|
June 21,
2004
THE
REAPER
"On
the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head
a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another
angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to
Him who sat on the cloud, 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap'
" (Revelation 14:14, 15, NKJV).
Immediately
following the three angels' messages of Revelation 14, John
sees Christ coming in dazzling splendor. On this grand occasion,
Christ appears as the reaper of earth's final harvest.
This
scene concludes the drama of the ages. Christ, the central
figure of the plan of salvation, occupies center stage in
the reaping of the harvest. He carries in His hand a sharp
sickle, the symbol of the harvest. As the reaper, He swings
His sickle over the earth to reap the final harvest (see Revelation
14:16).
There
are two distinct stages of the final harvest. The first depicts
the gathering in of the redeemed of all ages, represented
by the ripened grain (see Revelation 14:16, 17; Matthew 13:30).
The second portrays the final judgement of the unsaved of
all ages represented by clusters of over ripe grapes (see
Revelation 14:18-20; Matthew 13:24-30). The imagery of the
two harvests is an allusion to the ancient agricultural year
which consisted of two main stages--the grain harvest and
the vintage harvest. These two stages of the final judgement
highlight two essential attributes of God--His divine grace
and His divine justice.
For the
redeemed, the harvest is an event of unparalleled joy. They
await with eagerness the appearing of the reaper. They eagerly
look for His appearing as Saviour (see Hebrews 9:28). To those
who have rejected Him, He is an unwelcome judge. "It
is the privilege of every Christian, not only to look for,
but to hasten, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Were all
who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly
the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel.
Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ
would come."--Lift Him Up, p. 274.
My
Prayer Today: Lord, it is almost reaping time. Help
me to be ready for Your garner. Amen.
|
