Revelation__14
Scripture - What stood out?Revelation 14
19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. Observation - What does it say?This portion of the chapter provides powerful imagery for what will happen when the earth is finally harvested by God. Some will be harvested and ushered into God’s kingdom. And some will be harvested and ushered into God’s wrath which is described as a great winepress. Understanding - What does it mean?As I wrestled with why God highlighted this verse for me, I was immediately hit with sympathy for those who will be gathered to the great winepress. I think when I was younger and I read these verses I likely read this passage, with a “phew! glad that won’t be me!” mentality. Perhaps I am getting older, or growing closer to God, or both, but I have begun to feel a deeper than expected sorrow for those who won’t choose to believe in Jesus.There is just so much more joy, peace, and comfort on this side of the harvest field!It is my belief that as God revealed this to John, He was filled with a great unimaginable sorrow. Have you ever been perfectly sad? A sadness that knows no malice, bears no ill will, a grief that is burdened only by love? That is how I picture God’s sadness. It is a picture of a grieving father, mother, son, or daughter that mourns in perfect harmony with love...because My God loves. Always. And I believe that His greatest desire is that all would turn to him - it is why he leaves the 99 to go after the 1. Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today? Lord, please build me up to have a heart for all your people. Give me a heart for both sinner and saint, peacemaker and terrorist, democrat and republican, abortionist and pro-lifer, pro-maskers and not- Lord fill me up with a compassion that helps me to see the great winepress at work the way you do. The next time I meet somebody who is so opposed to my faith and my beliefs, may I not be filled with my very human and “un”righteous anger. Instead may I look at them as one you love standing on the wrong side of the harvest field. In the name of Jesus, do I pray. Amen.