And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Revelation 14:15
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This angel emerges from the inner sanctuary, the very presence of God, and his message to the one on the cloud isn't a new command, but a divine confirmation: the time is now because the harvest is "dried" – perfectly ripe and ready for gathering. This highlights that the harvest isn't just for reaping, but for the elect to be fully prepared and gathered home.
And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes an angel issuing a command from God's temple to the figure like the Son of Man on the cloud. This directive to reap the ripe harvest signifies that the time has come to gather in the righteous, in contrast to the subsequent judgment represented by a vintage. The message is a divine pronouncement, signaling the completion of God's work and the readiness for His ultimate harvest and judgment.
An angel issues a crucial command, but where does it originate? Discover the heavenly origin behind this urgent call to action.
This verse highlights a divine command given by an angel who emerges from the temple. In Revelation, the temple is often seen as God's dwelling place, a symbol of His sacred presence and authority.
A Divine Messenger
This angel isn't just any celestial being; he comes from the very heart of God's sanctuary. This signifies that the command to reap is not a casual suggestion, but a directive from the Almighty.
The Father's Will, Executed by the Son
While the angel delivers the message, the recipient is identified as 'him who sat on the cloud,' understood in context to be the Son of Man (Jesus). The angel acts as a messenger, conveying the Father's will to the Son, who is tasked with carrying out this divine decree. It underscores the unity of purpose between the Father and the Son in executing God's plan.
The earth's harvest is described as 'fully ripe.' What does this imagery reveal about the timing and certainty of God's actions?
The repeated emphasis on the harvest being 'fully ripe' (or 'overripe,' 'dried') is a powerful metaphor. It speaks to a point of no return.
Reaching Fullness
This ripeness signifies that individuals and nations have reached the full measure of their actions, whether good or evil. Iniquity has reached its peak, and the time for God's intervention is both determined and inevitable.
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A Sign of Imminent Action
Just as ripe crops cannot be left standing indefinitely, this spiritual ripeness signals that God's judgment or gathering is imminent. It's a clear sign that the appointed time has arrived for consequences, whether that be the gathering of the righteous or the judgment of the wicked. It underscores God's perfect timing and His respect for the natural progression of events He has ordained.
Understand the original words
therismos · Greek Noun
A metaphor representing the final gathering of humanity for divine judgment at the end of the age.
This passage uses the same harvest imagery, describing Babylon as ripe for judgment, highlighting the theme of ripeness for divine action.
Joel 3:13This verse directly parallels the imagery of thrusting in a sickle, but explicitly links it to the winepress of God's judgment, underscoring the punitive aspect of the harvest in Revelation.
Mark 4:29Jesus uses a similar metaphor of a ripe harvest ready for reaping, but here it's often interpreted as the gathering of God's people, showing the dual nature of harvest imagery in Scripture.
Matthew 13:30The parable of the wheat and the tares also speaks of a harvest at the end of the age, where both the righteous and the wicked are separated, illustrating the final gathering before judgment.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7This passage speaks of God repaying trouble to those who trouble the faithful, directly connecting divine action to the suffering of believers, much like the angel from the temple responding to their cries.
ellicottRevelation 14:15: "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."
(15) And another angel . . . —Translate, And another angel came forth out of the temple, &c. It has been asked, “What harvest is this?” It is the gathering of the good seed, the full corn in the ear, into the celestial garner ( Mark 4:26-29 ). The angel who announces that…
pulpitRevelation 14:15: "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."
Verse 15. - And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud; another angel; in addition to those already mentioned, not implying that he who sat on the cloud was an angel. Out of the temple, or shrine (ναός); the inner sanctu…
This angel emerges from the inner sanctuary, the very presence of God, and his message to the one on the cloud isn't a new command, but a divine confirmation: the time is now because the harvest is "dried" – perfectly ripe and ready for gathering. This highlights that the harvest isn't just for reaping, but for the elect to be fully prepared and gathered home.
This verse describes an angel issuing a command from God's temple to the figure like the Son of Man on the cloud. This directive to reap the ripe harvest signifies that the time has come to gather in the righteous, in contrast to the subsequent judgment represented by a vintage. The message is a divine pronouncement, signaling the completion of God's work and the readiness for His ultimate harvest and judgment.
This verse describes an angel issuing a command from God's temple to the figure like the Son of Man on the cloud. This directive to reap the ripe harvest signifies that the time has come to gather in the righteous, in contrast to the subsequent judgment represented by a vintage. The message is a divine pronouncement, signaling the completion of God's work and the readiness for His ultimate harvest and judgment.
"And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”" — This angel emerges from the inner sanctuary, the very presence of God, and his message to the one on the cloud isn't a new command, but a divine confirmation: the time is now because the harvest is…
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Last reviewed October 2026