Strength in Trying Times: Lessons from the Book of Revelation Part 6: Know Your Blessed Hope: Think Harvests Revelation 14

Recap Rev 1: Know Your Lord Rev 1: Know Your Lord Rev 2-3: Know the Shepherd’s Rev 2-3: Know the Shepherd’s Voice Voice Rev 4-5:Know Your True Home Rev 4-5:Know Your True Home Rev 6-7:Know Your Assignment Rev 6-7:Know Your Assignment Rev 13 and 17: Know Your Enemy Rev 13 and 17: Know Your Enemy Rev 14:Know Your Blessed Hope Rev 14:Know Your Blessed Hope

My Wife Pauline Had a Dream...

My Friend Rob Had a Dream...

Remember How Prophecy Takes You To Another Place Your Life in Heaven Your Life on Earth Now Your Life in the Future

As We Saw, Rev 6: On Earth

As We Saw, Rev 7:9... In Heaven

Revelation Also Takes You To the Future Your Life in Heaven Your Life on Earth Now Your Life in the Future

What is Revelation’s Prophetic Picture of Your “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:13)?

Rather, This is the Picture: A Grain Harvest

And This is the Picture: A Vineyard Harvest

Revelation 14:14-16 Grain Harvest 14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Revelation 14:14-16 Grain Harvest 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

This is the Gathering of Believers Matt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Revelation 14:17-20 Vineyard Harvest 17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.”

Revelation 14:17-20 Vineyard Harvest 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia

This is the Destruction of God’s Enemies

Why Think of Jesus’ Return as a Harvest, a Farming Event?

First, Jesus’ Return is On an Unknown, But an Assured, Day

No Farmer Really Knows What His Harvest Day Is

USDA report: New York State Farms PlantingHarvesting PlantingHarvesting CORN Apr 25 – June 5Sept 5 - Oct 15

No Farmer Really Knows What His Harvest Day Is USDA report: New York State Farms PlantingHarvesting PlantingHarvesting CORN Apr 25 – June 5Sept 5 - Oct 15 POTATOMar 25 – June 15July 15 – Nov 5

No Farmer Really Knows What His Harvest Day Is USDA report: New York State Farms PlantingHarvesting PlantingHarvesting CORN Apr 25 – June 5Sept 5 - Oct 15 POTATOMar 25 – June 15July 15 – Nov 5 WHEATSept 1 – Nov 1July 20 – Aug 5

But He Trusts and Prays That Day Will Come Soon

So Hang onto Hope “I quit!” “I quit!” “ I didn’t.”

Second, Jesus’ Return Will Be a Reaping of What is Sown

Outward “Seals” and “Marks” Symbolize Inward Heart Choices Rev 14:1 (seal) Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mt Zion, and with him the 144,000 had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads

Outward “Seals” and “Marks” Symbolize Inward Heart Choices Rev 14:1 (seal) Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mt Zion, and with him the 144,000 had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads Rev 13:16 (counterfeit seal) He also forced everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name

People Receive in the After Life What They Spend Their Lives Pursuing in the Present Life C. S. Lewis, on Rewards in Heaven

People Receive in the After Life What They Spend Their Lives Pursuing in the Present Life C. S. Lewis, on Rewards in Heaven Oscar Wilde: “When the gods want to punish us... they answer our prayers.”

Finally, Jesus’ Return Means We Should View The World in Terms of “Ripeness”

Every Winemaker Thinks About the Ripeness of His Grapes

July-Aug: Fruit turns from hard green berries into grapes; sugars increase, acidity decreases; farmer now pays close attention

Every Winemaker Thinks About the Ripeness of His Grapes July-Aug: Fruit turns from hard green berries into grapes; sugars increase, acidity decreases; farmer now pays close attention Aug-Sept: Thins crop size, removes excess leaves, watches climate conditions, to bring only the best grapes to perfection

Every Winemaker Thinks About the Ripeness of His Grapes July-Aug: Fruit turns from hard green berries into grapes; sugars increase, acidity decreases; farmer now pays close attention Aug-Sept: Thins crop size, removes excess leaves, watches climate conditions, to bring only the best grapes to perfection Sept-Oct: Measures daily sugar levels, pH, skin thicknesses and flavor compounds. Decides when to pick based on daily weather, type of grape and type of wine desired; not too early, not too late.

Ripeness for Jesus’ Return (a) Gospel to All Lands Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Ripeness for Jesus’ Return ( b) Reception of Jesus in Jerusalem: Matthew 23 Matthew 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem... You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’

Ripeness for Jesus’ Return (c) Christians Living Godly Lives 2 Peter 3:11-12 (alternate translation, NIV) “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

Frank Chan at age 14 or so? Ripe for Destruction?

Think of the family and friends around you. How “ripe” are they? For which harvest?

Know Your Blessed Hope (1) Don’t quit! Hang in there! (2) Remember that we all reap what we sow (3) Pray a friend out of ripeness for the vineyard harvest and into ripeness for the grain harvest.