John saw standing on Mount Zion, the lamb and the 144,000 who had his name and the Father’s name written on their foreheads. He heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and loud thunder. Then he heard a sound like harpists playing their harps. The 144,000 sang a song before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. No one could sing the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They were those who did not defile themselves with women, they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they were blameless.
Then John saw an angel flying in the air. He had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth – every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.
A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
A third angel followed and said in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they too will drink the wine of God’s fury which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. This calls for patient endurance on the part of God’s people who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”
Then John heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
John saw a white cloud and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap because the time to reap has come for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
So, the one seated on the white cloud swung his sickle over earth and the earth was harvested.
Another angel came out of the temple in heaven and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar (probably the same altar mentioned in Revelation 8:3) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine because its grapes are ripe.”
The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes, and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 184 miles.
What the story means to us today
Even in end-times, hope remains
While the dragon stands on the unstable shores of the sea, the Lamb stands atop a mountain – Mount Zion, a hill just outside Jerusalem. The 144,000 who were “sealed”, begin to see the fate of those who choose to follow the beast.
There is one last plea for the followers of the beast to turn from evil and reject the beast. For those that choose to believe the beast’s lies, they will face eternal damnation. But despite the unimaginably horrific consequences about the be administered to the damned, there is still hope. For those that accept God’s truth and turn from the beast, their fate is clearly stated: “Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on.”
Additional thoughts and considerations
Who were the 144,000?
It is questionable whether the 144,000 people mentioned in these verses are the same 144,000 referred to in Revelation 7:3 who were sealed for protection after the opening of the sixth seal. It appears as if both groups are one and the same. The question arises however, because they are described slightly differently.
In these verses, the 144,000 are described as “firstfruits”, pure, and as persons who “did not defile themselves with women.” Since the 144,000 may be a symbolic representation of a specific group or nation, the statements made in Revelation 14 may be symbolic too. John may be using figurative representations to describe people who retained their faith and continued to follow God despite the apocalyptic events taking place all around them. Similarly, the land described as “Mount Zion” (that they are standing on) could be the literal hill in southeast Jerusalem, the whole city of Jerusalem, or a symbolic representation of a different location where Christ will reappear with the redeemed.
Those who did not defile themselves with women
John says the 144,00 “did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.” It is a difficult statement to resolve. Are these people who never married? Are they people who remained virgins throughout their lives? Or are they people who did not participate in inappropriate sexual activities, commit adultery, or fornicate with others of their same sex?
Nowhere else in the Bible is sex referred to as a defilement. It is likely John is referring to vile sexual practices and not normal male/female sexual relations between married couples. If we interpret John’s statement in this light, the phrase “for they remained virgins” would be more appropriately rendered as “for they remained pure”.
Another alternative is that the reference to “virgin” could be a metaphor. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul says, “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” In this case, John’s reference to “virgin” would be a figure of speech, not a literal reference to celibacy.
A third alternative, potentially a stretch, is that the men were ritually pure and prepared for battle. Deuteronomy 23:9 describes the conditions placed on soldiers preparing for battle. These conditions included an abstinence from sex and anything that was “impure”.
Finally, some believe the 144,000 referenced in these verses are literally virgins. Specifically, male virgins who practiced celibacy, e.g. priests.
Fallen is Babylon the Great
The second angel calls out, “Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” Babylon is symbolic throughout the Bible as a representation of evil. Babylon, the destroyers of the Great Temple in 586 BC, were immoral and idolatrous – and ultimately their civilization was annihilated. The same happened to Rome. Sin and morality in Rome degraded the culture to the point of ruin. It is a common theme throughout history – once immorality takes hold, civilizations fall apart. We cannot know who “Babylon” refers to but can be certain it is a civilization with degraded immorality and a culture replete with sin.
Does acceptance of the mark of the beast guarantee eternal damnation?
Twice the angels mention destruction for anyone who takes the mark. The first seems to indicate a general worship of the beast in concert with acceptance of the mark. The second mention however, is more specific:
“There will be no rest day or night for those who receive the mark of the beast.”
