Morning Manna | Revelation 15:7 | Vials Full of the Wrath of God

"The great Day of his Wrath"- John Martin

Revelation 15:7

And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

On our journey through the Scriptures, a theme has appeared from time to time—God’s wrath. The Lord often uses the image of wrath being gathered and poured into a cup, bowl, or vial. The picture is that nations, men, and, in today’s passage, the world as a whole, by their wicked deeds and refusal to repent, are day by day filling these vials with the wrath of God, which will one day be poured out.

This is not only true of the world at large but can be applied to nations, churches, and individuals. In the Old Testament, the word wrath is translated from a Hebrew word that literally means “nostrils.” That may seem odd at first, but the image it paints is one of heavy, angered breathing. Have you ever been so provoked that it took everything in you not to react? Most of us have. Our nostrils flare, we exhale a grieved breath, and we restrain ourselves—until we can no longer hold back. That is precisely God’s posture toward wickedness: wrath, grief, provocation—but a withholding of judgment for a time, in order to give space for grace and repentance.

Put yourself in God’s shoes for a moment and consider just how patient He is. Have you ever seen someone mistreated? If you have any sense of morality and justice in you, surely there was a burning desire to stop the mistreatment. I remember once seeing someone being abused. I tried to hold my peace, but with every curse and slap, my desire for justice grew until I could no longer stay silent. I sprang into action, rebuking the abuser and trying to protect the one being harmed.

What I witnessed was not murder or rape—it wasn’t even close to the horrors God sees every moment of every day. He sees it all. Hears it all. Knows it all. What terrible atrocities take place on this earth! And yet, how patient He is. How longsuffering. He desires mercy—not just for the abused but even for the abuser. Truly, God is love. But all the while, there is a righteous indignation building. His breath grows heavy. The cup fills. And one day, grace will no longer be extended, and the cup will be poured out—full of the righteous judgment men have heaped up for themselves.

We’ve seen it in the past. In Noah’s day, for 2,000 years men gathered wrath unto themselves. Then God warned, made provision for the righteous, and one day, the door of the ark closed. Wrath fell from the skies and burst forth from the great deep, washing away every sinful deed and every guilty soul.

Israel, too, provoked God for centuries—with unbelief, idol worship, child sacrifice, and finally, the crucifixion of His only begotten Son. They stoned the prophets, blasphemed His Spirit, and refused to repent. And God scattered them to the ends of the earth.

Now, for 2,000 years, the Gospel has gone forth to the Gentile nations. And I wonder—how close are we to that cup of wrath being full once again?

There is a great day coming! What shall we do? Is there any hope?

Let’s visit our Lord in the garden and see what He did for us:"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39)

Before the agony of the cross, before the lashes and mockings, He was presented with a cup. We can only assume it was the cup of God’s wrath. A cup full of righteous indignation—containing every murder, rape, lie, hypocrisy, and every form of abuse. In that cup was my portion, and yours—a horrible mixture of sin and shame. And yet… Christ drank it. He drank it all for you and me.

He drank it as the guards struck His face. As the Sanhedrin spat on Him. As the whips tore His flesh. As nails pierced His hands. As the crown of thorns was pressed into His brow. And as He entered the hours of darkness we will never know the depth of. But at the end, listen to His cry: “It is finished!” Hallelujah!

The cup of God’s wrath—finished!

The salvation of all who believe—finished!

The reconciliation of the world—finished!

The defeat of Satan—finished!

It is finished!

Dear reader, God’s wrath is real, and it is ready to be poured out upon this world. But there is one place of refuge from the coming storm—our great Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He drank the cup of wrath for us.

Have you ever run into this city of refuge? Have you come to Him in repentance and faith? If you feel as though your own cup is full and God is rightly angered with your sin, then run to Jesus now. Find peace for your anxious conscience and joy for your troubled heart. Hear the words spoken over your soul: “It is finished.”