[§248] Rev 14:17: A Third Angel Stands Ready to Reap the Wicked

This podcast explains the symbolism used by John in Revelation 14:17-18 to describe the harvest of mortal sons of perdition at the end of the Second Woe, saying: “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” Jesus Christ is the other angel who comes out of the heavenly temple. He is the third Harvest Angel with the sharp sickle. God the Father is the Fourth Angel that comes out of the altar with power over fire. He directs Christ to carry out this first harvest of the wicked. The altar is a symbolic reference to the brazen altar of sacrifice where sin offerings were made for the redemption of sin in the ancient temple at Jerusalem. When the angel with power over fire comes out from the altar, the eternal flame of that altar is symbolically extinguished to represent that there can be no redemption of, or forgiveness for, the sons of perdition who will be destroyed as a class during this stage of the harvest at the end of the Second Woe. The fully ripened condition of the grapes indicates that these are mortal sons of perdition‒the most wicked class of sinners on earth.