Revelation 14:15

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 14:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And 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.
Revelation 14:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And another angel came out of the temple, etc.] Not the Holy Spirit, who, being God omniscient, knows the day and hour of judgment, which is a secret to men and angels, as Napier thinks; since though he dwells in the church as his temple, yet is never called an angel; nor does this angel represent the souls under the altar, who come out from thence, and importunately desire vengeance on the inhabitants of the earth, the worshippers of the beast, who had shed their blood; but rather the mighty angels who shall descend from heaven with Christ, and who shall be employed by him as reapers, to gather in his elect from the four winds, as well as to bind up the tares in bundles, and burn them;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thrust in--Greek, "Send." The angel does not command the "Son of man" (Rev 14:14), but is the mere messenger announcing to the Son the will of God the Father, in whose hands are kept the times and the seasons. thy sickle--alluding to Mar 4:29, where also it is "sendeth the sickle." The Son sends His sickle-bearing angel to reap the righteous when fully ripe. harvest--the harvest crop. By the harvest-reaping the elect righteous are gathered out; by the vintage the Antichristian offenders are removed out of the earth, the scene of Christ's coming kingdom. The Son of man Himself, with a golden crown, is introduced in the harvest-gathering of the elect, a mere angel in the vintage (Rev…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And another angel - The fourth in order, Revelation 14:6, Revelation 14:8-9. Came out of the temple - See the notes on Revelation 11:19. Came, as it were, from the immediate presence of God; for the temple was regarded as his unique dwelling-place. Crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud - To the Messiah, Revelation 14:14. That is, the command was borne directly from God by the angel to the Messiah, to go forth and reap the great harvest of the world. It is not a command of the angel, but a command from God the Father to the Son. This is in accordance with all the representations in the New Testament, that the Son, as Messiah or Redeemer, is subordinate to the Father, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And another angel came out of the temple - "Which is in heaven," Rev 14:17. Out of which came the judgments of God in the appointed seasons. Revelation 14:16”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“14:15-18 The Temple and the altar represent God’s presence (see 9:13; 11:19; 16:7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“came: Rev 16:17 crying: Rev 6:10; Isa 62:1, Isa 62:6, Isa 62:7 Thrust: Rev 14:14 harvest: Rev 13:12; Jer 51:33; Joe 3:13; Mat 13:30, Mat 13:39 ripe: or, dried, Rev 14:18; Gen 15:6; Zac 5:6-11; Mat 23:32; Th1 2:16 Revelation 14:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification