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Revelation 14:16

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 14:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Revelation 14:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
14And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud [I saw] one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand sharp sickle.
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.
16And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18And 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.
19And 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 14:15Revelation 14:17 →
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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 he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, etc.] He put forth, and made use of that power which he had in his hand, in answer to the entreaty of the angel, the time being fully come which was fixed for this great event: and the earth was reaped; and the harvest of it was got in; reaping and harvest sometimes are used in an ill sense, and design the wrath of God, and his judgments inflicted upon men; (see <231705>Isaiah 17:5) (<245133>Jeremiah 51:33 <290313>Joel 3:13). Hence some think, that both this and the vintage following intend the judgments of God upon antichrist, and that they are contemporary with the pouring out of the fifth and sixth vials upon the beast and…”
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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, "cast."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And he that sat on the cloud - The Saviour, Revelation 14:14. Thrust in his sickle on the earth - To cut down the harvest - that is, to gather his people to himself. And the earth was reaped - So far as the righteous were concerned. The end had come; the church was redeemed; the work contemplated was accomplished; and the results of the work of the Saviour were like a glorious harvest. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“Crying - By the command of God. Thrust in thy sickle, for the harvest is ripe - This implies an high degree of holiness in those good men, and an earnest desire to be with God. Revelation 14:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he: Rev 14:14; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:22, Joh 5:23 thrust: Rev 14:19, 16:1-21 Revelation 14:17”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 14 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification