Revelation 14 18

Revelation 14:18 kjv

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

Revelation 14:18 nkjv

And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe."

Revelation 14:18 niv

Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."

Revelation 14:18 esv

And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe."

Revelation 14:18 nlt

Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, "Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment."

Revelation 14 verses

Revelation 14 18 Meaning

Revelation 14:18 describes a pivotal moment of divine judgment. An angel emerges from the altar, symbolizing the sanctity and just basis of God's decrees, having authority over fire, which is a powerful biblical symbol for divine wrath and judgment. This angel urgently commands another angelic figure, who holds a sharp sickle, to initiate the final harvest of the wicked. The reason given for this urgent command is that the "grapes of the vine of the earth" – representing unrepentant humanity's sin and rebellion – have fully ripened, meaning their evil has reached its peak, necessitating immediate divine intervention and punishment.

Revelation 14 18 Context

Revelation 14 is a chapter of significant transition and revelation, focusing on key events preceding the outpouring of the seven last plagues. After the comforting vision of the 144,000 redeemed on Mount Zion and the messages of three angels proclaiming the everlasting gospel, the fall of Babylon, and warning against Beast worship, the chapter moves into a depiction of two distinct harvests. Revelation 14:14-16 presents the "corn harvest," symbolizing the gathering of the righteous. Verse 18 then initiates the second harvest, the "grape harvest," which is unequivocally identified as a harvest of divine judgment. This specific verse emphasizes the imminent nature and the cause of this judgment.

Historically, ancient agricultural practices provided potent imagery. The grape harvest (vintage) involved treading grapes in a winepress, which often led to images of crushing and blood, thus becoming a profound metaphor for the wrath and judgment of God upon the wicked throughout Scripture. The "altar" in the heavenly sanctuary (likely the golden altar of incense, where prayers ascend, Rev 8:3-5) connects this judgment directly to divine justice and righteous retribution, often in response to the cries of the martyred saints.

Revelation 14 18 Word analysis

• And another angel: (καὶ ἄλλος ἄγγελος – kai allos angelos) Indicates a distinct angel from the previous ones, each assigned specific tasks in the divine economy. This signifies a sequential, orchestrated unfolding of God's plan.
• came out from the altar: (ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου – exēlthen ek tou thysiastēriou) The altar here points to the heavenly golden altar of incense (Rev 8:3-5), signifying that this judgment emanates from God's righteous throne, where prayers (especially of the martyrs) have ascended. It underscores the justice and divine sanction of the impending judgment.
• having power over fire: (ὁ ἔχων ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ – ho echon exousian epi to pyr) "Power" (ἐξουσία – exousia) denotes authority, not just ability. "Fire" (πῦρ – pyr) is a consistent biblical symbol for consuming judgment, purification, and wrath (e.g., Sodom, consuming fire of God). This angel is thus an agent of controlled, authoritative divine wrath.
• and he cried with a loud cry: (καὶ ἐκραξεν ἐν κραυγῇ μεγάλῃ – kai ekraksen en kraugē megalē) A "loud cry" signifies urgency, divine imperative, and a momentous command. It underscores the solemn and significant nature of the coming action.
• to him that had the sharp sickle: (τὸν ἔχοντα τὴν δρέπανον τὴν ὀξεῖαν – ton echonta tēn drepanon tēn oxeian) This likely refers to a third angelic figure from the altar of fire (implied by Rev 14:17) rather than the Son of Man, emphasizing the delegated execution of wrath. The "sharp sickle" (δρέπανον ὀξεῖαν – drepanon oxeian) indicates the instrument for cutting, ready for immediate, decisive action.
• saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters: (λέγων, Πέμψον σου τὸ δρέπανον τὸ ὀξύ, καὶ τρύγησον τοὺς βότρυας – legōn, Pempson sou to drepanon to oxy, kai trygēson tous botryas) A direct command from an authoritative angel, demanding immediate action. "Gather the clusters" refers specifically to harvesting bunches of grapes.
• of the vine of the earth: (τῆς ἀμπέλου τῆς γῆς – tēs ampelou tēs gēs) This is crucial. In contrast to "the true vine" (Jesus Christ, Jn 15:1), the "vine of the earth" represents apostate, ungodly humanity, embodying all worldwide wickedness and rebellion against God, ready for His wrath (cf. Isa 5:1-7, Deut 32:32).
• for her grapes are ripe: (ὅτι ἤκμασαν αἱ σταφυλαὶ αὐτῆς – hoti ēkmasan hai staphylai autēs) "Ripe" (ēkmasan) implies maturity, completeness. This is the justification for judgment: the accumulated sin, defiance, and rejection of God by humanity (specifically those aligned with the Beast system) have reached their full measure. Their evil deeds have "ripened" and are now ready for crushing in the winepress of God's wrath.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And another angel came out from the altar, having power over fire: This phrase connects the source of judgment (heavenly altar) with the instrument of judgment (fire), demonstrating the divine origin and delegated authority of this final act of wrath.
• and he cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle: This emphasizes the immediate, divine imperative and solemn command for the execution of judgment upon those prepared for it.
• saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are ripe: This is the core command and its justification. It precisely defines the object of judgment ("vine of the earth" = wicked humanity), the method ("sharp sickle" to "gather clusters" for crushing), and the reason ("ripe grapes" = their measure of iniquity is full), signaling that divine patience has reached its limit.

Revelation 14 18 Bonus section

• Dual Harvest Motif: Revelation 14 beautifully employs a dual harvest motif – the harvest of grain (Rev 14:14-16) typically seen as the ingathering of the righteous, and the harvest of grapes (Rev 14:17-20) undeniably symbolizing judgment on the wicked. Rev 14:18 explicitly marks the beginning of the latter, highlighting God's meticulous, phased execution of His redemptive and judicial plans.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: This verse has a profound connection to Old Testament prophetic pronouncements concerning judgment, especially Joel 3:13, where the identical imagery of a ripe harvest leading to the winepress of wrath is used. This connection validates the interpretation and demonstrates God's consistent nature and sovereign fulfillment of His warnings across dispensations.
• The Patience of God and its Limit: The concept of "grapes being ripe" reflects the biblical idea that God's judgment, while certain, is often delayed, giving humanity ample opportunity for repentance (Gen 15:16; 2 Pet 3:9). However, this ripeness also signifies that when a society or individual persistently rejects God and fills the measure of their iniquity, a point of no return is reached where mercy gives way to necessary justice.
• Contrast with the Lamb and His Redeemed: The description of the "vine of the earth" starkly contrasts with the opening vision of the 144,000 who follow the Lamb on Mount Zion (Rev 14:1-5), who are "redeemed from the earth." This highlights the definitive spiritual division between those loyal to God and those aligned with the world system, leading to vastly different destinies.

Revelation 14 18 Commentary

Revelation 14:18 provides a chilling transition from the evangelistic and warning messages to the active phase of divine wrath. The emergence of an angel from the altar, where the prayers of the saints had risen and whence judgment has previously been unleashed, signifies that this "harvest of wrath" is a righteous and justified response to human wickedness and the cries of the martyred. The angel's authority over fire further underscores the fiery, consuming nature of this final judgment. The direct command to "him that had the sharp sickle" to "gather the clusters of the vine of the earth" explicitly marks the ungodly world as the target. The statement "for her grapes are ripe" serves as divine validation, confirming that God's patience is exhausted and the iniquity of humankind has reached its overflowing point, making it deserving of full retribution. This isn't arbitrary punishment, but the righteous culmination of pervasive and unrepentant evil.