Angels Reap
After Jesus reaps, the angels reap the earth (Rev 14:17-20;
2 Thes 1:7-10). This reaping is very different from Jesus'.
The angel is figuratively reaping clusters of ripe grapes (Rev 14:18),
and the grapes are thrown into the great wine press of the wrath of God (Rev 14:19).
This is in reference to non-Believers, because the wine press was trodden outside of Jerusalem and produced
an enormous amount of blood (Rev 14:20).
The precise nature of the reaping by angels is unclear until the apostle John records an interesting observation later when
Jesus Christ comes to Armageddon (Rev 16:13-16;
19:11-19).
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white
horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of
iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (Rev 19:14-15)
This passage connects Armageddon with the command to an angel to reap the earth
(Rev 14:17-20); this angel's reaping encompasses a period that includes the final dispensation
of God's wrath – specifically all of the bowls and the battle of Armageddon.
The imagery of the reaping angel can be understood in the following manner:
The angel from the altar announces that the grapes from the vine of the earth are "ripe"
(Rev 14:18). This "ripeness" represents the fullness of sin which God allows before He judges
as exemplified when God tells Abraham that his descendants will leave their land, be oppressed for 400 years, and later return to
the land (Gen 15:16).
The grapes that are thrown into the great wine press of the wrath of God
(Rev 14:19) represent evil human beings just before being crushed in judgment.
The plague wielding angels and the bowls of God's wrath are the last of God's wrath
(Rev 15:1), and it serves to enrage the world (Rev 16:2, 9, 11).
Of particular note is the sixth bowl which was intended to dry out the Euphrates River so that the kings from
the east can make war at Armageddon (Rev 16:12-14;
17:9-14).
When the seventh bowl is dispensed, the seventh angel announces, "it is done," to express the end of God's wrath
(Rev 16:17).