The Meaning of Revelation 14:18 Explained

Revelation 14:18

KJV: 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.

YLT: and another messenger did come forth out from the altar, having authority over the fire, and he called with a great cry to him having the sharp sickle, saying, 'Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because come to perfection have her grapes;'

Darby: And another angel came out of the altar, having power over fire, and called with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send thy sharp sickle, and gather the bunches of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripened.

ASV: And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Revelation 14:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Another angel, the sixth in this chapter, came out from the golden altar of incense in heaven ( Revelation 8:3). This is probably an allusion to his responding to the Tribulation saints" prayers for vengeance from under the altar ( Revelation 6:9-10). His "power over fire" may indicate his authority to execute punishment. It seems clear from Revelation 14:19 that this angel was addressing the angel with the sickle ( Revelation 14:17), not Jesus Christ. John saw a different crop here ready for harvest. The two reapings seem to describe a single judgment at the end of the Great Tribulation ( Revelation 19:15; Revelation 19:17-21).
"Following the pattern of Joel 3:13, the scene furnishes two pictures of the same judgment for the same reason that Joel does, i.e, to emphasize the terror of it." [1]
The vine may represent Israel and the wheat Gentiles.

Context Summary

Revelation 14:9-20 - The Winepress Of God's Wrath
We cannot understand the torment of those who are depicted in Revelation 14:9-12, except it be the remorse at having refused the love of the Lamb of God. Even Christ Himself cannot save a soul from its self-condemnation. Note the emphasis of Revelation 14:13. The voice which pronounces the blessedness of the departed is from heaven. The emphasis is on the word henceforth. There is no pause in their onward progress, no dim and shadowy existence, no cessation in thought. From henceforth, that is, from the moment of death, they are blessed who die in the Lord; and this announcement is endorsed by the emphatic Yea of the Spirit. It is a great matter to have that affirmation to our words, whether we preach or teach. What could better authenticate them than that deep co-witness to God's Word in the heart or in the Church? See Acts 5:32 and Hebrews 2:4.
This harvest scene surely stands for the blessed revivals which have from time to time visited the world, and may especially be reckoned on in the last days of the present dispensation. Only when the harvest is gathered in will the vintage of woe and wrath commence. To which ingathering do we belong? [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 14

1  The Lamb standing on Mount Zion with his company
6  An angel preaches the gospel
8  The fall of Babylon
15  The harvest of the world
20  The winepress of the wrath of God

