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 17, 18. The voice from beneath the altar, commanding the vintage to be gathered is the voice of a martyr whose blood cries to heaven for vengeance. This martyr who has "power over fire" is probably Elias who will destroy Antichrist by sending down fire from heaven. The prophet Joel also describes the judgments of God against unholy nations as a vintage and a treading of the wine-press.

19-20. The wine-press of divine wrath shall be trod den outside the city of Jerusalem. Final victory over Antichrist will be won through great slaughter and bloodshed in a battle near the Holy City, perhaps in the valley of Josaphat. The prophecy of Joel may refer to this event instead of the last judgment: Let the nations come up into the valley of Josaphat: for there I will sit to judge all nations round about. . . . Nations, nations in the valley of destruction: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of destruction.