There are other instances in Revelation where acceptance of the mark of the beast is related to worship of the beast. It seems as if acceptance of the mark of the beast guarantees eternal damnation, not necessarily because of the mark itself, but because of its relationship to worshiping the beast, something that apparently cannot be undone once the beast is accepted.
Blessed are the dead who die from now on
With careful reading and thought, Revelation 14:13 presents a verse that could be read as ambiguous and is frequently argued between scholars. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” When does “from now on” refer to? Are those who are persecuted during the time of the beast to be blessed? Or are the blessed all Christians who die from the time John penned this verse?
The preceding verses seem to hint that the group John is referring to are those who have suffered under the beast’s reign. However, alternative interpretations should be recognized and kept in mind.
Did Jesus himself “harvest” sinners? Was there more than one harvest?
John says that “seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.” He then describes another angel coming from the temple and ordering “him who was sitting on the cloud” to harvest the earth with his sickle. The man on the cloud did as he was instructed and with a swing of his sickle, “harvested” the earth. Was this “man on the cloud” Jesus? Did an angel give Jesus an order? Was the order a harvest of believers or a judgmental harvest of those who followed the beast?
The man on the cloud is described as “like a son of man” and wearing “a crown of gold on his head”. The description sounds a lot like Jesus. Given Jesus’ peaceful nature, some argue that this was a harvest of the redeemed (the “Rapture”) but in the overall context of the vision, it appears to be an act of judgement. If so, did Jesus “swing a sickle” and harvest wickedness from the earth? Possibly not.
Joel 3:12 describes a similar harvest that is a harvest of wickedness, not salvation. Harvesting wicked people as punishment does not sound like the Jesus described in our New Testament.
Secondly, John says the man on the cloud looked like “a” son of man, not “the” son of Man as Jesus is often referred to in the New Testament. The meaning of the phrase “son of man” has never been clear to biblical scholars and may simply be the means to describe an entity not of this earth, possibly one that has the appearance of an earthly human.
Further evidence the entity on the cloud was not Jesus is provided by the angel himself. The angel gives Jesus the command – not the other way around. This is counter to Jesus’s role as earth’s true king.
On the other hand, Matthew 9:30 describes Jesus as a harvester of salvation. In Matthew 9:30, Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Clearly in other sections of the new Testament, Jesus is portrayed as the harvester of salvation, very similar to what is described in Revelation 14. Whether the first harvest is a judgmental or salvation harvest is arguable.
The second harvest ordered by the angel “who had charge of the fire” is without question a harvest of judgement. After the angel swings his sickle on earth, the gathered grapes are thrown into the “winepress of God’s wrath”, then trampled with blood rising as high as the horses’ bridles. Unlike the first harvest, there is no question the second harvest is judgement on those who follow the beast.
In context, the question is irrelevant because above all, we must remember that John’s description of end-time events is highly symbolic, and not a literal description of the events.
A sea of blood
Revelation tells us that after the retribution described as the “gathering of grapes”, the blood “outside the city” rose “as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 200 miles”. The same sort of description appears in Isaiah 63:1-6 and in 1 Enoch 100:1. This may not be a literal description of the battlefield although it certainly indicates a very violent and bloody battle. The level and amount of blood is likely a symbolic means to describe a bloody battle or to tell us where the battle occurs (i.e. outside the city).
Outside the city
“Blood as high as the horses’ bridles” is seen by John “outside the city”. What city did John see?
Old Testament predictions point to a final battle near Jerusalem. Later in Revelation 16:16, an end-times battle at Armageddon is described but the location of Armageddon is uncertain. There is no way to absolutely determine which “city” John saw in his vision.
A message of hope
As dreary as this scene in Revelation seems, readers must notice that the first angel delivers a message of hope. At this point in the story, all is not lost.
“He said in a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.”
God is providing one last attempt to redeem the Beast’s followers.
Although John presents a morbid final reality, we should not focus on the torment of hell (which is a terror tactic) but rather, on the grace God shows those who choose to adhere to his plan for mankind. As in life, both punishment and grace are demonstrated throughout the Bible but many choose to place emphasis on punishment which in truth, it not the underlying message presented in the Bible.
