What does Revelation 14:17 mean?
Another angel emerges from the temple in heaven, which suggests he has full authority from God for what he is about to do. He, too, carries a sickle. This sickle, like the first, will be used to "harvest" unbelievers. The symbolism of reaping and harvesting describes God's eventual destruction of all non-believers during the end times. Unlike most of Revelation, the segment contained in chapters 12 through 15 jumps back and forth in time, with this passage looking ahead to the end of the tribulation.The reference to angels in Revelation 14 shows they are servants of God and dedicated to doing His will. Isaiah saw angels hovering around God's throne in humble submission to Him (Isaiah 6:1–2). After Jesus successfully refused the Devil's attempts to cause Him to sin, angels arrived and ministered to Him (Matthew 4:11). Hebrews 1:7 says, "He [God] makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire." Further, Hebrews 1:14 points out that His angels are ministering spirits. We can learn from the angels to quickly obey God as humble, ready servants.
Revelation 14:14–20 anticipates the judgment of the wicked that takes place at Christ's return. Matthew 13:36–43 and 24:21–46 disclose Jesus' words about this future event. Second Thessalonians 1:5–12 predicts it, and so does Jude 1:14–15. Isaiah 63:1–6 also describes the Lord's day of vengeance on the wicked. This event is poetically described using the image of a winepress, with blood streaming from it as high as a horse's head.
This chapter distinguishes two groups of people: those who believe in Jesus during the tribulation and those who worship the beast. John sees the Lamb, Jesus, and the 144,00 sealed Jewish servants of God standing together on Mount Zion. The scene anticipates the end of the tribulation with the 144,000 celebrating their victory over the beast. Heaven, too, celebrates their triumph. The eternal good news of salvation reaches the ends of the earth, calling upon everyone to turn to God or face His judgment and announcing the collapse of commercial Babylon and the eternal punishment of the beast, whose image so many unbelievers worshiped. This impending judgment is cause for believers to stay loyal to the Lord. Many believers will face martyrdom, but their temporary suffering does not compare with the eternal suffering worshipers of the beast will experience. When Christ returns to earth, the destruction of the wicked will be so complete that blood will flow so high it will reach a horse's bridle.
