Lesson #39

REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #39
THE HARVEST – REV 14:13-20

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 14:13

• IN THE PREVIOUS LESSON, WE OBTAINED A GOOD PERSPECTIVE OF THE GOSPEL, AND THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL TODAY AND IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. WE SAW THE ABUNDANT MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD AND HIS DESIRE THAT ALL MEN COME TO KNOW THE LORD. (MAT 18:14)
• READ 2PET 3:9
• THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS THE LAST CHANCE OF SALVATION THAT MAN WILL HAVE BEFORE THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST COMES TO EARTH AT CHRIST’S THE SECOND COMING.
• THEREFORE, THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS SEEN AS A TIME OF GREAT HARVEST…THE HARVEST OF SOULS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

• READ REV 14:12-20
• THE LIVING BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION (12):
• THE LIVING BELIEVERS MUST HAVE PATIENCE TO ENDURE THE PERSECUTION AND WAIT FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. THEY ARE ASSURED OF ABUNDANT BLESSINGS FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND OBEDIENCE.
• THE DEAD BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED IN THE TRIBULATION (13):
• THOSE DEAD BELIEVERS WHO ARE MARTYRED BY BEHEADING FOR THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WILL ALSO BE GREATLY BLESSED WHEN CHRIST RETURNS.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN VERSE 13 SAYS THAT THEIR WORKS SHALL FOLLOW THEM?
• IN OUR STUDY OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (LESSON #17) WE SAW THAT ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST TO RECEIVE REWARDS FOR THE KIND OF LIFE THEY LIVED AFTER HAVING RECEIVED CHRIST INTO THEIR HEARTS.
• IN OUR STUDY OF THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB (LESSON #17) WE SAW THAT MARTYRED BELIEVERS WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL REWARD, A CROWN OF LIFE FOR HAVING GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR CHRIST.
• FOR THE NON-BELIEVERS, THEY WILL STAND BEFORE GOD IN THE FINAL JUDGMENT AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE THAT OCCURS AFTER THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.
• NOTICE THAT VERSE 13 SPECIFICALLY SAYS, “…THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD FROM HENCEFORTH…”(13)
• THOSE THAT DIE IN THE LORD ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INVITED JESUS CHRIST INTO THEIR HEARTS AND INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. THEY ARE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
• THE DEATH RATE INCREASES FOR BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• MORE BELIEVERS WILL BE MARTYRED NEAR THE END OF THE TRIBULATION THAN AT THE BEGINNING OF IT.
• ALL NON-BELIEVERS DIE AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. WE WILL DISCUSS THIS IN GREATER DETAIL LATER IN OUR STUDY.
• THE FAITHFUL TRIBULATION MARTYRS ARE CONTRASTED WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE WARNINGS OF THE THREE ANGELS.
• THE HARVEST
• JEWISH SOCIETY IN THE BIBLE WAS AN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. THEREFORE, MANY SPIRITUAL TRUTHS ARE FRAMED IN AGRICULTURAL TERMS. THE CONCEPT OF A HARVEST OF SOULS PROCEEDS THROUGH ALL THE BIBLE.
• READ JOEL 3:13-17
• THE VALLEY OF DECISION IS THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN MAN WILL REAP THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISION HE HAS MADE TO FOLLOW JESUS OR TO FOLLOW THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• READ JOH 4:35-38
• READ JAM 5:7-9
• READ MAT 13:24-25, 37-43
• THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS THE SEPARATION OF THE BELIEVERS FROM THE NON-BELIEVERS. IT IS THE HARVEST JESUS SPOKE ABOUT IN MAT 13.
• ANOTHER CONCEPT IMPORTANT TO HARVEST IS TIMING. IN AGRICULTURE, A CROP MUST BE HARVESTED AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME WHEN THE FRUIT HAS REACHED ITS FULL MATURITY AND WHEN THE SUGAR CONTENT IS AT ITS PEAK.
• GOD’S PERFECT TIMING IS EVIDENT IN THE TRIBULATION. ALL EVENTS IN THE TRIBULATION BRING THE WORLD TO ONE FINAL EVENT, THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. IT IS A TIME WHEN EVERY LIVING HUMAN BEING HAS MADE HIS SPIRITUAL CHOICE BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN…BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• AN ANGEL COMES OUT OF THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD TO INFORM JESUS CHRIST THAT THE HARVEST IS RIPE AND READY. (15)
• THERE ARE TWO REAPINGS BY THREE ANGELS:
• =1= THE HARVEST OF BELIEVERS SPOKEN OF AS GRAIN (MAT 13:37-43) (REV 14:14-16)
• JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE SITTING ON THE CLOUD WITH A SICKLE IN HIS HAND. HE IS THE ONE WHO PERFORMS THE HARVEST OF BELIEVERS.
• IN OUR MASTER TIME LINE FOR OUR STUDY OF REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING, THERE ARE FIVE RESURRECTIONS MARKED. THE THIRD RESURRECTION OCCURS AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• ALL OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS AND ALL TRIBULATION MARTYRED BELIEVERS ARE RESURRECTED AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. THEY RECEIVE A NEW GLORIFIED BODY LIKE THAT OF THE BELIEVERS WHO WERE TAKEN IN THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH BEFORE THE TRIBULATION BEGAN.
• =2= THE HARVEST OF NON-BELIEVERS SPOKEN OF AS GRAPES(17-20)
• TWO ANGELS PERFORM THIS HARVEST…ONE GATHERS, AND THE OTHER BURNS.
• ONE OF THE ANGELS COMES FROM THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD WHILE THE OTHER COMES FROM BEFORE THE HEAVENLY ALTAR.
• THE ALTAR IN THE TABERNACLE AND IN THE TEMPLE WAS THE PLACE WHERE ANIMALS WERE SACRIFICED FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE.
• THE ALTAR IS TYPE OR PREFIGURE OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST WHERE GOD JUDGED SIN WHEN JESUS BECAME SIN FOR US.
• THE NON-BELIEVERS DO NOT ACCEPT THE FACT THAT GOD JUDGED THEIR OWN PERSONAL SINS ON THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST. THEREFORE, THEY ARE WITHOUT A SACRIFICE FOR SIN. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE BEING HARVESTED AS TARES OR GRAPES IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• REMEMBER THAT JESUS SAID THE TARES WOULD BE BURNED AT THE HARVEST. (MAT 13:36-43)
• ALL NON-BELIEVERS SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE. WE WILL DISCUSS THE LAKE OF FIRE MORE FULLY LATER IN OUR STUDY.
• WHAT IS THE GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD? (19)
• THIS IS A FIGURATIVE TITLE FOR THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. WE WILL ALSO DISCUSS THIS BATTLE MORE FULLY LATER IN OUR STUDY.
• HOW DO WE KNOW THE WINEPRESS REFERS TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON?
• REV 19:15 REFERS TO THE WINEPRESS IN THE MIDST OF A DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST TO EARTH. BECAUSE CHRIST’S COMING OCCURS IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, THE WINEPRESS MUST, THEREFORE, RELATE TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• WE HAVE THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE WINEPRESS THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE TO ILLUSTRATE THIS TRIBULATION BATTLE.(ISA 63:1-6)
• “…THE CLUSTERS OF THE VINE OF THE EARTH” (18)
• THIS REFERS TO THE ARMIES OF ALL NATIONS ON EARTH GATHERED AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• GOD USES THESE ARMIES TO DESTROY EACH OTHER LIKE THE CRUSHING OF GRAPES. (JOE 3:12-17)
• THESE GRAPES ARE SAID TO BE “FULLY RIPE”.
• THE GREEK WORD INDICATES THEY ARE OVERLY RIPE TO THE POINT OF BEING ROTTEN AND WITHERING.
• THIS IS A JUDGMENT LONG OVER DUE AND INDICATES GOD’S LONG SUFFERING MERCY AND PATIENCE WITH MAN.
• “…AND THE WINEPRESS WAS TRODDEN WITHOUT THE CITY…” (20)
• THE CITY IS JERUSALEM.
• THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON BEGINS IN THE VALLEY OF MEGGIDO IN THE PLAIN OF JEZREEL AND EXTENDS SOUTH OUTSIDE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM TO BOZRAH WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF THE CITY OF PETRA IN JORDAN WHERE GOD HIDES MANY JEWS.
• THE DISTANCE IS MENTIONED IN REV 14:20: 1,600 FURLONGS WHICH AMOUNTS TO 184 MILES. THIS IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MEGGIDO AND BOZRAH.
• BLOOD IS SPATTERED TO THE HORSES BRIDLES (20).
• READ ISA 63:1-6
• JESUS CHRIST COMES IN THE MIDST OF THIS BATTLE AND HIS CLOTHING IS COVERED IN BLOOD.

• WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? (14-20)
• THIS PASSAGE IN REV 14 TELLS US CHRIST IS SEATED WHICH MEANS HE IS RULING.
• WE SEE CHRIST’S CROWN WHICH TELLS US HE HAS POWER AND AUTHORITY.
• WE SEE CHRIST WITH A SICKLE IN HIS HAND. THIS TELLS US HE IS THE JUDGE AND THE REAPER OF ALL WHO BELONG TO HIM.
• THE TITLE USED FOR CHRIST IN REV 14 IS, “THE SON OF MAN”. THIS IS THE TITLE JESUS USED FOR HIMSELF.
• THIS TITLE IDENTIFIES THE INCARNATE JESUS WITH HUMAN BEINGS.
• THIS TITLE IS ALSO A MESSIANIC TITLE USED BY DANIEL FOR THE MESSIAH. (DAN 7:13) THEREFORE, THE TITLE IDENTIFIES JESUS CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH.

• APPLICATION:
• THE CONCEPT OF AN ETERNAL SEPARATION OF BELIEVERS FROM NON-BELIEVERS IS SOMETHING ABOUT WHICH PEOPLE AVOID THE THOUGHT AND THE SUBJECT IN CONVERSATION. AS A RESULT, ETERNITY IN HEAVEN OR ETERNITY IN HELL IS NOT A POPULAR TOPIC. THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS, MANY CHURCHES TODAY HAVE DROPPED THE SUBJECT OF HELL AND ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD.
• JESUS DID NOT AVOID THE SUBJECT AND THE BIBLE CERTAINLY DOES NOT AVOID IT. ON THE CONTRARY, THE BOOK OF REVELATION CLEARLY GIVES MAN A FINAL WARNING.
• IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR, NOW IS THE TIME! PRAY AND INVITE JESUS INTO YOUR HEART AND GIVE HIM YOUR LIFE.

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 15
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REV 14:13-20
• WHEN YOU READ IN SCRIPTURE ABOUT A HARVEST WHERE THERE IS AN ETERNAL SEPARATION OF BELIEVERS FROM NON-BELIEVERS, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

• HOW DOES THIS CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND ACTIONS TOWARD NON-BELIEVERS?

• PREPARATION FOR REV 15
• READ REV 15:1-8
• READ THE SONG OF MOSES IN EXO 15:1-21
• WHAT DOES REV 15 AND EXO 15 HAVE IN COMMON?

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 15:4