The Cup of Wrath

Revelation 14

Even while judgment and persecution are being poured out on the earth, widespread evangelism will be occurring. Who are you are praying for, caring for, and sharing the Gospel with today?
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In Revelation 14, John, who was stuck on the island of Patmos, meaning “rock,” used agricultural images to remind us that this time in the tribulation period was ripe for judgment. In this chapter, Warren Wiersbe unpacks the chapter by pointing out the firstfruits, the wine, and the reaping.

“Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.” Revelation 14:1–5 (ESV)

Wiersbe says, “God takes the best for Himself before the harvest begins. We met the 144,000 in chapter 7, God’s sealed servants who come through the Tribulation and sing the praises of the Lamb. The description in here should be taken in a spiritual sense: they did not commit fornication by worshiping the Beast or his image.”

“lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice,” Exod. 34:15 (ESV)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans writes in His Study Bible, “These 144,000 are Jewish evangelists, whose job is to announce the gospel worldwide during the tribulation to lead many more to faith in Christ. They will prepare the way for the return of Jesus. The name on their foreheads contrasts with the mark placed on nonbelievers by the false prophet... As Jesus is the “firstfruits” of the resurrection (see 1 Cor 15:23), the 144,000 Jewish evangelists are the firstfruits of those to be saved during the tribulation. There will be a multitude saved at that time, but these are presented to God the Father and God the Son as the initial harvest redeemed from humanity.”

“But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:23–28 (ESV)

“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:6–13 (ESV)

The “cup of wrath” is an image borrowed from Jeremiah 25:15.

“Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.” Jeremiah 25:15 (ESV)

God pours out His wrath on those who follow the Beast and reject God’s truth.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:13 (ESV)

Although this verse may be applied to all believers who die, it will have a special meaning to the martyrs of that evil day.

The worship of God as Maker of heaven and earth marks a stark contrast with the false worship of Satan and the antichrist.

“Then I 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. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.” Revelation 14:14–20 (ESV)

Here, God is allowing the seeds of sin to grow and produce a harvest. One day, the world will reap what it has sown. John also uses the grape harvest to illustrate the coming judgment. The “vine of the earth” is ripening, and one day God will apply the sickle. Meanwhile, the branches in the True Vine should be bearing more and more fruit.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:1–8 (ESV)

The sickle here is an instrument to inflict judgment and death on those who reject God. It is mentioned six times in five verses to underscore the impending doom for those who reject him during the tribulation. In general, a sickle is a tool used to harvest crops.

The angel’s declaration that the harvest has ripened is a reminder that God does not pour out his wrath on people at the first hint of their sinful rebellion, though that would be entirely justified. Instead, he provides extended opportunity for repentance and strikes with the sickle of judgment when rebellion has matured into an unmistakable pattern.

Dr. Evans writes, “When God brings final judgment against the nations who attack him at Armageddon in chapter 16, the bloodletting will be so severe that blood will splatter up to the level of a horse’s bridle for approximately 180 miles.”

Are you bearing fruit today? Are you frequently sharing the Gospel with those around you? Are you looking for opportunities to share the hope and future with those who do not know the promise and security in Christ alone?

Today, invest in someone in your circle of influence by starting a Gospel conversation. Encourage them in the hope that we possess in the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ who is God. Who is God laying on your heart right now... who is the Holy Spirit reminding you that needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope of your future?

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