Apocalypse Revealed # 652
652. 14:20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city. This symbolically means that the examination was made in accordance with Divine truths in the Word, to discover the character of the works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith.
The trampling of the winepress means symbolically that the examination was made to discover the character of the works. To trample a winepress means, symbolically, to examine, and the clusters of grapes that were trampled symbolize works, as in no. 649 above, here the works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith, namely evil works. The city here means the great city mentioned in chapter 11:8, above, "the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt." That it means the doctrine of faith divorced from charity - the doctrine of the church of the Protestant Reformed - may be seen in nos. 501, 502 above. And because every examination of a church's doctrine is made in accordance with the Divine truth in the Word, and because this is not found in the doctrine of the Protestant Reformed, but apart from it, this too is symbolically meant by the trampling's having taken place outside the city.
It can be seen from this that the trampling of the winepress outside the city means symbolically that the examination was made in accordance with Divine truths in the Word, to discover the character of the people's works that flowed from their church's doctrine regarding faith.
In the following passages, to trample or tread a winepress means, symbolically, not only to examine for evil works, but also to hold them up to view and to remove them and cast them into hell:
I speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why is your apparel red, and your garments like those of one who treads in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone... (Isaiah 63:1-3)
The Lord has trodden underfoot all my mighty men...; the Lord has trampled the winepress of the... daughter of Judah. (Lamentations 1:15)
(He who sat on the white horse) shepherds (the nations) with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of... God. (Revelation 19:15)
Isaiah 64
1
Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence,
2
as when fire kindles the brushwood, [and] the fire causes the waters to boil; to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!
3
When you did awesome things which we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
4
For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.
5
You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time; and shall we be saved?
6
For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7
There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.
8
But now, Yahweh, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.
9
Don't be furious, Yahweh, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people.
10
Your holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
11
Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste.
12
Will you refrain yourself for these things, Yahweh? Will you hold your peace, and afflict us very severely?
