ACC ~ Revelation 14 v15 - 16

AT THE HARVEST OF ALL HUMANKIND. OECUMENIUS: And why does the angel say to him, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe”? “And he swung his sickle,” it says, “and the earth was reaped.” A “plentiful harvest” is mentioned in the Gospels, while “the laborers are few.” However, in that passage the harvest signified the gathering of the faithful, while here the harvest represents the consummation of humankind, so that, should there be any chaff or impurities in them which is worthy of fire, it might be given over to fire. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 14.14-16.

THE CHURCH WILL RECEIVE JUDICIAL POWER FROM GOD. PRIMASIUS: From the explanation of the Lord, we know that the angels will be the reapers and that the end of the world is signified by the appearance of a ripe harvest. Moreover, it is known that after the harvesting of the crop there is chaff in the straw and fragile ears, while the wheat is in the grains. And so, we see with greater clarity in this passage that when it says that the sickle must be used on the ripe crop, the fate merited by the good and by the evil are symbolized. And to whom more appropriately than to the church is this said? … At the time of the last judgment, when she has concluded her spiritual warfare against the beast, the church will possess a greater illumination and will be able to know whom she must consider as her own and whom as outside. To sit on the cloud means that when she has received the judicial power from God, [the church] will distinguish between the good and the evil: “You will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 14.15-16.

ALL HEAVENLY POWERS PRAY. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The cry of the angel symbolically represents the supplications of all the heavenly powers who desire to see both the honoring of the saints and the separation of the transgression of the sinners. At that time, that which is changeable and transient will cease to exist and that which is immovable and enduring will be manifested. That the harvest is ripe indicates that the time of the consummation has come when the seed of piety, having matured as ripe wheat, will be regarded as ready for the heavenly granaries and will yield for the husbandman thirtyfold, sixtyfold and a hundredfold. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 14.15-16.