Greek Commentary for Revelation 14:18

Another angel [αλλος αγγελος]
The fifth angel above Swete terms “the Angel of vengeance.” He responds to the call of the sixth angel here as Christ does to the call of the fourth angel in Revelation 14:15. [source]
Out from the altar [εκ του τυσιαστηριου]
From the altar of incense where he is in charge of the fire If it is the altar of burnt offering (Revelation 6:9; Revelation 11:1), we are reminded of the blood of the martyrs (Swete), but if the altar of incense (Revelation 8:3, Revelation 8:5; Revelation 9:13; Revelation 16:7), then of the prayers of the saints.The sharp sickle (το δρεπανον το οχυ — to drepanon to oxu). Useful for vintage as for harvesting. So “send forth” (πεμπσον — pempson) as in Revelation 14:15.Gather First aorist active imperative of τρυγαω — trugaō old verb (from τρυγη — trugē dryness, ripeness), in N.T. only Revelation 14:18. and Luke 6:44.The clusters (τους βοτρυας — tous botruas). Old word βοτρυς — botrus here only in N.T. (Genesis 40:10).Her grapes Old word again for grapes, bunch of grapes, in N.T. only here, Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44.Are fully ripe (ηκμασαν — ēkmasan). Old and common verb (from ακμη — akmē Matthew 15:16), to come to maturity, to reach its acme, here only in N.T. [source]
The sharp sickle [το δρεπανον το οχυ]
Useful for vintage as for harvesting. So “send forth” (πεμπσον — pempson) as in Revelation 14:15. [source]
Gather [τρυγησον]
First aorist active imperative of τρυγαω — trugaō old verb (from τρυγη — trugē dryness, ripeness), in N.T. only Revelation 14:18. and Luke 6:44.The clusters (τους βοτρυας — tous botruas). Old word βοτρυς — botrus here only in N.T. (Genesis 40:10).Her grapes Old word again for grapes, bunch of grapes, in N.T. only here, Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44.Are fully ripe (ηκμασαν — ēkmasan). Old and common verb (from ακμη — akmē Matthew 15:16), to come to maturity, to reach its acme, here only in N.T. [source]
The clusters [τους βοτρυας]
Old word βοτρυς — botrus here only in N.T. (Genesis 40:10). [source]
Her grapes [αι σταπυλαι αυτης]
Old word again for grapes, bunch of grapes, in N.T. only here, Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44.Are fully ripe (ηκμασαν — ēkmasan). Old and common verb (from ακμη — akmē Matthew 15:16), to come to maturity, to reach its acme, here only in N.T. [source]
Are fully ripe [ηκμασαν]
Old and common verb (from ακμη — akmē Matthew 15:16), to come to maturity, to reach its acme, here only in N.T. [source]
Altar [θυσιαστηρίου]
See on Acts 17:23. [source]
Which has power [ἔξων ἐξουσίαν]
Lit., having power. Some texts add the article ὁ . So Rev., “he that hath power.” [source]
Fire []
In the Greek with the article, the fire. [source]
Cry [κραυγῇ]
See on Luke 1:42. [source]
Thy sharp sickle []
Lit., thy sickle, the sharp. [source]
Gather [τρύγησον]
From τρύγη drynessincluded in the notion of ripeness, and hence the vintage, harvest. The verb means therefore to gather ripe fruit. It occurs only in this chapter and in Luke 6:44. [source]
Grapes [σταφυλαὶ]
The noun in the singular means also a bunch of grapes. [source]
Are fully ripe [ἤκμασαν]
Only here in the New Testament. From ἀκμή , transcribed in acme, the highest point. Hence the verb means to reach the height of growth, to be ripe. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 14:18

