When I was a freshman in college, my roommates and I played a prank on our hall leader one evening.

At 10:59 pm, the warning bell rang, alerting everyone that we had one minute to be in bed with lights out. During that minute, two of my roommates quickly and carefully balanced a wastebasket full of water on top of the partially closed door to our room, and then quickly turned off the lights and jumped into bed. The second bell rang, after which several minutes elapsed while we waited for the door to open, culminating in a surprise shower for our Hall Leader.

Even though we could not see the main event unfold, we finally heard the door creak open, the loud splash of water, and the resulting groan of despair and disgust.

This reminds me of the final judgments of God at the end of the Tribulation, to be poured out of seven bowls described in Revelation 15:7 —

“And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God.”

Those vials are not like the test tubes we used in high school chemistry class.  They are more like large shallow saucers or bowls, and will not be poured out slowly. They will be dumped quickly and completely, inundating all mankind on the earth with God’s judgment, much like my Hall Leader was deluged with water.

The only escape from this outpouring of wrath is to repent and surrender to Christ now so that you might escape God’s wrath later.

For once He begins to pour out His wrath, there will be no escape.