainder of mankind will be thrown "into the great winepress of God's wrath." Verse 19.
As I think of this "harvest", this metaphor of the judgement of mankind brings to mind some realities that are sobering. Not the least of which is that there will be a "harvest" at some particular and specific time. Just as a farmer watches his crop, the weather, the market and all the other factors involved, he makes a decision at some point: "this is it." He looks no longer for additional growth, for a bigger harvest, but makes his call and goes out to harvest, bringing the growth of the crop to a close.
So, too, is the kingdom of heaven. At one point there will be that one very last soul that embraces Jesus Christ in faith, and this age, with its opportunity to join the family of God will be over… forever. No more new believers, no more new souls to win, no more evangelism, no more prayers for lost loved ones, no more hope for the lost to turn to, no more life to look forward to, no more chance for eternal life, no more choice to make.
It will all be over when the great Harvester goes out to harvest!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
An angel comes out of the temple (indicating he has orders from the Father on his throne) and calls out "in a loud voice", verse 15a, (indicating a final and authoritative command from the Father) to "one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head", verse 14, to reap. It is time for the harvest of the earth, the harvest of mankind. Those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will be awarded their place in God's family and bestowed with the wonderful riches of the lavish inheritance God blesses them with. The remainder of mankind will be thrown "into the great winepress of God's wrath." Verse 19.
As I think of this "harvest", this metaphor of the judgement of mankind brings to mind some realities that are sobering. Not the least of which is that there will be a "harvest" at some particular and specific time. Just as a farmer watches his crop, the weather, the market and all the other factors involved, he makes a decision at some point: "this is it." He looks no longer for additional growth, for a bigger harvest, but makes his call and goes out to harvest, bringing the growth of the crop to a close.
So, too, is the kingdom of heaven. At one point there will be that one very last soul that embraces Jesus Christ in faith, and this age, with its opportunity to join the family of God will be over… forever. No more new believers, no more new souls to win, no more evangelism, no more prayers for lost loved ones, no more hope for the lost to turn to, no more life to look forward to, no more chance for eternal life, no more choice to make.
It will all be over when the great Harvester goes out to harvest!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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