Luke 6:44 Bramble bush [batou)]
Old word, quoted from the lxx in Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37 (from Exodus 3:6) about the burning bush that Moses saw, and by Stephen (Acts 7:30, Acts 7:35) referring to the same incident. Nowhere else in the N.T. “Galen has a chapter on its medicinal uses, and the medical writings abound in prescriptions of which it is an ingredient” (Vincent).Gather (βατου — trugōsin). A verb common in Greek writers for gathering ripe fruit. In the N.T. only here and Revelation 14:18.Grapes Cluster of grapes. [source]
Luke 6:44 Gather [βατου]
A verb common in Greek writers for gathering ripe fruit. In the N.T. only here and Revelation 14:18. [source]
Revelation 16:5 The angel of the waters []
Set over the waters as other angels over the winds (Revelation 7:1) and over the fire (Revelation 14:18). [source]
Revelation 1:7 Shall see [οπσεται]
Future middle of οραω — horaō a reminiscence of Zechariah 12:10 according to the text of Theodotion (Aquila and Symmachus) rather than the lxx and like that of Matthew 24:30 (similar combination of Daniel and Zechariah) and Matthew 26:64. This picture of the victorious Christ in his return occurs also in Revelation 14:14, Revelation 14:18-20; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:7-10.And they which (και οιτινες — kai hoitines). “And the very ones who,” Romans and Jews, all who shared in this act.Pierced First aorist active indicative of εκκεντεω — ekkenteō late compound (Aristotle, Polybius, lxx), from εκ — ek and κεντεω — kenteō (to stab, to pierce), in N.T., only here and John 19:37, in both cases from Zechariah 12:10, but not the lxx text (apparently proof that John used the original Hebrew or the translation of Theodotion and Aquila).Shall mourn (κοπσονται — kopsontai). Future middle (direct) of κοπτω — koptō old verb, to cut, “they shall cut themselves,” as was common for mourners (Matthew 11:17; Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27). From Zechariah 12:12. See also Revelation 18:9.Tribes Not just the Jewish tribes, but the spiritual Israel of Jews and Gentiles as in Revelation 7:4-8. No nation had then accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, nor has any yet done so. [source]
Revelation 14:17 He also [και αυτος]
As well as the Reaper on the cloud. This is the fifth angel who is God‘s messenger from heaven (temple where God dwells). This fifth angel with his sharp sickle is to gather the vintage (Revelation 14:18-20) as Christ did the wheat. [source]
Revelation 14:18 Out from the altar [εκ του τυσιαστηριου]
From the altar of incense where he is in charge of the fire If it is the altar of burnt offering (Revelation 6:9; Revelation 11:1), we are reminded of the blood of the martyrs (Swete), but if the altar of incense (Revelation 8:3, Revelation 8:5; Revelation 9:13; Revelation 16:7), then of the prayers of the saints.The sharp sickle (το δρεπανον το οχυ — to drepanon to oxu). Useful for vintage as for harvesting. So “send forth” (πεμπσον — pempson) as in Revelation 14:15.Gather First aorist active imperative of τρυγαω — trugaō old verb (from τρυγη — trugē dryness, ripeness), in N.T. only Revelation 14:18. and Luke 6:44.The clusters (τους βοτρυας — tous botruas). Old word βοτρυς — botrus here only in N.T. (Genesis 40:10).Her grapes Old word again for grapes, bunch of grapes, in N.T. only here, Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44.Are fully ripe (ηκμασαν — ēkmasan). Old and common verb (from ακμη — akmē Matthew 15:16), to come to maturity, to reach its acme, here only in N.T. [source]
Revelation 14:18 Gather [τρυγησον]
First aorist active imperative of τρυγαω — trugaō old verb (from τρυγη — trugē dryness, ripeness), in N.T. only Revelation 14:18. and Luke 6:44.The clusters (τους βοτρυας — tous botruas). Old word βοτρυς — botrus here only in N.T. (Genesis 40:10).Her grapes Old word again for grapes, bunch of grapes, in N.T. only here, Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44.Are fully ripe (ηκμασαν — ēkmasan). Old and common verb (from ακμη — akmē Matthew 15:16), to come to maturity, to reach its acme, here only in N.T. [source]
Revelation 14:19 Gathered [ετρυγησεν]
Like ετεριστη — etheristhē in Revelation 14:16, in obedience to the instructions in Revelation 14:18 “The vine of the earth.” Here αμπελος — ampelos is used for the enemies of Christ collectively pictured.And cast it Repeating εβαλεν — ebalen and referring to αμπελον — ampelon (vintage) just before.Into the winepress the great winepress (εις την ληνον τον μεγαν — eis tēn lēnon ton megan). Ληνος — Lēnos is either feminine as in Revelation 14:20; Revelation 19:15, or masculine sometimes in ancient Greek. Here we have both genders, a solecism frequent in the Apocalypse (Revelation 21:14 το τειχος εχων — to teichos echōn). See Matthew 21:33. For this metaphor of God s wrath see Revelation 14:10; Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:7; Revelation 16:1, Revelation 16:19; Revelation 19:15. [source]
Revelation 16:1 A great voice [μεγαλης πωνης]
Not an angel as in Revelation 5:2; Revelation 7:2; Revelation 10:3; Revelation 14:7, Revelation 14:9, Revelation 14:15, Revelation 14:18, but of God as Revelation 15:8 shows, since no one could enter the ναος — naos out Second aorist active imperative of εκχεω — ekcheō (same form as present active imperative). Blass would change to εκχεατε — ekcheate (clearly aorist) as in Revelation 16:6. [source]
Revelation 16:5 The angel of the waters [του αγγελου τον υδατων]
Genitive case object of ηκουσα — ēkousa See Revelation 7:1 for the four angels in control of the winds and Revelation 14:18 for the angel with power over fire. The rabbis spoke also of an angel with power over the earth and another over the sea. [source]
Revelation 6:9 Under the altar [υποκατω του τυσιαστηριου]
“Under” The altar of sacrifice (Exodus 39:39; Exodus 40:29), not of incense. The imagery, as in Hebrews, is from the tabernacle. For the word see Matthew 5:23., often in Rev (Revelation 8:3, Revelation 8:5; Revelation 9:13; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 14:18; Revelation 16:7). This altar in heaven is symbolic, of course, the antitype for the tabernacle altar (Hebrews 8:5). The Lamb was slain (Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 5:12) and these martyrs have followed the example of their Lord. [source]
Revelation 7:1 Standing [εστωτας]
Second perfect predicate participle of ιστημι — histēmi intransitive and followed by επι — epi and the accusative case γωνιας — gōnias as already in Revelation 3:20 Old word for angle (Matthew 6:5), also in Revelation 20:8.Holding Present active participle of κρατεω — krateō to hold fast (Mark 7:3; John 20:23). The four winds (cf. Matthew 24:31) are held prisoner by angels at each of the four corners. Some Jews held the winds from due north, south, east, west to be favourable, while those from the angles (see Acts 27:14) were unfavourable (Charles). There is an angel of the fire (Revelation 14:18) and an angel of the waters (Revelation 16:5).That no wind should blow (ινα μη πνεηι ανεμος — hina mē pneēi anemos). Negative purpose clause with ινα μη — hina mē and the present active subjunctive, “lest a wind keep on blowing.”Upon any tree Accusative case here with επι — epi rather than the preceding genitives (γησ ταλασσης — gēsthalassēs), “upon the land or upon the sea,” but “against any tree” (picture of attack on the tree like a tornado‘s path). [source]
Revelation 7:1 Holding [κρατουντας]
Present active participle of κρατεω — krateō to hold fast (Mark 7:3; John 20:23). The four winds (cf. Matthew 24:31) are held prisoner by angels at each of the four corners. Some Jews held the winds from due north, south, east, west to be favourable, while those from the angles (see Acts 27:14) were unfavourable (Charles). There is an angel of the fire (Revelation 14:18) and an angel of the waters (Revelation 16:5).That no wind should blow (ινα μη πνεηι ανεμος — hina mē pneēi anemos). Negative purpose clause with ινα μη — hina mē and the present active subjunctive, “lest a wind keep on blowing.”Upon any tree Accusative case here with επι — epi rather than the preceding genitives (γησ ταλασσης — gēsthalassēs), “upon the land or upon the sea,” but “against any tree” (picture of attack on the tree like a tornado‘s path). [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 14:18 mean?