The “Spirit” speaks
After a voice from heaven says “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on”, the “Spirit” concurs adding, “They will rest from their labor for their deeds will follow them.” This is the first time the “Spirit” is mentioned speaking in the book of Revelation. We can assume the spirit referred to is God.
A final reminder regarding John’s message
The events described in Revelation overlap each other. In some instances, events described in one section seem to relate to previously described events. Readers of Revelation must keep in mind – not all events described by John necessarily occur in chronological order nor do they occur simultaneously. It would be a mistake to assume so.
The science and history behind the story
Ancient winepresses
The description of the second harvest is symbolized as a harvest of grapes which are thrown into a winepress and trampled. The process described was a method of making wine. Winepresses were large structures enclosed with short rock walls into which grapes would be added. Workers would trample the grapes as they were added to the winepress. The juice would flow trough slits in the structure and into channels that allowed juices to flow into vat or buckets.
Notes on Biblical translation
Stadia
Most translations say the blood from the battle rose as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. A stade was a Greek unit of measurement equivalent to about 607 feet. Thus, the distance translates to about 184 miles.
Bible Text
NIV
14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8 A second angel followed and said, “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 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.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.
The NET Bible
14:1 Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 14:2 I also heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Now the sound I heard was like that made by harpists playing their harps, 14:3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, 14:5 and no lie was found on their lips; they are blameless.
14:6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 14:7 He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!”
14:8 A second angel followed the first, declaring: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.”
14:9 A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, 14:10 that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. 14:11 And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.” 14:12 This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.
14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this:
‘Blessed are the dead,
those who die in the Lord from this moment on!’ ”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their hard work, because their deeds will follow them.”
14:14 Then I looked, and a white cloud appeared, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man! He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 14:15 Then another angel came out of the temple, shouting in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and start to reap, because the time to reap has come, since the earth’s harvest is ripe!” 14:16 So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
14:17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 14:18 Another angel, who was in charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes off the vine of the earth, because its grapes are now ripe.” 14:19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth and tossed them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 14:20 Then the winepress was stomped outside the city, and blood poured out of the winepress up to the height of horses’ bridles for a distance of almost two hundred miles.
Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2006. Print.
New King James Version
14 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 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.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.
The Message
14 I saw—it took my breath away!—the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 144,000 standing there with him, his Name and the Name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of Heaven, the sound like a cataract, like the crash of thunder.
2–5 And then I heard music, harp music and the harpists singing a new song before the Throne and the Four Animals and the Elders. Only the 144,000 could learn to sing the song. They were bought from earth, lived without compromise, virgin-fresh before God. Wherever the Lamb went, they followed. They were bought from humankind, firstfruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb. Not a false word in their mouths. A perfect offering.
6–7 I saw another Angel soaring in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. He preached in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory! His hour of judgment has come! Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water!”
8 A second Angel followed, calling out, “Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon ruined! She made all the nations drunk on the wine of her whoring!”
9–11 A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God’s wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name.”
12 Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.
13 I heard a voice out of Heaven, “Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.”
14–16 I looked up, I caught my breath!—a white cloud and one like the Son of Man sitting on it. He wore a gold crown and held a sharp sickle. Another Angel came out of the Temple, shouting to the Cloud-Enthroned, “Swing your sickle and reap. It’s harvest time. Earth’s harvest is ripe for reaping.” The Cloud-Enthroned gave a mighty sweep of his sickle, began harvesting earth in a stroke.
17–18 Then another Angel came out of the Temple in Heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. Yet another Angel, the one in charge of tending the fire, came from the Altar. He thundered to the Angel who held the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle. Harvest earth’s vineyard. The grapes are bursting with ripeness.”
19–20 The Angel swung his sickle, harvested earth’s vintage, and heaved it into the winepress, the giant winepress of God’s wrath. The winepress was outside the City. As the vintage was trodden, blood poured from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle, a river of blood for two hundred miles.
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.
King James Version
14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
14 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. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 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. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. Print.