What does Revelation 14:20 mean?

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. Revelation 14:20

Explanation

Revelation 14:20 depicts a symbolic vision of judgment. The winepress, a biblical metaphor for God’s wrath, is trodden outside the city, symbolizing a place of unclean or unholy actions, often thought to be outside the sacred city of Jerusalem. The resultant flow of blood, rising to the height of horse bridles, represents the enormity and severity of the judgment, suggesting a significant loss of life or destruction. The 1,600 furlongs, which equals approximately 200 miles, could signify an all-encompassing judgment covering a vast area. This vision is commonly interpreted to signal the final, comprehensive judgment of God upon the earth at the end of times.

Historical Context

The Book of Revelation is thought to have been written by John of Patmos around the end of the 1st century AD. This was a time of persecution for many Christians under the Roman Empire. The vivid and often violent imagery in Revelation spoke to the experiences and expectations of early Christian communities, who perceived it as the eventual triumph of God over evil and oppressive forces.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations view this verse through various lenses:

• Preterist Viewpoint: This perspective interprets Revelation as mostly referring to events in the 1st century. In this sense, the verse could be seen as symbolic of God’s judgment on Jerusalem in AD 70, when the city was sacked by Rome.
• Futurist Viewpoint: Many read this as a prophetic passage anticipating a future, literal event during the end times, the “Great Tribulation.”
• Historicist Viewpoint: This view might interpret the verse as a part of the continuous fulfilment of prophecy through the church’s history.
• Idealist Viewpoint: Idealists would see this as symbolic of the spiritual struggle between good and evil that transcends time.

Practical Applications

While the verse speaks of eschatological judgment, it may serve as a reminder of the gravity of sin and the need for repentance. It can also signify the hope for justice and the ultimate victory over evil.

Cross-References

• Isaiah 63:2-3 – Depicts God’s judgment as a trampling of grapes in a winepress.
• Revelation 19:15 – Another reference to the treading of the winepress of the wrath of God.
• Joel 3:13 – Imagery of the harvest and the winepress in the context of judgment.

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text include:

• Winepress (ληνόν – lenon): Refers to the vessel or installation used in ancient times to crush grapes and produce juice that would become wine.
• Trodden (πατέω – pateo): Means to tread or trample with feet, and in biblical context often refers to the act of judgment.
• Furlongs (σταδίους – stadious): An ancient unit of length, with one furlong approximately equaling 1/8 mile.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, harvest and wine-making imagery were frequently used. For example, the Greek god Dionysus is linked to the grape harvest and wine. Moreover, in many ancient myths, overwhelming natural phenomena are used to depict divine judgment, paralleling the cataclysmic imagery of Revelation.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science does not typically validate apocalyptic imagery found in religious texts. However, the description of blood rising to horse bridles could be analyzed as hyperbolic language often used in literature to describe major catastrophes.

Commentaries

Commentators throughout history have provided myriad explanations for this verse:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the righteousness of God’s judgments, viewing the passage as a warning to the enemies of the church.
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible discusses the passage in terms of the desolation designated by the symbolical representation.
• The Pulpit Commentary suggests a further historical fulfillment, perhaps linked to the fall of Rome or another significant event in church history.