1. Revelation 14:18 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does the third angel come “from the altar”?

Revelation 14:18 (ESV)

18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”

The previous two angels (of the threesome of Revelation 14:14–20) came from the temple, that is, from the presence of God himself. Within the temple compound stood the altar, and it is from this location that the third angel originates. The temple had two altars, namely, the bronze altar standing outside used for sin offerings and burnt offerings (so it involved the shedding of much blood) and the golden altar standing inside, used for sacrificing incense which in turn symbolized the prayers of the saints. John had earlier seen the souls of martyrs under the altar engaged in prayer, asking God how long it would be before he would avenge their blood upon the earth (Revelation 6:9–11). When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, John saw that same golden altar again together with much incense, that is, prayers of the saints. God’s response to these prayers was judgment upon the earth (Revelation 8:3–4). In the present passage John sees the third angel coming from the altar. Given the previous references to an altar, this must be an allusion to the golden altar used for incense (the prayers of the saints). The implication is that the Lord God responds to his people’s prayers as symbolized by this altar and so directs the present angel to carry a message.

Notice that both earlier references to the altar had included expressions of God’s judgment on those who hurt his saints (be it as a call for God’s vengeance, Revelation 6:9–10, or as God’s action of sending plagues on the earth as the angel threw his fire, Revelation 8:5). Revelation 14:13 had hinted at martyrdom which the saints experienced at the hand of the beast (Revelation 13:15).