Two Harvests

Today’s verse is proof positive that the three angels’ message is God’s last warning to the world before the end comes. The very next vision that follows the message (Revelation 14:6–12) is the coming of “the Son of Man.” This is the second coming of Jesus!

Notice the similarity in Christ’s own description of His return: “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). Today’s verse also supports the angel’s prediction that Christ “will so come in like manner as [His disciples] saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11)—on “a cloud” (v. 9).

Christ’s “crown” is translated as stephanos in the original Greek, the term used for a wreath given to victors. The same word is used for the “crown of thorns” (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2) that was pressed onto Jesus’ brow when He was crucified. At the cross, Jesus won the victory over Satan; at the second coming, Christ’s victory is in coming to gather His faithful followers.

Archaeologists have unearthed in Bible lands many sickles. Used to harvest grain, these manual agricultural tools mostly have iron or steel blades, though earlier versions were made with sharp stones. The strong imagery of Christ with “a sharp sickle” reaping the harvest at the Second Coming was foretold by the Savior in a parable about wheat, a symbol for the saved, and tares, a symbol for the lost.

Read the parable and its explanation in Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43. Notice that the Son of Man reaps the entire “world” (v. 38) at “the end of the age” (v. 39), meaning that everyone receives his or her sentence of judgment at that time—and not before.

Revelation merely reinforces the truths in this parable. At the end of time, there are only two groups on earth, the wheat and the tares, those who follow the Lamb and those who follow the beast. And that means there will be two harvests.

O Lord, may the seed of Your Word take root in my heart; may I bear Your fruit and be found among the harvest of the wheat.

For Further Study: Daniel 7:13; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 1:7

Key Bible Texts

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. (Revelation 14:14 KJV)