Revelation 14:19

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 14:19 say?

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

The verse

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 14:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 14

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

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 the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, etc.] Before “upon the earth”, when the harvest was gathered in, the wheat being on the earth, but not belonging to it; but here “into the earth”, the vine being the vine of the earth, rooted in it, and natural to it: and gathered the vine of the earth; the Arabic version reads, “of the whole earth”; in like manner as the tares in the parable are said to be gathered, and bound in bundles, and cast into the fire, which, as here, intends the destruction of the wicked, at the end of the world: this vine may be said to be cut down at the burning of the world, and to be gathered at the second resurrection, as the wheat harvest of the saints will…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“"The vine" is what is the subject of judgment because its grapes are not what God looked for considering its careful culture, but "wild grapes" (Isa. 5:1-30). The apostate world of Christendom, not the world of heathendom who have not heard of Christ, is the object of judgment. Compare the emblem, Rev 19:15; Isa 63:2-3; Joe 3:13.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth - That is, into that part of the earth which might be represented by a vineyard; or the earth considered as having been the abode of wicked men. And cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God - See Isaiah 63:1-6. That is, the wine-press where the grapes are crushed, and where the juice, resembling blood, flows out, may be used as a symbol to denote the destruction of the wicked in the last day; and as the numbers will be immensely great, it is called the “great wine-press of divine wrath.” The symbol appears to be used here alike with reference to the color of the wine resembling blood, and the pressure necessary to force it out;…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and cast: Rev 19:15-21; Deu 32:32, Deu 32:33 Revelation 14:20”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification