Sermons and Outlines

Rev. 14:14-20            THE HARVEST OF THE ENDTIMES

Intro:  Ill. The two previous visions.  In this vision, John uses two agricultural 

metaphors.  One of grain and one of grapes.   These events picture the Feast of 

tabernacles.  A time when the Jewish people came together to celebrate the Lord's 

goodness and blessing.  Before that Feast, there came the harvest of the grain and the 

grape.  Remember, that we are seeing a preview of things that will be considered more 

deeply later.  We are preparing for the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus.  But, before 

He can come, there must be a harvest.  Before the celebration, there must be judgment 

and the cutting off of the wicked.  Let's look at these two scenes of judgment.



  I.  v.14-16                 THE GOLDEN HARVEST

    A.  v.14  The Reaper Of The Harvest - This is Jesus!  (Ill. The cloud - Rev. 1:7)  

	The Son of Man (Ill. He was 	presented as the Son of Man in Matt. 8:20, and this 

	is the last time He is identified as the Son of Man.  The first had to do with His 

	event, the second with His return in victory.)  (Ill. A reference to the Lord's 

	parable in Matt. 13.  In Mt. 13, He is the 	Sower, here He is the Reaper!)

    B.  v.15  The Ripeness Of The Harvest - The time is now for the harvest to take 

	place.  (Ill. The parable of the Tares - Matt. 13:24-30)  This is the time for the 

	ultimate harvest and for the final separation.  (Ill. This is a picture of 

	Christianity. There are 2 kinds in the church!  We cannot tell the difference.  God can!

	(Ill. Differences in the tares and the wheat!)

	1.  Wheat and tares are identical at the beginning

	2.  At the end, tares stand tall, turn black and get ugly!

	3.  Wheat turns it's heads downward.  (A picture of humility)

	4.  As wheat grows upwards, it dies downwards.

	5.  Wheat grows through the seasons and is harvested annually. (Ill. We have 

              our harvest, John 4:35)

	6.  The tares are poisonous, a natural emetic.  When harvested along with the 

	     wheat,. they must be harvested grain by grain or they will cause sickness.

    C.  v.16  The Reaping Of The Harvest - For 2,000 years, the saints have watched 

	Satanically inspired cults and religions spring up and flourish.  They will do 

	even better after the rapture!  However, the Lord knows them that are His and He will

	reap His people and gather them into His barn, the others He will bind and 

	prepare for the fire! (Ill. Matt. 13:41-42)  (Ill. The tares are burned to keep them 

	from reproducing!  Ill. Why there is a Hell!)



Ill. This harvest has to do with those saved during the Tribulation.  The harvest has 

primarily to do with the saints.  The vintage of grapes, on the other hand, have to do 

mainly with the world.



 II.  v.17-20                        	THE GORY VINTAGE	

(Here, we are presented with a picture of the Lord finally and ultimately dealing with 

those who have opposed Him and His truth.  He steps into the arena of the battle of 

Armageddon to judge His foes.  The time of the Lord's vengeance and judgment has 

finally come upon the earth!)  Notice:

    A.  v.17-19  It Is Timely - Men have rejected the true vine of John 15.  They would 

	not have Jesus, instead they reached out to the world, and now it is time to face 

	the Lord.  (Ill. Grapes gathered and placed in the winepress.  A place of pain and 

	destruction)  (Ill. Isa. 63:1-3 is fulfilled here!)  This will be a terrible time to 

	face 	God.

    B.  v.20  It Is Terrible - This is a picture of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16; 19:17-19), 

	not a single battle, but a great military campaign, Ill. Eze. 39:8-16.  All the nations 

	of the earth come against the nation of Israel to do battle!  It will happen!  )Ill. The 

	blood will run to the horses bridles, 4ft. deep.  It is 1,600 furlongs (200 miles) 

	from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.  (Ill. A river of blood 4 ft. deep 

	and 200 miles long!)  Men have rejected the saving blood of the Lord Jesus, now 

	they will wallow in their own blood!  It's Jesus or destruction!



Conc:  Evil days are coming!  We must be sure that we are ready to meet the coming 

of the Lord.  We must do all we can to help other prepare foe that day as well!  Are 

you ready for the harvest?