Thread by @PastProves

(25) In bible times, after grapes were harvested they were trampled in
a winepress, a small pit covered with plaster. The grape juice would run
through a channel at 1 end of the pit leading to a storage vessel. Figuratively, the winepress represents God’s judgment on his enemies.

(26)In Revelation 19:15 it is Jesus who “treads the winepress of the
fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” This trampling occurs “outside of the
city,” a sign of separation from the covenant ppl, & graphic description of the amount of bloodshed only adds to the horror of the image.

(27) THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMBER 1600 STADIA
-The distance of “1,600 stadia” likely represents the universal scope of God’s judgment (i.e., 42 × 102 with 4 representing the earth and 10 symbolizing completeness).

(28) -Geographically, it is the approximate length of Israel. In the Itinerarium of Antonius, Palestine was said to be 1664 stadia from Tyre to El-Arish (on the borders of Egypt).
-Symbolically, it squares the numbers four and multiplies it by the square of ten.

(29) Symbolically it squares the # 4 (the # of the earth: “4 corners of the earth,” 20:8; “4 winds of the earth,” 7:1) & multiplies it by the square of 10 (the # of completeness; cf. 5:11; 20:6).

(30) 1,600 has also been taken as representing the earth or as the square of 40, the traditional number for punishment (Numbers 14:33; Deuteronomy 25:3).

(31) WHOSE BLOOD COMES FROM THE GRAPES
Are the grapes God’s enemies or His saints? It’s not entirely clear, but there is some good evidence that the blood from the grapes refers to the blood of the saints, which contributes to God’s wrath over those who killed them.

(32) In fact, whenever the image of blood occurs in Revelation, it always
refers to the blood of Jesus, His followers, or innocent people. God never
causes His enemies to bleed in Revelation—literally or symbolically. Revelation
speaks about blood throughout the book.

(33) -Blood of the saints (6:10; 14:20; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24

-Blood of the innocent (18:24).

-Seas and rivers also turn to blood throughout Revelation (6:12; 8:7, 8; 11:6; 16:3, 4).

Nowhere does “blood” in Revelation refer to the blood of Jesus’s slaughtered enemies.

(34) So the grapes that are harvested are the martyrs of Jesus. But why are they thrown “into the great winepress of the wrath of God”? Because their blood turns into God’s wrath poured out on their killers.

(35) The martyrs don’t die because of God’s wrath. Rather, their blood (the wine) becomes the very wrath Babylon will drink. God is mixing the wine of His wrath (Revelation 14:10), which will be poured out on the Babylons that oppose Him (16:19).

(36) Now, whether the blood is symbolic of judgment or symbolic of martyrdom leading to judgment doesn’t make a huge difference for my main point. Nowhere are God’s people allowed to act violently in Revelation.

(37) In any case, this martyrdom-leading-to-wrath view better fits with what John says over the next few chapters,10 where the blood of the saints becomes the mixed wine of God’s wrath toward His enemies:

(38) -“Because they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, You also gave them blood to drink; they deserve it!” (Revelation 16:6, HCSB)

-"Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger.” (Rev 16:19)

(39) -“Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.” (Rev 17:6)

(40) -“Pay her back the way she also paid, and double it according to her works. In the cup in which she mixed, mix a double portion for her.” (Rev 18:6)

(41) -“and the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on earth, was found in you.” (Rev 18:24)

(42) -“because His judgments are true and righteous, because He has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and He has avenged the blood of His slaves that was on her hands.” (Rev 19:2)

(43) All of these passages seem to draw out the meaning of the grape harvest
in Revelation 14:17–20. God has stored up the blood of the martyrs in a massive winepress and is thrusting it down the throat of Babylon in seven bowls (Revelation 15:7; 16:1, 19).

(44) The persecution of the saints may lead to the salvation of the
persecutors. Otherwise, it contributes to their righteous judgment. In both
cases, there is meaning—rich, theological meaning—in the persecution of saints.

(45) The twentieth century witnessed more Christian martyrs than the previous nineteen centuries combined. And not a single one of them died arbitrarily. Every pool of blood contributed either to the salvation of their enemies or to their wrath. Not a single drop was meaningless.

(46) Craig Keener, author of the NIV Application Commentary on Revelation reveals how important this approach was to him:

(47) Many today avoid trying to “scare” people into the kingdom. In a culture
in revolt against authority and skeptical of threats, emphasizing God’s loving
invitation may be a more strategic approach.

(48) But John had no such scruples against “scaring” people, and as long as we speak the truth and are able to reason with people (Acts 19:9; 24:25),

(49) there remain occasions when this approach is appropriate. A young
atheist chose to consider the claims of Christ immediately rather than
deferring the decision because the doctrine of hell made the stakes too high to ignore.