I04.10.83.htm

HARVESTING PEOPLE. (Rev 14:14-20).

THE GATHERING WORK OF THE TEMPLE SANCTUARY.
The archangel Michael, the Son of God, has been told to put in his "sickle" and reap, indicating the time has come to harvest the righteous "fruitage" of the earth; namely, the "great crowd" of "other sheep" that he must also gather as "one flock". (John 10:16. Rev 7:9-17). In doing so, the "harvest of the earth" is reaped. (Rev 14:15,16).

"And still another angel emerged from the altar and he had authority over the fire." This angel gives the order that the "clusters of the vine of the earth" (14:18) are also to be gathered, but they are culled (14:19. Moffatt) and hurled "into the great winepress of the anger of God". (NWT). They include those claiming to be anointed spiritual "Jews" but are proven liars (Rev 3:9), the unsealed men they appointed as 'elders' in Christ's congregations, and the rest of this sect that called themselves 'Jehovah Witnesses' but who by their deeds have proven they are not God's true witnesses. (2 Thess 2:3-12).

THE TERRITORY OF ISRAEL:
SYMBOLIC OF THE "WINEPRESS" OF GOD.
From the north of Israel to its southernmost point is approximately 200 miles or "a thousand six hundred furlongs." (Rev 14:20). False worshippers, apostates, and unbelievers are "outside the city" (spiritual "Jerusalem") and are to be trodden down. They are not of the true "vine" of The Christ or his "body" members, but are of the "vine of the earth". The capitol city of earthly Israel is Jerusalem, but those of the true "vine" of The Christ are of heavenly spiritual "Jerusalem", the city of God. (Heb 12:22-24).

(1) THE SPIRIT "BURNING" FOR A TRIAL.
"Being reproached for the name of Christ" causes one to experience a burning within one's spirit, for "the Spirit of God, is resting upon you." This kind of "burning" is for a trial, to test one's faith or character, and is intended for our benefit. (See 1 Peter 4:12-14).

(2) THE "BURNING" OF FINAL DESTRUCTION.
Jehovah has promised a spirit "flood" of righteousness, which will annihilate sons of disobedience. They will experience "the instrument of final destruction, justice in full flood; wasting with sickness, yet overflowing with righteousness". (Isaiah 10:22 NEB & Footnote).

"And I saw, and, look! a white cloud, and upon the cloud someone seated like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel emerged from the temple sanctuary, crying with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: "Put your sickle in and reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth ⁽¹⁾ is thoroughly ripe." And the one seated on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. And still another angel emerged from the temple sanctuary that is in heaven, he, too, having a sharp sickle. And still another angel emerged from the altar and he had authority over the fire. And he called out with a loud voice to the one that had the sharp sickle, saying: "Put your sharp sickle in and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth,⁽²⁾because its grapes have become ripe." And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and he hurled it into the great wine press of the anger of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press as high up as the bridles of horses, for a distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs." (Rev 14:14‑20).

As the harvest of the earth ⁽¹⁾ is thoroughly ripe
in righteousness, put your sickle in Lord, and reap!

4/10/83.