Revelation 14:16

So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

• ·        This means that God will judge the earth only when it is over-ripe for judgment. He doesn’t rush into judgment. (DG)

• ·        “It must be remembered that evil has its harvest as well as good. There is a harvest of misery and woe, - a harvest for the gathering, binding, and burning of the tares, - as well as for the gathering of the wheat into the garner of heaven.” (Seiss)

 Numbers 9:16 So it was always:  the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.

Jeremiah 50:16  Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle at harvest time.  For fear of the oppressing sword everyone shall turn to his own people, and everyone shall flee to his own land.