Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 14:14-20

"And 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. 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. And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped. Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And 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. 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. And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs." — Revelation 14:14-20 (ASV)

When warnings and judgments fail to produce reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up. They then become ripe for judgment, which is represented by a harvest—an emblem also used to signify the gathering of the righteous by God's mercy when they are ripe for heaven. The harvest time is when the grain is ripe; when believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth will be gathered into Christ's storehouse.

Judgment is also represented by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and His church are not destroyed until, by their sin, they are ripe for ruin; then He will spare them no longer. The winepress is the wrath of God—some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked.

The patience of God toward sinners is the greatest miracle in the world. However, although long-lasting, it will not be everlasting. Ripeness in sin is a sure proof that judgment is near.