650.启14:19.“那天使就把镰刀扔在地上，收取了地上的葡萄园”表当今基督教会的终结。“扔镰刀收取”与“扔镰刀收割”所表相同，只是后者论及庄稼，前面论及葡萄园。“收取”是指采摘葡萄树，收集葡萄；“收割”是指收割庄稼，收集五谷，这是显而易见的。“葡萄园”表示拥有其以认识主的圣言的教会，因而在此表示基督教会；这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
耶稣说，我是葡萄树，你们是枝子；常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能作什么。人若不常在我里面，像枯干的枝子被扔在火里。（约翰福音15:5，6）
耶稣将天国比作一个家主去雇工人进他的葡萄园。（马太福音20:1-8）
两个儿子到葡萄园里做工。（马太福音21:28）
耶稣说了一个比喻；一个人栽了一个葡萄园，周围圈上篱笆，租给园户，期望收果子，但他们却杀了差给他们的众仆人，最后还杀了他的儿子。（马太福音21:33-39；马可福音12:1-9；路加福音20:9-16）
我要为我所亲爱的唱歌，论他的葡萄园。我所亲爱的有葡萄园，他刨挖园子，栽种上等的葡萄树。（以赛亚书 5:1，2等）
当那日，有出纯酒的葡萄园，你们要对她回应说；我耶和华是看守它的；我必时刻浇灌。（以赛亚书27:2-3）
许多牧人毁坏我的葡萄园；他们使它荒凉。（耶利米书 12:10，11）
耶和华必来审判长老，因你们烧了葡萄园。（以赛亚书 3:14）
在葡萄园里必无歌唱，也无欢呼。（以赛亚书16:10）
650. 14:19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vintage of the vine of the earth. This symbolizes the end of the present Christian Church.
Thrusting in his sickle and gathering the vintage has the same symbolic meaning as thrusting in his sickle and reaping, but reaping is said in reference to the crop of a field, while gathering the vintage is said in reference to a vineyard. That to gather the vintage is to harvest a vineyard and gather the grapes, and to reap is to harvest a field and gather the grain, is apparent without explanation.
That a vineyard symbolizes the church which has the Word and where the Lord is thereby known, thus in this case the Christian Church, can be seen from the following passages:
(Jesus said,) "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he shall be cast out as a branch... withered... into the fire...." (John 15:5-6)
Jesus' likening the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who hired "laborers for his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1-8).
The sons who worked in a vineyard (Matthew 21:28).
The fig tree planted in a vineyard that bore no fruit (Luke 13:6-9).
Jesus' telling the following parable: A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it. And he leased it to farmers, that he might receive its fruit. But they killed the servants he sent to them, and finally killed his son (Matthew 21:33-39, Mark 12:1-9, Luke 20:9-16).
(I will) sing... a song of my beloved regarding his vineyard: My beloved has a vineyard...(which) he fenced around... and planted with a choice vine. (Isaiah 5:1-2ff.)
In that day reply to her, "A vineyard of red wine!" I, Jehovah, keep it, I water it every moment...." (Isaiah 27:2-3)
Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard... They have made it desolate. (Jeremiah 12:10-11)
Jehovah is entering into judgment with the elders... For you have set fire to the vineyard. (Isaiah 3:14)
In all vineyards there shall be wailing. (Amos 5:17-18)
In the vineyards there will be no singing or rejoicing. (Isaiah 16:10)
650. [verse 19] 'And the angel put forth his sickle into the land, and gathered the vintage of the vineyard of the land' signifies the end of the present Christian Church. By 'to put forth his sickle and gather the vintage' a like thing is signified as by 'to put forth his sickle and reap,' but the latter is said of the harvest and the former of the vineyard. That 'to gather the vintage' is to lower [the vines in] the vineyard (vineam demittere) and gather the grapes, and that 'to reap' is to lay the harvest low (messem demittere) and gather the corn, is plain. That it is known that 'a vineyard' signifies the Church where the Word is and thereby the Lord is known, thus here the Christian Church, can be established from the following places:
Jesus said, I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, the same bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Unless one abides in Me, he shall be cast away, and like a withered branch into the fire. John 15:5-6.
Jesus likened the kingdom of the heavens to a householder who brought labourers into his vineyard. Matthew 20:1-8.
Of the sons who should work in the vineyard. Matthew 21:28.
Of the fig tree planted in the vineyard which was not bearing fruit. Luke 13:6-9.
Jesus spoke a parable; a man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, and let it out to farmers that they might get the fruits thereof, but they killed the servants sent to them, and at last the Son. Matthew 21:33-39; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:9-16.