And another angel came out of the altar - having authority over fire he called in a voice loud to the [one] having the sickle - sharp saying Put forth your gather the clusters from the vine of the earth because have fully ripened the grapes of it
Καὶ ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἔχων ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ πυρός ἐφώνησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ τῷ ἔχοντι τὸ δρέπανον τὸ ὀξὺ λέγων Πέμψον σου τρύγησον τοὺς βότρυας τῆς ἀμπέλου τῆς γῆς ὅτι ἤκμασαν αἱ σταφυλαὶ αὐτῆς

ἄλλος  another 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
ἄγγελος  angel 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄγγελος  
Sense: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.
ἐξῆλθεν  came 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
ἐκ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
θυσιαστηρίου  altar 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: θυσιαστήριον  
Sense: the altar for slaying and burning of victims used of.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐξουσίαν  authority 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐξουσία  
Sense: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.
ἐπὶ  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
πυρός  fire 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πῦρ  
Sense: fire.
ἐφώνησεν  he  called 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φωνέω 
Sense: to sound, emit a sound, to speak.
φωνῇ  in  a  voice 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
μεγάλῃ  loud 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
τῷ  to  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δρέπανον  sickle 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: δρέπανον  
Sense: a sickle, a pruning-hook, a hooked vine knife, such as reapers and vinedressers use.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὀξὺ  sharp 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὀξύς  
Sense: sharp.
λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Πέμψον  Put  forth 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: πέμπω  
Sense: to send.
σου  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τρύγησον  gather 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: τρυγάω  
Sense: to gather in ripe fruits.
βότρυας  clusters 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: βότρυς  
Sense: a bunch or cluster of grapes.
τῆς  from  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀμπέλου  vine 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἄμπελος  
Sense: a vine.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἤκμασαν  have  fully  ripened 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκμάζω  
Sense: to flourish, come to maturity.
σταφυλαὶ  grapes 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: σταφυλή  
Sense: grapes, bunch of grapes.
αὐτῆς  of  it 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

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