Page 51 - BV13

That the Son of Man, as seen in this vision, has on his head a GOLDEN CROWN indicates
clearly that he is come in the character of king. This agrees with the parable of the nobleman who
has to go into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return -- Luke 19:12. The com-
ing of the Son of Man to reap the harvest of the earth can only mean the coming of Yeshua de-
scribed in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

We now read in Revelation 14:17-19:

Another angel came out of the Temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Then out
from the altar went yet another angel, who was in charge of the fire; and he called in a
loud voice to the one with the sharp sickle, "Use your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters
of grapes from the earth's vine, because they are ripe! The angel swung his sickle down
onto the earth, gathered the earth's grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's
fury. The wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as
high as the horses' bridles for two hundred miles!

The angel who executes this judgment comes out from the altar, and he has power over fire.
This brings to mind the vision of Revelation 8:1-5, which occurs immediately after the opening of
the seventh seal. There an angel is seen standing at the altar who, after offering up the prayers of
the saints, adds incense and takes fire from the altar and casts it upon the earth. Then, in the voices,
thunderings, lightnings and earthquake, there were threatenings of judgments about to fall upon the
earth. This plainly agrees with the scene now before us, in which the vine of the earth is removed
altogether -- root and branch -- and is cast into the "great winepress of God's fury." This scene
represents a work of judgment -- thorough and complete.

The winepress is said to be located "outside the city." This can be understood in the light
of Revelation 22:15 where, speaking of the heavenly city, it is said, "outside are the homosexuals,
those who misuse drugs in connection with the occult, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-
worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood" (Jewish New Testament). In
other words, nothing that is unclean or defiling is to enter into that city.

YEHOVAH God the Father is the treader of the winepress of His wrath. Notice Isaiah
63:1-4:

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with his garments stained crimson? Who is
this robed in such splendor, marching in his great strength? It is I, announcing vindication,
mighty to save. Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the
winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, and from my people no one was with me,
and I have stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year
for my redeeming work had come. (The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible).

We are told that when this "great" winepress is trodden, blood flows out of it in a stream of
such volume that it rose even to the horses' bridles -- and for a length of two hundred miles. The
mention of the horses' bridles connects this scene with Revelation 19:11-16, where YEHOVAH
God appears mounted upon a white horse, clothed in a garment dipped in blood; and followed by
the armies of heaven, also mounted on white horses.

51