God's Work with Planet Earth

Parallels between the Exodus of the Israelites and Jesus’ Second Coming

God had explained to Abraham what would happen to his descendants:

“Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Genesis 15:13-16

• “know certainly” – there’s no guesswork or probability here, God knew how He was going to direct events
• They lived in Egypt, but they were not Egyptian (descended from Noah’s son Shem, rather than Ham as the Egyptians)
• The Egyptians would “afflict them” (slavery, forced labor)
• God would judge Egypt for what they had done to Israel
• The Children of Israel would “come out with great possessions” after 400 years
• Why so long? Because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (God had mercy on other nations, not just Israel)
• Acts 7:6-7 is a New Testament reference back to the quote above

From Bondage to Freedom

The first overarching parallel between the Hebrews in Egypt, and you and I in a sinful world, is that this involves oppression and bondage.

“They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.” 2 Peter 2:19, NLT

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

One striking contrast between the one true God, and the false gods, is that God wants us to follow him out of love and genuine loyalty, and to think of Him as our caring Father. He does not force people or enslave them, but He shows the truth and lets us make up our own minds.

The Devil and his fallen angels manipulate and deceive people through fear, intimidation, and threats. Many of the ancient pagans served these false gods to placate them, hoping that they would not curse them or bring disasters. And chemical addiction, obsession with material things, being consumed by rage, jealousy, and greed are all forms of bondage.

“that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26

So when God’s Spirit begins to work on someone’s heart and lead them out of bondage and into true freedom, it’s a spiritual precursor to Jesus returning and calling all of His people out of this world. As the Exodus was a regional or national liberation from pagan taskmasters, Jesus’ return will be a global liberation from sin.

“…that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

The Plagues

During the Exodus, there were 10 plagues, and we saw in the last post how each of those plagues was targeting a false god worshiped by the Egyptians. But the Seven Last Plagues of Revelation, right before Jesus returns, have some striking similarity. I’ll use the Revelation order.

• 1. Boils/Sores
  • Exodus 9:8-11
  • Revelation 16:2
• 2 & 3. Sea, rivers, springs turned to blood
  • Exodus 7:14-25
  • Revelation 16:3-4
• 4. People scorched with by great heat, fire, and the sun
  • No Exodus equivalent
  • Revelation 16:8-9
• 5. Darkness and Pain
  • Exodus 10:21-29
  • Revelation 16:10
• 6. Frogs
  • Exodus 8:1-15
  • Revelation 16:13-14
• 7. Hail mixed with fire – Earth utterly shaken
  • Exodus 9:13-26
  • Revelation 16:17-21

Who did the plagues fall on? In Egypt, the first three plagues, Nile turned to blood, frog infestation, lice infestation, fell on the whole land of Egypt, including Goshen where the Israelites lived. But the last seven plagues only fell on the Egyptians, not the Israelites. In the same way, Revelation says the last seven plagues only fall on those who have rejected God and taken the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.

What is the point? After all God’s patience and longsuffering, during which people were saying “Why do evil people get away with such wickedness?”, God will finally punish the wicked and protect those who have chosen Him. Just like the darkness and death in Egypt before the Israelites were finally freed, the worst disasters will hit the earth right before Jesus appears to take His people out of the world.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17

Rejected Deliverers

Moses:

“Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me.” Exodus 6:12

“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.” Acts 7:35

Jesus:

“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” John 1:11

“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” Matthew 21:42

Deliverance

• Joseph was thrown in prison for refusing to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife.
• Daniel was thrown in a den of lions for praying to God instead of worshiping the king.
• Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown in into a blazing furnace for not bowing to a giant idol.
• Jesus was crucified for teaching God’s ways over man’s ways.
• The reformers and protestants in the dark ages were tortured and burned alive at the stake for following God’s Word over man’s word.

All through the ages the same spirits have been inspiring people to act cruelly and forcefully against people who are faithful to God. The Israelites were in Egypt 400 years, and the humans God created have lived in this sinful, broken world 6,000 years. But just like the plagues in ancient Egypt, the plagues in the last days (Revelation 16) will coincide with Jesus’ return to this earth. The Deliverer is coming to break God’s people out of the cycle of violence, darkness, and death.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:11-16