Page20 coming forth from the grave a conqueror , or tell Him of the Father ‟ s acceptance of the sacrifice . He feared that sin was so offensive to God that their separation was to be eternal . And in that dreadful hour , Christ was not to be comforted with the Father ‟ s presence .” [ ibid ] “ I have trodden the winepress alone ; and of the people there was none with Me .” [ Is 63:3 ] “ The sun refused to look upon the awful scene . Complete darkness , like a funeral pall , enveloped the cross . In that thick darkness , God ‟ s presence was hidden . In the thick darkness , God veiled the last human agony of His Son .” [ Desire of Ages , 753-755 ] “ They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall : and when He had tasted thereof , he would not drink .” [ Mat 27:34 ] “ And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh : but He received it not .” [ Mk 15:23 ] According to Strong ‟ s Concordance , this vinegar was sour wine . Inebriating drinks were mercifully given to condemned criminals , to render them less sensible of the torture they endured in dying . This is what was offered to our Lord ; but he refused it , in accordance to the Nazarene vow : “ Drink no vinegar of wine .”
[ Num 6:3 ] It was also in accordance to Proverbs : “ It is not for kings to drink wine .” [ Prov 31:4 ]
As Christians living in these last days , should it not be our duty to symbolically separate ourselves unto God , to be peculiar from the world ? Alcohol is a way of life for lovers of the world . Should we even touch this fermented beverage to our lips ? Our Lord refused to take a pain killer . Should we alter our perception of reality ? Do we need to resort to spirits to deaden the pain of living ? Is the sacrifice of Jesus not enough to have us carry on in faith ? To those churches who continue to partake of the fermented wine in their services , do they not fulfill the words of the prophet ? “ But ye gave Nazarites wine to drink ; and commanded the prophets , saying , Prophesy not .” [ Amos 2:12 ]
Christ ‟ s sacrifice is panoramic across the globe . “ These were redeemed from among men , being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb .” [ Rev 14:4 ] “ Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits [ aparche - non-fermented ] of them that slept .” [ 1 Cor 15:20 ] At the end of time , there are two sickles conducting two different kinds of work .
“ And I looked , and behold a white cloud , and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man , having on His head a golden crown , and in His hand a sharp sickle . And another angel came out of the temple crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud , “ Thrust in Thy sickle and reap : for the time is come for Thee to reap ; for the harvest of the earth is ripe .” And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth ; and the earth was reaped .” [ Rev 14:14-16 ] This symbolizes all believers in Christ and the harvest that Jesus spoke of .
“ And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven , he also having a sharp sickle . And another angel came out from the altar , which had power over fire ; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle , saying , “ Thrust in thy sharp sickle , and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth ; for her grapes are fully ripe .” And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth , and gathered the vine of the earth , and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God . 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 six hundred furlongs .” [ Rev 14:17-20 ] This symbolism speaks of the end of time when wickedness has peaked in non-believers who will now have to deal with this angel of fire . The slaughter is great , and what better way to describe it other than through the familiar Hebrew winepress .