The Grapes

In the pretty Lancashire village of Goosnargh is a public house called The Grapes. I can find no explanation for its name online, nor in my Dictionary of Pub Names, which might suggest the answer is simply obvious. The name advertises the wines, clarets and malmseys served here. In scripture, grapes are often a symbol of wrath to come. To make wine, one must not merely harvest grapes but crush them to extract the juice from the pulp. This violent act stained the legs and clothes of the crushers, giving the appearance of having attended a battle scene. Thus in Revelation 14:18-20, we read:

Then 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, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

And

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (19:15)

Most Britions today live a life of luxury and ease, wine-bibbing and sherry sipping. The fat grapes of our national sins will not bulge and bloat forever, for the great God will come to squash our pride and crush our rebellion. This is not a message of comfort and peace, but of urgency and repentance.

I have trodden the winepress alone,

And from the peoples no one was with Me.

For I have trodden them in My anger,

And trampled them in My fury;

Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments,

And I have stained all My robes.

For the day of vengeance is in My heart,

And the year of My redeemed has come.

Iasiah 63:3-4, NKJV

The One who comes to Judge right now offers to be our Saviour if we come to Him in repentance and belief.