The Destiny of the Bride of Christ - Part 7
We see two great harvests take place in Revelation chapter 14.
The first main harvest that is described is the gathering of believers in the clouds as Jesus returns to earth.
The second great harvest at the end of this age will be the harvest of those who will be subject to God’s wrath on the earth, as we see in Revelation 14:17-20:
“Then another angel came out of the temple [sanctuary] in heaven, and he also carried a sharp scythe (sickle).
**“**And another angel came forth from the altar, [the angel] who has authority and power over fire, and he called with a loud cry to him who had the sharp scythe (sickle), Put forth your scythe and reap the fruitage of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are entirely ripe.
**“**So the angel swung his scythe on the earth and stripped the grapes and gathered the vintage from the vines of the earth and cast it into the huge wine press of God’s indignation and wrath.
**“**And [the grapes in] the winepress were trodden outside the city, and blood poured from the winepress, [reaching] as high as horses’ bridles, for a distance of 1,600 stadia (about 200 miles).” (AMPC)
It is interesting that the harvest of the believers is symbolized as a harvest of wheat, while the harvest of the rebellious ones is symbolized as a harvest of grapes.
This symbolism seems very fitting for these two harvests because, as these two types of plants approach natural harvests, healthy wheat actually dries up from the earth as it ripens for harvest.
On the other hand, grapes are not fully ready for harvest until they are gorged with the sugary juices of the world, taking in everything they can from the dirt in which they are planted.
This is the state of the rebellious ones of earth at the time of the grape harvest of God’s wrath that begins in Revelation 14:17-20. The angel who calls for the harvest declares that “its grapes are fully ripe.”
As we get closer to the time of these two great harvests, we may see sharper, more well-defined divisions between the holy and the profane, as the angel said to John,
“Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”—Revelation 22:11 (NASB)
And as the angel said to Daniel,
“Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.”—Daniel 12:10 (AMP)
And as Paul confirmed to Timothy,
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them”—2 Timothy 3:13-14 (NKJV)
The Seven Bowls
The fullness of the wrath of God is contained in 7 bowls (or vials) that are poured out upon the earth at the end of the Great tribulation period after all true believers have been caught up to meet the Lord when He returns in the clouds of Heaven.
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”—Revelation 15:1 (NKJV)
“And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.”—Revelation 15:6-7 (NKJV)
The seven bowls of God’s wrath are detailed in Revelation chapter 16.
When the angel pours out the 6th bowl upon the Euphrates River, it causes the river to be dried up. We are told specifically that the reason for this is to prepare the way for the enemies of God to be gathered together for “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14 KJV).
This is the great battle of Armageddon.
Jesus Himself, with His armies of Heaven accompanying Him (including His Bride), will fight this battle, treading out the wine press of God’s wrath upon His return to earth.
“From His mouth comes a sharp sword (His word) with which He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He will tread the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty [in judgment of the rebellious world].”—Revelation 19:15 (AMP)
“Then I saw the beast and the kings and political leaders of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who is mounted on the [white] horse **and against His army. **
“And the beast (Antichrist) was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who, in his presence, had performed [amazing] signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were hurled alive into the lake of fire which blazes with brimstone.
**“**And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds fed ravenously and gorged themselves with their flesh.”—Revelation 16:19-21 (AMP)
How Long Will It Last?
We know from several Bible references that the Great Tribulation will last for 3½ years. Sometimes that time period is written as 42 months or “a time, and times, and half a time” (Revelation 12:14; Daniel 12:7). Sometimes it is written as 1,260 days.
Daniel’s revelation takes us beyond the 1,260 days of the Great Tribulation period and gives us insight into how long the wrath of God will last on the earth.
How did Daniel find out how long these things would last? Simple. He asked questions and sought God for answers. If we did the same, we would have much, much more insight into the things of God—as we are promised.
“So I say to you: Keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you, because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened.”—Luke 11:9-10 (ISV)
Daniel writes, “I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, ‘How will all this finally end, my lord?’” (Daniel 12:8 NLT).
To answer Daniel’s question, the angel replied, saying:
“And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.
“Blessed, happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous, and to be envied is he who waits expectantly and earnestly [who endures without wavering beyond the period of tribulation] and comes to the 1,335 days!”—Daniel 12:11-12 (AMPC)
So, it appears from Daniel’s revelation that, from the end of the 1,260-day Great Tribulation period until the Lord Jesus establishes His earthly reign will be 75 days, during which God’s wrath is poured out up on the earth.
Then, after this most terrible period of the wrath of God will come the most glorious age of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ upon earth as He rules the world, along with His beloved Bride, from the seat of His power in Jerusalem.
