Finished Wrath

Scripture Reading: Revelation 15:1

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

Revelation is both dreadful and hopeful, frightening and encouraging. It speaks often of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth, of the death of sinners, or God’s fury expressed through famine, disease, and war. But it is peppered with words of encouragement for God’s people. God is on His throne, His purposes are being fulfilled, He people are being redeemed.

One of the encouraging and hopeful statements is found tucked away in this chapter about wrath. It is this statement: “with them, the wrath of God is finished.” Wrath comes to an end. It has its limit. The seven plagues “are the last.”

Paul begins his letter to Rome by stating “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” Much of the trouble we see in the world today is an expression of God’s wrath against sin. That will continue. As long as man is in rebellion against heaven, heaven will stand in opposition to man. It will continue, but not forever.

God has put a limit on His wrath because He has put a limit on man’s rebellion. Things won’t continue forever as they are now. A New Heaven and a New Earth are coming. There sin will be no more. Therefore, wrath will be unnecessary. There will be a day when the wrath that comes will be the wrath “which is the last.”