The book of Revelation, like all apocalyptic literature, is written to help us see the world on a slant, to see through the spin of contemporary society. The point isn't prediction; it's about unmasking, unveiling the realities around us for what they really are. Today we hear twin pairs of visions about harvest and vintage: visions of promise and visions of warning, visions urging us to resist the "wine" of the beast's empire and to live as "first fruits" of the Lamb's kingdom.