I will sing a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard, My well-beloved has a vineyard, which he fenced about and planted with a noble vine. Isaiah 5:1-2 seq.
In that day a vineyard of undiluted wine, answer unto her, I Jehovah am keeping it, I will water it every moment. Isaiah 27:2-3.
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard; they have placed it in a solitude. Jeremiah 12:10-11.
Jehovah will come into the judgment with the elders, for you have set the vineyard on fire. Isaiah 3:14.
In all the vineyards wailing, Amos 5:17-18.
In the vineyards there is no singing, nor shouting. Isaiah 16:10.
650. Verse 19. And the angel sent his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, signifies the end of the present Christian church. By "sending his sickle and gathering," the like is signified as by "sending his sickle and reaping," but the latter is said of a harvest and the former of a vineyard. That "to gather" is to take down the vine and gather the grapes, and that "to reap" signifies to cut down the harvest and gather the corn, is evident. That "a vineyard" signifies the church where the Word is, by which the Lord is known, thus here the Christian church, may appear from the following passages:
Jesus said, I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing. If anyone abide not in Me, he is cast forth, and is as a dried branch in the fire, (John 15:5-6).
Jesus likened the kingdom of the heavens to a householder, who brought laborers into his vineyard, (Matthew 20:1, 8).
Of the sons who were to labor in the vineyard, (Matthew 21:28).
Of the fig tree planted in the vineyard which bore no fruit, (Luke 13:6-9).
Jesus spoke a parable; a man planted a vineyard, and encompassed it with a hedge, and let it out to husbandmen, that he might receive the fruits of it, but they slew the servants sent to them, and at last the son, (Matthew 21:33-39; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:9-16).
I will sing a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard which he fenced about, and planted with a noble vine, (Isaiah 5:1-2.
In that day answer ye unto her, a vineyard of unmixed wine; I, Jehovah, do keep it; I will water it every moment, (Isaiah 27:2-3).
Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have placed it in a solitude, (Jeremiah 12:10-11).
Jehovah cometh into judgment with the elders, for you have kindled the vineyard, (Isaiah 3:14).
In all vineyards there is wailing, (Amos 5:17).
In the vineyards there is no singing, neither is there shouting, (Isaiah 16:10).
650. (Vers. 19.) "Et misit Angelus falcem suam in terram, et vindemiavit vineam terrae," significat finem Ecclesiae hodiernae Christianae.--Per "mittere falcem suam et vindemiare" simile significatur quod per "mittere falcem suam et metere," sed hoc dicitur de messe, et illud de vinea; quod "vindemiare" sit vineam demittere et colligere uvas, et quod "metere" sit messem demittere et colligere frumentum, patet. Quod "vinea" significet Ecclesiam ubi Verbum est, et per id Dominus notus, ita hic Ecclesiam Christianam, constare potest ex sequentibus locis:
Jesus dixit, "Ego sum Vitis, vos palmites; qui manet in Me et Ego in illo, hic fert fructum multum; quia sine Me non potestis facere quicquam; nisi quis manserit in Me, ejicietur foras, et sicut palmes arefactus in ignem," (Johannes 15:5-6);
Jesus assimilavit Regnum Caelorum Patrifamilias, qui conduxit operarios in Vineam suam, (Matthaeus 20:1-8);
De filiis qui operarentur in Vinea, (Matthaeus 21:28);
De ficu in Vinea plantata, quae fructum non ferebat, (Luca 13:(6-9);
Jesus dixit parabolam; homo plantavit Vineam et sepem ei circumposuit, et locavit eam agricolis, ut acciperet fructus ejus, sed occiderunt servos missos ad illos, et denique Filium, (Matthaeus 21:33-39; Marcus 12:1-9; Luca 20:9-16);
"Cantabo canticum amici mei de Vinea ejus; Vinea fuit Dilecto meo, quam circumdedit et plantavit Vite nobili," (Esaias 5:1-2, seq.);
"In die illo, Vinea meri, respondete illi; Ego Jehovah custodiens illam; in momentis irrigabo illam," (Esaias 27:2-3);
"Pastores multi perdiderunt Vineam Meam; posuerunt illam in solitudinem," (Jeremias 12:10-11);
"Jehovah in judicium venit cum senioribus, vos enim succendistis Vineam," (Esaias 3:14);
"In omnibus Vineis planctus," (Amos 5:17); 1
"In Vineis non cantatur, nec jubilatur," (Esaias 16:10).
Footnotes:
1. 17 pro "17, 18"