Revelation 14:20

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.

And {G2532} the winepress {G3025} was trodden {G3961} without {G1854} the city {G4172}, and {G2532} blood {G129} came {G1831} out of {G1537} the winepress {G3025}, even unto {G891} the horse {G2462} bridles {G5469}, by the space of {G575} a thousand {G5507} and six hundred {G1812} furlongs {G4712}.

The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as the horses’ bridles for two hundred miles!

And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Revelation 14:20 describes a vivid and terrifying scene of divine judgment, concluding the vision of the harvest and the vintage of the earth. This verse depicts the ultimate outpouring of God's wrath upon those who have rejected Him and allied with the forces of evil in the end times.

Context

This verse follows closely on the heels of the proclamation of the everlasting gospel and warnings against worshipping the beast and his image (Revelation 14:6-12). It is part of a sequence of judgments, specifically the "harvest of the earth" and the "vintage of the earth," which is gathered into the great winepress of the wrath of God. The imagery here is intensely symbolic, portraying the final, decisive crushing of the wicked.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The central message is the absolute and terrifying justice of God. The "winepress" imagery, common in Old Testament prophecy (e.g., Isaiah 63:3, Joel 3:13), powerfully conveys the crushing of God's enemies.
  • Symbolism of Blood: Instead of grape juice, "blood came out of the winepress." This signifies the extreme violence and widespread death associated with this final judgment. It underscores the severity of the consequences for persistent rebellion against God.
  • Extent and Severity of Judgment: The phrase "even unto the horse bridles" emphasizes the immense depth and saturation of the judgment, suggesting a catastrophic and overwhelming event. The "thousand and six hundred furlongs" (approximately 184 miles or 296 kilometers) denotes the vast geographical reach and completeness of this judgment, possibly symbolizing the entire land of Palestine or a global scale. The numbers (4x4x10x10) are often seen as symbolic of universal and complete judgment.
  • Finality: This judgment represents a definitive end to the period of tribulation and the triumph of God's righteous rule. It assures believers that evil will not prevail indefinitely.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "winepress" here is lenos, referring to the large vat where grapes are trampled. This vivid agricultural metaphor is consistently used in the Bible to describe the process of divine judgment, where the wicked are "trodden" or crushed under God's righteous wrath. The phrase "without the city" (exo tēs poleōs) suggests a judgment occurring outside the symbolic holy city, perhaps indicating a global scope or a specific location like the Valley of Jehoshaphat, a traditional site of final judgment.

Practical Application

Revelation 14:20 serves as a powerful warning to all humanity about the gravity of rejecting God's offer of salvation and aligning with wickedness. It highlights the absolute certainty of God's ultimate justice and the severe consequences for those who persist in rebellion. For believers, this verse offers assurance that God is sovereign and will ultimately bring all evil to account, establishing His righteous kingdom. It underscores the importance of choosing wisely in this life, embracing God's love and grace rather than facing His righteous wrath.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Lamentations 1:15

    The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty [men] in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, [as] in a winepress.

  • Revelation 19:14

    And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

  • Revelation 19:21

    And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

  • Revelation 11:8

    And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

  • Isaiah 63:1

    ¶ Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

  • Isaiah 63:3

    I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

  • Isaiah 66:24

    And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

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