Today’s reading is Revelation 14.
Rider on a White Cloud
John sees another vision reminiscent of Daniel’s. Daniel 7:13-14 says:
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (ESV).
In Revelation 14:14, John looked…
…and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand (ESV).
Most certainly, John’s vision of this first harvest, presumably a grain harvest, is supposed to call Daniel’s vision of “a son of man” receiving a kingdom. That is surprising, but let’s keep digging into this harvest vision.
A Rider on A White _______ Given a Crown
While Daniel’s vision has a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, just like John’s, John’s vision contains two distinguishing details. The son of man in John’s vision is riding on a white cloud. Additionally, the son of man is given a crown.
Hmmm. That sounds familiar. We have a guy riding something white and being given a crown. Where have we seen that before? Oh yeah, when the first seal was broken.
And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him and he came out conquering, and to conquer (Revelation 6:2, ESV).
This is the same rider.
Lest you think I’m making a stretch, bear with me in an exercise. Allow me to share with you about as literal a translation of each verse as I can render to show you how the beginning of Revelation 14:14 directly mirrors that of Revelation 6:2.
And I looked, and behold a horse white, and the one sitting upon it having a bow and was given to him a victor’s wreath and he went out conquering and in order that he should conquer (Revelation 6:2, EdwinSV)
And I looked, and behold a cloud white, and upon the cloud sitting like a son of man, having upon the head of him a victor’s wreath golden and in the hand of him a sickle sharp (Revelation 14:14, EdwinSV)
This is the ultimate Son of Man, Jesus the Christ. It is the Lamb that was slain. And this harvesting is Him conquering and receiving His kingdom.
The Harvesting Sickle
I get it, we see a harvesting sickle and we immediately think of the Grim Reaper of Death and his scythe. Judgment comes to mind. And when we think judgment, we almost always think condemnation. However, in these two harvesting visions, we see the two sides of judgment. Yes, on the one side is condemnation. But on the other is justification and victory.
In fact, the word translated “sickle” here is only used eight times in the New Testament. Seven of its uses are in these two harvest visions. The eighth use is in Mark 4:29. Consider the parable Jesus told there:
The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (Mark 4:26-29, ESV).
Certainly, the second vision of harvest in Revelation 14 also uses a sickle. And that is most definitely a harvest unto condemnation. We’ll look at it more tomorrow. But the only other place in all of the New Testament that talks about a harvest with a sickle is a parable that talks about harvesting the fruit of the kingdom of God when it is fully ripe and the harvest has come. That is precisely what is happening in this first harvest vision in Revelation 14. The seed of the kingdom has sprouted, grown, and reached maturity. The King will now reap because His harvest is ready.
Jesus will harvest. Jesus knows those who are His. Again we can say:
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…Blessed indeed!
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 14.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Revelation 14 prompt or improve your hope in God?
Read the Bible 