The Ancient Egyptian Plagues (Part 5)

(What Do They Mean for Us Today?)

THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT

Part Five of a Series

In Parts I through 4 of our study of Exodus we saw that God sent a series of plagues upon Egypt; the first turning the streams, ponds, rivers, and pools of water into blood, followed by the second plague - the plague of frogs. Thirdly God sent a plague of lice and fourth, a plague of swarms or swarms of flies.

As we begin to examine the fifth plague let us remember that the only two entities involved in the plagues of Exodus are Egypt and the children of Israel. God, while bringing about these literal plagues upon Egypt, is also revealing spiritual truth through these historical events. Both Egypt and Israel played their roles in the Old Testament days precisely as God had preordained. God is not the author of sin, therefore the sinful acts of the Egyptians and the Israelites are achieved because of, and due to, man’s inherited sinful nature. While God’s divine wisdom knows the beginning from the end, He is certainly not accountable for the sins of man. Though God hardened the heart of Pharaoh in order that he would not release the Israelites from bondage, yet there are those who would call this unjust. Who are we to question God? He knew Pharaoh’s heart intimately and if so desired, God could have easily destroyed the entire land of Egypt in a second and allowed the children of Israel to flee. He did not require Pharaoh’s hardened heart as a means to continue on with the plagues. God’s divine purpose and design is documented for our edification and understanding and the creature does not question his Creator.

Fifth Plague Upon Egypt

Exodus 9:1-7

[1] Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. [2] For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

[3] Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

[4] And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.

[5] And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.

[6] And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

[7] And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

God strikes dead all the cattle of Egypt; their horses, asses, camels, oxen and sheep. But of the cattle of the children of Israel, not one died!

Be warned, this is not to be understood in the way many of the polluted congregations of today are teaching; that only if you’ll be on God’s “team” your finances will be blessed as well as much of your materialistic life. How contrary to Scripture and contrary to the precious words of Christ, who had no place to even lay his head. Today in America there seems to be a great resurgence in the interest of Christianity following the events of September 11, 2001. Churches are raising their U.S. flags as if America is Christ’s own tabernacle! The U.S. mentality seems to be saying “join the Christian West,” yet the majority of those crusaders have no real knowledge of Christ nor faith in Him. It is faith in ourselves as Americans that is discreetly begin preached. It is as if they expect to be safe under Christ by merely directing a bit of lip service toward Him. Much like the Children of Israel who had divine protection under the umbrella of God, yet deserved nothing. The fact that God protected them and their cattle during the plagues DOES NOT ensure the salvation of their souls. In fact that entire generation of Israelites PERISHED in the wilderness! Their offspring entered the Promised Land of Canaan.

We see God’s divine sovereignty in all things as He spares Israel’s cattle while destroying all the cattle in Egypt. It also assures us that those who truly trust in Christ will be spared - not from physical death but from the second death, which is eternal darkness.

Cattle

What exactly do the cattle represent if we are to find a further spiritual fulfillment to this fifth plague? Let us first define the word “cattle” as used here in order to be sure we understand Scripture’s precise meaning. The Hebrew word for cattle is also translated as flocks, possession, possessions, substance, herds and purchase.

When God said in Exodus 9:3 that “the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle,” He then defines the cattle as horses, asses, camels, oxen and sheep. Does God have these literal animals in view? Yes, of course He does and this is the historic view and interpretation of these passages. Remember, this is the fundamental first level of biblical interpretation. That being said, will God once more strike down Egypt’s cattle in the last days as His final fulfillment to this ancient prophecy of the fifth plague upon Egypt? Could Mad Cow Disease be a final fulfillment of this plague? Of course not. We must understand the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament and we interpret the New Testament from the many figures, types and metaphors utilized throughout the Old Testament. As mentioned in our previous studies, these things (Old Testament pictures) were allegories for our understanding of how God works out His Word in the latter days, i.e. the era of the Church Age. That is not to say that every word in the Old Testament has spiritual meaning.

Among the animals mentioned in Exodus 9:3 God includes horses, mules (asses), camels, oxen and sheep. We know without question that sheep are typified in Scripture as followers of Christ. They are also typified as non-believers since Christ states -

“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” (John 10:26,27).

What of the other cattle, can they be found anywhere in Scripture as typifying mankind?

