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. (Revelation 14:18)
The figure of the two harvests is borrowed from the ancient Palestinian agricultural year, which consisted of two main harvests, the grain harvest and the vintage (see Vol. II, pp. 109, 110). Here the vintage represents the wicked gathered for destruction.
The reason for mentioning that this angel has power over fire is not clear. Perhaps fire is a symbol of vengeance. Compare the phrase “angel of the waters” (ch. 16:5).