15.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap:  for the time has come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

    16.  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the
    earth; and the earth was reaped.

    17.  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven,
    he also having a sharp sickle.

18.  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

    19.  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and
    gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great
    winepress of the wrath of God.

    20.  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood
    came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the
    space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

The special characters of this vision and their work have been very difficult for me to identify positively.  Until clearer light on the matter is received, I choose to withhold an explanation rather than to indulge in speculation.  Its usual explanation is to apply the gathering of the harvest of the earth to the work of the reformation now taking place and the vintage scene to the final destruction of the wicked, their punishment being symbolized by the treading of the “winepress of the wrath of God.”  This may be its signification.  It is certain, however, that in a subsequent chapter, the final judgment of the wicked is symbolized by the treading of “the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”  Beyond this I can not now speak with certainty.

CHAPTER XV.

    And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven
    angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up
    the wrath of God.

2.  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:  and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3.  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

    4.  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for
    thou only art holy:  for all nations shall come and worship
    before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest: 

    5.  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
    tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

    6.  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven
    plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their
    breasts girded with golden girdles.