(14) And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (15) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (16) And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (17) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. (18) 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. (19) And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (20) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
There can be no question who this Person was John saw on the white cloud. His name, Son of Man, defines his Person and character. And indeed, John, at the opening of this vision, had so seen him before. See Revelation 1:13. And his is the office to reap the fruits of his redemption. And the other angel that came out of the temple crying to the Lord Jesus, though no other than a ministering servant, is not to be supposed to be commanding, but only calling to him. Angels are longing for the period of the Redeemer's glory. And these are said, therefore, to be waiting for Jesus to send them into his harvest, to gather souls. Matthew 13:36, etc. But the allusions here made, both to reaping, and vintage, are so much one and the same, in reference to Christ's gathering his people, that there can need nothing by way of illustration upon the subject. Instead, therefore, of offering any observations upon what is already so very plain as to need none, I shall rather beg the Reader to attend with me to one or two views, both of this reaping and vintage of Jesus, which are the immediate and sure result of his seed time, in grace; and his redemption-work, in shedding his blood, without the city.
In the first place, the thrusting in Christ's sickle, to the reaping of his harvest, is secured by every assurance of Covenant-faithfulness; because grace given in the seed-time to his people, is an earnest of glory. It is not said, in the scriptures of eternal truth, that the Lord hath called us merely unto grace, but unto eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Grace is the earnest of glory. He will give grace and glory, 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:4; Psalms 84:11
Secondly. It is not indeed sufficient to say, that grace leads to glory; for grace is glory begun. Grace, like the bud, which contains all the foliage of the future flower, hath in its bosom, all the openings to glory, in Christ Jesus. For what comes from Christ, leads to Christ. And as by grace, we are made partakers of the divine nature; so the interest we have in Christ, must infallibly secure glory from Christ. Jesus himself hath said, because I live, ye shall live also, John 14:19
Thirdly. Christ's harvest is secured, because it is not liable to be blighted by winds, or storms, or drought, or any other adverse circumstances, which arise. The issue is doubtful. He that hath called his people with an holy calling, hath guarded against all possibilities of peradventures. Difficulties are for men, not for God. Jesus himself watches over his people, and his harvest; and it is impossible that it shall fail. And the more discouragements which appear to us, the more opportunity is afforded for the manifestation of his grace. Jesus will perfect his strength, in our weakness; and the end will prove, that the whole is his work, as the whole is his glory.
And, lastly, to mention no more. What endears the whole process to the child of God, and shows that from beginning to end it is all grace, is that (to use the figure of harvest and vintage here adopted), when to our view all seems blighted, and the whole appears, again and again, in withering circumstances; yet to Him that looks, he sees a blessing in it, when we can see none; and the Lord at length brightens up his own heritage, and makes the whole smile, and blossom, and bring forth abundantly. Reader! it is blessed to feel and know our own nothingness, and Christ's all-sufficiency; that in conscious sense, we can bring forth nothing, but as the Lord Jesus disposeth by his grace, we may daily refer all unto Him, and sweetly hear his voice, when he saith: From me is thy fruit found, Hosea 14:8
Lamb of God! give me to behold thee with the eye of faith, as John saw thee in vision, encircled with thine holy army, made holy in thy holiness, and sealed with the Father's name written in their foreheads. Oh! the blessedness of being thus acknowledged by the Father, supported by the Son, and sealed with the Holy Ghost.
Lord! do thou still in those awful times, give to thy servants grace to behold thee standing on Mount Zion. Do thou manifest, Lord, thy love to her, in being in her; and thine affections for her, in defending her. Let thy faithful know, and let thine enemies feel, that Jesus is King in Zion, whom God the Father hath set there. Yea! Lord cause every knee to bow before thee, and every tongue to confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!
Precious Jesus! let thy everlasting Gospel go on, from age to age, to bear down all before it, of the dreadful heresies of the present day, and all that may hereafter arise. Thy harvest must come. Thy vintage shall be sure. Jesus will cause the blood of the winepress to be productive of its full blessing. Men shall be blessed in thee. And thy people out of all nations shall call thee blessed. And, from time to time, the Lord will gather out his redeemed, and fulfil, in every instance, his holy will and pleasure. The voice John once heard, is forever sounding in the ear of faith; and may the Lord give grace to his people, to receive and believe the record: Blessed are be dead which die in the Lord! Yea, the Spirit confirms the certain truth; for they die in Jesus, and are blessed.