1. Revelation 14:17 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does this angel carry a sharp sickle?

Revelation 14:17 (ESV)

17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

The fact that he comes from God’s very presence carrying a sharp sickle indicates that God intends him to join Christ Jesus in the labour of harvesting the crop from the earth. This is in keeping with Jesus’ words that the angels will participate in the final judgment (Matthew 13:41, Matthew 13:49; Matthew 24:31).