What does Revelation 14:17 mean?
Another angel emerges from the temple in heaven, which suggests he has full authority from God for what he is about to do. He, too, carries a sickle. This sickle, like the first, will be used to "harvest" unbelievers. The symbolism of reaping and harvesting describes God's eventual destruction of all non-believers during the end times. Unlike most of Revelation, the segment contained in chapters 12 through 15 jumps back and forth in time, with this passage looking ahead to the end of the tribulation.The reference to angels in Revelation 14 shows they are servants of God and dedicated to doing His will. Isaiah saw angels hovering around God's throne in humble submission to Him (Isaiah 6:1–2). After Jesus successfully refused the Devil's attempts to cause Him to sin, angels arrived and ministered to Him (Matthew 4:11). Hebrews 1:7 says, "He [God] makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire." Further, Hebrews 1:14 points out that His angels are ministering spirits. We can learn from the angels to quickly obey God as humble, ready servants.