Slideshow image

Revelation 14:15 — “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Revelation gives us a glimpse of the final harvest at the end of the age. An angel cries out for Christ to thrust in His sickle and reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. This is the moment when the nations are gathered, and judgment falls upon the world. It is a harvest of both salvation and wrath.

The imagery of the sickle is striking. It speaks of power, finality, and inevitability. When the time comes, no force can stop the hand of the Lord. The ripening of the earth reminds us that sin has a limit. God’s patience will not last forever; judgment is coming.

For the believer, this passage is a reminder of hope. Though evil may seem to triumph now, the day is coming when Christ will return in glory, and every wrong will be made right. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever.

For the unbeliever, this passage is a warning. The time of repentance will one day be over. Just as a farmer cannot delay the harvest indefinitely, so God will not withhold judgment forever. The call is urgent: repent before the sickle is thrust in.

This passage should also motivate believers to urgency in evangelism. If the harvest is coming, then the time to sow the seed of the gospel is now. The window is closing, and eternity is at stake.

One day, the harvest of nations will be complete. Until then, let us labor with urgency and faithfulness, pointing as many as possible to the Savior before it is too late.