THE HARVEST of THE EARTH            	Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  3-26-00  A.M.   	Revelation 14:14-20   		
	Have you ever heard the word "Armageddon"?  It has been in the news..(Desert Storm)... in
 movies... on peoples' minds at different times.  John sees a preview of this apocalyptic event
 that will bring an end to evil on the earth and will usher in the Great Kingdom of our Lord 
Jesus Christ.  The scene here is not the "gathering of the wheat" into the garner (Mt.13)... but
 the "harvest of evil". 
I.  IT HAS BEEN PREDICTED... 
  A. In The Prophecies of The O.T. 
    1. In Isaiah..  2:12; 13:6,9; (34:1-8; 63:1-6; 66:18) 
	- Bringing the proud and lofty low... 
	- Bringing destruction from the Almighty 
	- Bringing wrath and fierce anger... desolation & destruction 
    2. In Ezekiel.. 13:5; 30:3.. a "cloudy" day for the heathen 
    3. In Joel.. 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14   (Joel 3)
	- Bringing destruction from the Almighty.. "Alas" 
	- Bringing terror to inhabitants of the land 
	- Bringing defeat to evil.. "great and terrible, who can abide it?" 
	- Bringing darkness...& many in "the valley of decision" 
    4. In Amos..  5:18-20.. a day of darkness and not light.. 
    5. In Obadiah..  1:15.. "upon all the heathen..." 
    6. In Zephaniah.. 1:7.. "the LORD has prepared a sacrifice.." 
    7. In Zechariah.. 1:14; 14:1-7.. "the mighty man shall cry bitterly"   (Zech.12)
    8. In Malachi.. 4:5... "great and terrible day of the LORD." 
  B. In The Parables of Jesus.. 
    1. The "Tares & the Wheat" Mt.13:24-30.. tares are gathered first.. 
    2. The "Fishing net".. Mt.13:47-52.. at the completion of the age the angels will sever the 
        wicked from among the just... 
  C. In The Prophecies of the N.T. 
    1. In Acts.. 2:19-21.. "that great and notable day of the Lord.." 
    2. In 1Cor.5:5; 2Cor.1:14.. 
    3. In 1Thes. 5:2.. "..so cometh as a thief in the night." 
    4. In 2Pet.3:10.. "heavens pass away with a great noise...." 
II. IT IS HERE PREVIEWED..  Rev.14:14-20 
  A. Given Between the 7th Trumpet and the 1st Bowl judgment.. 
    1. The preview is close to the middle of the Tribulation.. 
	- More details are given in 16:12-16 and 19:11-21 
  B. Given as a "Harvest" of the earth.. "it is ripe".. 14:15 (sin is full) 
  C. Given as a "gathering" of the vine of the earth.. 14:18 (fully ripe) 
  D. Given as a "winepress" 
    1. The winepress of the wrath of God.. 14:19 
	- Outside the city .. (Jerusalem) 
	- But.. it is "blood" that comes out..  4' deep & 200 miles long !! 
	   - from Megiddo, south through the valley of Jehosaphat to Bozrah in Edom.. 
	   - If you think this sounds impossible.. look at 16:21 !! 
III.  HERE IS THE "PERFORMANCE".. 
  A. In The Deceit of The Nations..   16:12-16 
    1. Near the end of the Tribulation.. when the 6th bowl is poured out 
    2. Accomplished by three "unclean spirits".. evil.. 
	- Their "source".. from the dragon; the beast; the false prophet.. 
	- Their "service".. 
	   - They work miracles..  16:14 (and deceive... 18:23; 19:20; 20:10) 
	   - They work on the kings of the world.. 16:14 
		- To gather them.. for the great battle 
		- To engage them.. in the great battle 
		   - They bring them to Armageddon... 16:16 
  B. In The Destruction of The Nations.. 
    1. Described.. 
	- In the prophecies.. 
	- In the parables.. 
	- In the preview..  14:14-20 
    2. Detailed.. in the "fall of Babylon"  ch. 18 (political Babylon) 
    3. Demolished.. when Jesus COMES AGAIN...in Power and Great Glory! 
	- He it is who comes in power and great glory..  19:11-21 
	- He it is who smites the nations.. 19:15 
	   - With a sharp sword out of His mouth.. (His Word) 
	- He it is who treads the "winepress" of the fierceness of the wrath of God.. 19:15 
	- He it is who casts the beast and false prophet into the Lake of Fire!  19:20 
	- He it is who slays the "remnant of unbelievers" 
	- He it is who binds Satan for a 1000 years.. 20:1,2 

OH DEAR FRIEND... THESE EVENTS MAY BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK... 
    ARE YOU READY FOR THAT "JUDGMENT" DAY? 
THE ONLY SAFE PLACE TO BE.. SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS !