The Final Plague:
“And I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man (Jesus,) having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” A sickle is a reaping tool with teeth used for the harvesting of grain.
“And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Trust in thy sickle and reap, for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the Earth is ripe.”
The Greek for ripe means more than mature; this harvest of the sins of man are overripe!
“So he (the Lord Jesus) that sat on the cloud, thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
“And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also having a sharp sickle. And he 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. 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,”
The Lord’s cup is filled with the sins of man. God is about to reached the end of his patience, a time when He will say, “Enough is enough; the time of my vengeance is come!” The Father will say to His beloved Son, “It is time to make your enemies your footstool.”
Those who were not taken in the rapture remain on earth, as do their armies. The Lord will put into the mind of his enemies, “gather together your armies for the day of my wrath is come!”
Where? In Israel at the valley of Megiddo! And when they have gathered themselves, some 200 million of them, they will be trampled underfoot with the judgments of God, “And his feet were like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.”
Revelation 14:19, “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,”
Yes, our Lord is a God of love, grace and mercy; one who is Faithful and True; but there is soon coming a day when He,
Revelation 19:11, “Will judge and make war.”
Revelation 14:20, “And the winepress was trodden without (outside) the city (Jerusalem), and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”
When people read this verse they ask, “How can this be?” One thousand six hundred furlongs is about 180 miles; a furlong is 220 yards.
Revelation 16: 21. “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air, — and there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven.”
This is the final plague associated with this battle of Armageddon. From Jerusalem, to the Mediterranean Sea, to the valley of Jezreel which is the great plain that breaks the central range of Israel in two, and all the way to Mt. Carmel which is South of the modern city of Haifa.
In this valley the armies of the world will be brought together by a Sovereign act of God. This movement of troops will not be by the design of some great military leader, but by the will of God. He will pack them in almost senselessly. Here is when/where the last of the plagues is poured out upon them.
Revelation 16:21: “Every hailstone the weight of a talent (100 pounds).“ Be assured; whatever these hailstones hit, they will crush not only by their weight, but also by the velocity they impact any object or person with.
Let us now consider the place of Megiddo a place of extreme heat. Soon after the hailstones fall they will begin to melt. And so from the melting hailstones and from the bodies of the millions they crush, a river of blood as deep as horses’ bridles will begin to flow, and He (Jesus) who tramples within the winepress will be covered with their blood.
Compare with, Isaiah 63:1,2 “Who is this that cometh from Edom (A place Southeast of Jerusalem), with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speaketh in righteousness, mighty to save. Isaiah asked, “Wherefore are thou red in thine apparel, and your garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?”
Why has Edom been singled out? Prophecies respecting Edom are numerous. They were a populous and powerful nation, a kingdom previous to Israel, and governed by dukes and princes, and later by eight successive kings. They often contended with the Israelites, and entered into a league with their enemies against them.
During the decline of the kingdom off Judah, and for many years previous to Edom’s extinction, they encroached upon the territories of the Jews, and extended their dominion over the south-western part of Judea. And God said, “Edom shall be a desolation. From generation to generation it shall lie waste” and so it is.
In Isaiah 63, we see the Lord approaching Jerusalem after having avenged his enemies and those of the Jews. Edom is represented under imagery taken from the destruction of “Edom,” they being a type of the last and most powerful foes the Jews will ever face.
Verse 4, “The year of my (Jesus) redeemed is come.” Compare with
Isaiah 612, “And the day (year) of vengeance of our God”
Isaiah 34:8, “For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy (cause) of Zion.”
“I (the Lord Jesus Christ) have trodden the winepress alone (in his anger) and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled (splattered) upon my garments and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”
Revelation 19:13, John wrote, “And he (Jesus) was clothed with a vesture (robe) dipped in blood.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com