The Judge.
God the Father and the Holy Spirit declare the blessing upon those who do not follow the `beast.` Though they die, because they trust in God they will have eternal life.
`Here is the patience of the saints;
here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,
“Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on,”
“Yes,” says the Spirit,
“that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them.”`
(Rev. 14: 12 & 13)
Now we are shown a pictorial representation of Christ as the Judge of all the earth. The different symbols help us to understand who He is and what He is about to do.
`Then I looked, and behold,
a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man,
having on His head a golden crown,
and in His hand a sharp sickle.`
(Rev. 14: 14)
One like the Son of Man – The Lord Himself put forward this title which implies the widest range of relationship including all the peoples of the earth. (Luke 19: 10 Matt. 20: 28)
A white cloud – Here the Son of Man is `covered` in light, His glory.
White – Gk. `leukos` from `luke,` light. Cloud – Heb. `arab,` covering.
A golden crown – The crown here is the Victor`s crown – overcoming the enemy.
Crown – Gk. `stephanos` a honorary wreath,
A sharp sickle – This is a gathering hook especially for harvesting and gives a clear picture of Christ executing the judgment upon all mankind.
`And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud,
“Thrust in Your sickle & reap, for the time has come for you to reap,
for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth,
and the earth was reaped.`
(Rev. 14: 15 & 16)
Thus we see Christ the mighty Victor, crowned and clothed in glory. He received the authority from the Father (out of the Temple) and then He executed the judgment upon all mankind - those to life and those to death (reaping the harvest).
God the Father and the Holy Spirit declare the blessing upon those who do not follow the `beast.` Though they die, because they trust in God they will have eternal life.
`Here is the patience of the saints;
here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,
“Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on,”
“Yes,” says the Spirit,
“that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them.”`
(Rev. 14: 12 & 13)
Now we are shown a pictorial representation of Christ as the Judge of all the earth. The different symbols help us to understand who He is and what He is about to do.
`Then I looked, and behold,
a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man,
having on His head a golden crown,
and in His hand a sharp sickle.`
(Rev. 14: 14)
One like the Son of Man – The Lord Himself put forward this title which implies the widest range of relationship including all the peoples of the earth. (Luke 19: 10 Matt. 20: 28)
A white cloud – Here the Son of Man is `covered` in light, His glory.
White – Gk. `leukos` from `luke,` light. Cloud – Heb. `arab,` covering.
A golden crown – The crown here is the Victor`s crown – overcoming the enemy.
Crown – Gk. `stephanos` a honorary wreath,
A sharp sickle – This is a gathering hook especially for harvesting and gives a clear picture of Christ executing the judgment upon all mankind.
`And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud,
“Thrust in Your sickle & reap, for the time has come for you to reap,
for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth,
and the earth was reaped.`
(Rev. 14: 15 & 16)
Thus we see Christ the mighty Victor, crowned and clothed in glory. He received the authority from the Father (out of the Temple) and then He executed the judgment upon all mankind - those to life and those to death (reaping the harvest).
