The Final Judgment of the Earth Dwellers Portrayed (Revelation 14:14-20).
‘And I saw and behold a white cloud, and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.'
This is ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory' (Matthew 24:30; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Mark 13:26; Luke 9:26; Luke 21:27). This is in contrast with Daniel 7:13 where He was coming before the throne of God to receive His crown and His authority and dominion (see Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62 and compare Matthew 28:18). Here He has already received His authority and dominion, for He sits (on His throne) and wears a golden crown (Psalms 21:3), and is now poised to reveal Himself so as to exercise that dominion over the earth.
The title Son of Man represents true humanity as opposed to the wild beasts and its use by Jesus reveals both His true humanity and that He is the ideal man. He is what God intended man to be. Thus He is uniquely in a position to judge mankind. To the redeemed He was the slain Lamb, slain for them. To the judged He is the true man Who as such has the right to judge mankind.
‘In his hand a sharp sickle'. There is now a change in status. Previously the Son of Man had been the sower of the good seed (Matthew 13:37), now He has become the reaper (Matthew 13:39-41). The time for mercy is past. The time of judgment is here. He Who previously came to save is now here to judge (compare John 3:17; John 12:47 and contrast John 5:27). Note the stress on the sharpness of the sickle. His judgment is clean and sure.
Once more we are at the scene of final judgment, as in Revelation 6:17; Revelation 11:15-18. Compare also Revelation 16:20-21; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:11-15. Each section in Revelation brings us up to this point.