Revelation 14:18 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →An angel with power over fire calls for the clusters of the earth's vine to be gathered, for its grapes are fully ripe.
What Does Revelation 14:18 Mean?
An angel comes from the altar, having power over fire, and cries out for the clusters of the vine of the earth to be gathered, for the grapes are fully ripe. The altar recalls the prayers of God's people that have risen before Him, and now the answer to those prayers begins. The harvest of grain gives way to the gathering of the vine.
The vintage is an old image of judgment, the gathering of what has fully ripened in its course. That the cry comes from the altar shows that God remembers the cries of His people and acts in His time. The faithful learn that no injustice is forgotten before God, and that He answers in the fullness of the appointed hour.
Revelation 14:18 in the Original Language
thusiasterion (θυσιαστήριον), 'altar' -- the place of offering, here linked to the prayers of God's people rising before Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 14:18
What does Revelation 14:18 mean?
An angel with power over fire calls for the clusters of the earth's vine to be gathered, for its grapes are fully ripe.