Devine Scripture

Revelation 14:16

What does Revelation 14:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 14:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 14:16 means

The one seated on the cloud acts: He swings His sickle over the earth, and the earth is reaped. The brevity underscores certainty and authority. When Christ executes judgment, it is swift and effectual; no corner of the field is missed. Many see this reaping as the gathering of the righteous, in contrast to the later grape harvest of wrath. At minimum, it marks a decisive, comprehensive intervention by the Lord of the harvest. The vision reassures that ultimate separation and ingathering do not depend on human power. At the appointed time, the Son of Man will gather what is His, vindicating faith and ending the long season of waiting.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he who was seated on the cloud sent in his blade on the earth; and the grain of the earth was cut.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he who is sitting upon the cloud did put forth his sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he that sat on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth: and the earth was reaped.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he that sat on the cloud put his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Context

Verse 16 completes the first harvest that began with the vision in verse 14 and the cry in verse 15. Its succinct report contrasts with the more detailed treatment of the grape harvest to follow. The narrative now sets up a second, distinct action: another angel from the heavenly temple with a sharp sickle (verse 17), and yet another angel from the altar with power over fire who calls for the gathering of the earth’s grapes (verse 18). Verses 19–20 will depict that harvest as a winepress of wrath, emphasizing judgment’s severity and extent.

v.15And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

v.16This passage

v.17And another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 16:27

    For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.

  • Revelation 14:19

    And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God.

  • Revelation 16:1

    And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

  • Revelation 14:14

    And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloudI sawone sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

  • John 5:22

    For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;

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