Similarities in the Plagues
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Exodus 12:12 KJV
In the Old Testament over a period of four hundred years, the Israelites slowly became the slaves of the Egyptians. They began by escaping a time of starvation and prospered. Over the centuries they came in to an age of slavery. When it came time, the Lord raised up a prophet named Moses. The Lord gave him instructions of things to say to the Pharaoh in order to be released. Unfortunately, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened to the things of God for these people. He refused to let them go.
Because the Pharaoh did not want to release the Israelites, the Lord cast a series of plagues upon the land of Egypt. These were supposed to be a motivation for him to set the Israelites free and to know the God of Israel was with them.
* First Plague *
Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. Exodus 7:17 KJV
Once the rod of Moses touched the waters they were turned to blood and everything that lived in the water died. If you have read the book of Revelation you will notice there is also a vial or bowl poured on to the earth and the sea becomes blood.
And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. Revelation 16:3 KJV
There are many instances in the Old Testament which were symbolic to events that would occur in the future. More specifically, the end times before the Lord Jesus returns.
* Second Plague *
And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. (5)And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. Exodus 8:4-5 KJV
As the Pharaoh continued to deny the release of the Israelites, there was another plague related to frogs that came upon him, the people and his servants. These frogs were also mentioned in Revelation 16. These frogs were symbolic for the witchcraft of deceitfulness that will come upon the earth in the end times. These frogs in Egypt invaded every part of the land and his people. None of them were believers of God so they experienced first hand these awful plagues.
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (14)For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:13-14 KJV
The frogs in this end time setting are spirits of devils that work miracles and deceive leaders and many people of the earth. These are people who will come against God similar to the people in Pharaoh’s time. Pharaoh was against God and so were his people.
* Third, Fourth and Fifth Plague *
Flies and lice were the next plagues. These are pesky critters that spread and get in to everything. It was very contagious. These are both a pestilence. Then death of the livestock followed.
For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Ezekiel 14:21 KJV
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:8 KJV
Both of these scriptures match there were plagues and death of livestock similar to those that happened in Egypt. After the pestilence the beast of the field died.
* Sixth Plague *
In the sixth plague, boils formed on the skin of the Egyptians. They were caused by the ash from a furnace Moses was instructed to throw into the air then it fell from heaven.
And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. (9)And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. Exodus 9:8-9 KJV
These boils coincide with a similar scenario found in Revelation 16.
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, (11)And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. Revelation 16:10-11 KJV
* Seventh Plague *
The seventh plague brought hail mingled with fire. This also happens in the future event. The Lord told them to bring their cattle into their home. It only happened to those who did not believe and did not obey what the Lord said to do.
Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. Exodus 9:19 KJV
So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. (25)And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. Exodus 9:24-25 KJV
I would like to point out that even though these plagues were happening the Israelites were not harmed. They were protected by the Lord. This will also happen in the end times. He will continue to protect us even when all the chaos is happening around us. We just need to believe he will protect us.
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. Exodus 9:26 KJV
There was no hail near the children of Israel. They were unharmed by the plagues. This should give you encouraging news.
And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Revelation 16:21 KJV
This scripture shows us the matching plague in the end times for hail.
* Eighth Plague *
In the eighth plague there were locusts. They came and ate whatever the hail and fire did not destroy. There were so many that the land became dark. They devoured everything in their sight.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. Exodus 10:12 KJV
For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
This event is symbolic for the locusts prophesied in Revelation 9.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Revelation 9:3 KJV
The locusts in the Old Testament are symbolic for the locusts that will destroy the earth in the future. They are not actual locusts but demonic angels that will hurt people for the specific time of 5 months. Their king or leader is Satan. Christians have seen and may have even experienced demonic attacks in their lifetime now. These will be happening to those who are not in Christ. Christians are protected by the blood. So, again, Christians should not be frightened.
* Ninth Plague*
In the ninth plague there was darkness for three days. The only ones who had light were the children of Israel. The light is also symbolic for the presence of the Lord. Jesus is our light. There was no light for the Egyptians but this is the path they chose. They chose to be against the Lord.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: (23)They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:22-23 KJV
Darkness is also mentioned in Revelation 16.
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, Revelation 16:10 KJV
This also coincides with the Old Testament darkness. The kingdom of the enemy was full of darkness.
*Tenth Plague*
In the tenth and last plague, the first born in all the land of Egypt would die. In this dark setting, Pharaoh is also symbolic for the enemy. Just as Abraham is symbolically the Father of Faith. The Pharaoh was not a follower of God and his children will die. This means not only in his household but the ones who followed his same path.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. Exodus 11:1 KJV
This was the last plague on Egypt. Then the Israelites were set free from the enemy. This is symbolic for our future as well. When Satan is destroyed we will be totally free from him and his deceptive work.
After all these examples of plagues, I hope you can see the correlations with the vials of plagues in the end times. We, as Christians and followers of Christ, will be protected by the Lord. In the Old Testament the Lord executed judgment upon the Egyptians, it passed right over the Israelites and they were unscathed. In the end times it will appear to be no different. So be at peace and know the Lord is your shield. There is nothing to fear when you are with Him.
