The next angels on the scene are shown reaping a harvest resulting from God’s wrath. These angels are also referenced in the gospels. Matthew is clear in telling us that the “tares,” the impostors in the kingdom, will be harvested before the “wheat,” true believers are ushered into the kingdom.
Matthew 13:30 “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”
The Lord Jesus is very specific in clarifying the meaning of His teaching when He interprets this parable for His disciples.
Matthew 13:37–42 “He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Finally, as we reach chapter 15 we are introduced to the seven angels that will dispense the seven last judgments representing the culmination of God’s wrath before Jesus returns as King of kings. As referenced in an earlier post, the angels are presented in possession of the seven final judgments, but one of the living creatures presents each with a vial of God’s wrath to mix with those judgments. The first six judgments seem to follow in fairly rapid sequence. The sixth judgment appears to provide a pause to allow the forces of Satan to gather the armies of the world together in preparation for battle with Almighty God. Once the final judgment is poured out, the stage is set for the return of Jesus to destroy the Antichrist and False Prophet and their armies and establish His kingdom.
One of the angels involved in pouring out the last seven judgments then approaches John and carries him into the wilderness to explain the destruction of Babylon, the kingdom of the Antichrist. In Revelation 18:2 yet another angel appears to announce the fall of Babylon as a done deal, and I can’t help but wonder if it is the same angel who made the announcement that its destruction was imminent (Revelation 14:8). Emphasis is given to this declaration by the appearance of another angel casting a millstone into the sea illustrating the truth that Babylon would never arise again. Satan will never again be able to establish a wicked kingdom on planet earth once the Savior has taken His earthly throne.
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