Revelation 14:16

ἐθερίσθη ἡ γῆ. Cod. flor[491] demensus est terram.

[491] flor. Codex Toletanus 10th century at Madrid.

16. ἔβαλεν. Lit. “cast”: but the word is used in much milder senses, e.g. of the Lord “putting” His fingers in the deaf man’s ears, St Mark 7:33. The A.V[500] rendering “thrust” can therefore be defended: but it is also possible that He Who sat on the cloud threw down the sickle, for others (unnamed angels) to reap with.

[500] Authorised Version.

ἐθερίσθη ἡ γῆ. Comparing the parables in SS. Matthew and Mark there is little doubt that the gathering the harvest indicates or includes the gathering of the Elect. In Jeremiah 51:33, it is true, the image of harvest is used of the time of God’s vengeance, and so Joel 3:13, where, as here, it is combined with that of the vintage. But it would be pointless to have the two images successively worked out, if they meant exactly the same: while the vengeance of the other image is clearly defined in Revelation 14:19-20, and there is nothing (like the threshing of Jer., l.c.) to indicate it here.