What does Revelation 14:16 mean?
In response to the angel's call to thrust His sickle into the harvest, the "one like a son of man" "seated on the cloud" (identified as Jesus) (Revelation 14:14) swung His sickle across the earth. Consequently, the earth was reaped. Not a single unbeliever anywhere on the planet will escape Jesus' judgment. The psalmist asked, "If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (Psalm 130:3). After sinning in the perfect environment God had placed them in, Adam and Eve tried to hide from God's presence by secluding themselves among the trees of the garden. But their attempt was unsuccessful, and God confronted them about their sin (Genesis 3:8–13). Likewise, when Christ thrusts in His sickle to judge the wicked, no sinner will be able to hide from Him.Revelation 19:17–21 further describes this thorough and deadly reaping. The wages of sin have never been reduced. Romans 6:23 identifies those wages as death. The death is physical, spiritual, and eternal, but God has provided a remedy. Romans 6:23 also states that "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."