What the Plagues Reveal

Just before God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, He said, “I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them” (Exodus 7:4, 5).

There are major differences between Egypt’s plagues and the seven last plagues. For one, Egypt’s plagues were localized, whereas the last plagues will be global. For another, Egypt’s plagues fell on those who still had the opportunity to repent; the last plagues fall after probation has closed for humanity.

But there are also similarities. Both sets of plagues are judgments upon those who war against God. Both sets reveal character. They reveal God as our Creator and Savior; they also show the rebelliousness of the wicked. The pharaoh, plague after plague, evidence upon evidence, still rejected the Lord’s mercy: “Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them. … Neither was his heart moved by this” (vv. 22, 23).

We see those with the mark of the beast responding in a similar manner to the seven last plagues. Take note of their reactions in this chapter as we zoom in for an even closer perspective “of the wrath of God.”

Also keep in mind what God’s wrath really is. God’s wrath is not the same as human anger; God’s wrath is not uncontrollable rage. God’s wrath is justice actualized. The previous chapter clearly illustrates this: The seven last plagues are the outcome of a trial in heaven’s court of law. The directive in today’s verse is as a judge reading out the guilty verdict. But know that this righteous Judge is also your heavenly Father.

His wrath will not fall until His mercy has been entirely rejected. “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34). It is with this perspective that we will now examine the seven last plagues.

Loving Father, may I not be as the pharaoh, carelessly discarding Your merciful rebukes; may I learn full surrender to You.

For Further Study: Deuteronomy 32:10–18; 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10; Revelation 3:19

Key Bible Texts

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1 KJV)