Joel Chapter TwoScripture speaks of horses in many areas and much of the time “horses” represent charging thrusts against God’s very Word. The second chapter of Joel speaks of the end of the age when Christ Messiah returns to judge this earth. Consider the following three verses:

Joel 2:1-3

[Joel 2:1] “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;”

The Day of the Lord cometh! Can this mean anything other than the Day of the Lord cometh? There may be a precise number of literal days that transpire within this time frame called “The Day of the Lord,” such as the extra forty-five days that is spoken of in Daniel 12:11-12. Whatever God had ordained, the Day of the Lord is indeed the precise day or the few days wherein Christ allows the world to see and recognize His sovereignty at His long prophesied return to judge this earth and its inhabitants.

[Joel 2:2] “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”

Verse one declared that the day of the LORD cometh - for it is nigh at hand. That is to say it is approaching; it is very near. Verse two seems to be depicting the conditions on the earth just prior to the Lord’s return. Probably alluding to the Great Tribulation that Christ spoke and warned of. “A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of think darkness,” Joel 2:2 tells us. Is this verse giving us a weather report for that day? Or rather will it be a day of clouds and thick darkness due to the world being on fire? Perhaps the earth’s volcanoes will be erupting?

No, more than likely God is giving us the spiritual condition of the world’s inhabitants during those final days. Darkness is also synonymous with God’s judgment. The fact that this verse resembles Christ’s warnings of the Great Tribulation can be readily applied and cross-referenced. Joel 2:2 tells us that this will be a time such as

. . . “there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it.” Precisely what Christ stated in Matthew 24:21 -

“Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Joel chapter two is speaking of a “great people” and “strong.” Who are these people and what are they doing?

[Joel 2:3] A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Recall that the word “land” can many times signify the land of Israel which in turn represents the New Testament corporate church worldwide (those who confess Christ; believers and unbelievers alike). A great and strong people, the likes there has never been, devours this land and turns it into a desolate wilderness . . . and nothing shall escape them. Why does the church turn into a “desolate wilderness,” as Joel 2:3 states?

A) It is believed that Christ uses the word “Desolate” because Satan turns the corporate church into a spiritual desolation. Thus the scriptures come into remembrance of God’s warnings of the end time Abomination of Desolation.

B) Throughout Scripture the word “wilderness” usually implies being void of God’s word. The purity of God’s Holy Word is likened in Scripture to fountains of living waters that transplants whatever wildernesses it touches into a spiritual lush and green pasture.

“Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness,” (Jeremiah 12:10)

“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.” (Joel 3:19)

Again we ask, who is making this earth a desolate wilderness? Who is making the congregations of the world a desolate wilderness? Who are poisoning the fountains of living waters and turning them into spiritual blood, i.e. death? Isaiah speaks of Satan as King of Babylon and perceives him in his final demise as a mere man.

“They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? “ (Isaiah 14:16-17)

Yes, it is Satan and his enormous host (a great people and a strong; Joel 2:2) who have turned this world into a spiritual wilderness. Satan and his host of fallen angels who have deceived Earth’s inhabitants going back to the Garden of Eden. God, however, decided to save a remnant for Himself (His elect of whom are as the stars of the heavens in number: “. . . because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens,” 1 Chronicles 27:23.)

In creating a remnant for Himself (a great multitude which no man could number, Rev. 7:9,) God fertilizes and waters the wilderness that it would bring forth good fruit. This spiritual “water” is of course the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel of Salvation.

“I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” (Isaiah 41:18)

Even though Satan turns this world into a spiritual wilderness, all is not lost since God had ordained that He Himself (The Fountain of Living Waters) would come to Earth as The Messiah - The Christ - to purchase His people for Himself. Once the last person to be saved has germinated, then and only then will Christ allow Satan to complete his desire at turning the world and the churches into a spiritual wilderness. As we continue to look at the second chapter of Joel, we see that among Satan’s armies are those that appear as “horses and as horsemen.”

Joel 2:4-5

[Joel 2:4] “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

[Joel 2:5] Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.”

Joel chapter two gives us a glimpse of the Great Tribulation. The ten ancient plagues of Egypt give us partial insights to these events as well.

“Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.” (Zechariah 10:3)

The saved and unsaved can both be symbolized as horses.

Plagues

God’s fifth plague upon the land of Egypt may indeed have the cattle pictured as portraits of fallen man. God’s Word states in Exodus 9:3 that this is to be a very great murrain. The Hebrew defines this word as meaning a plague or pestilence. It may be that once more these ancient plagues do point to the severe spiritual plagues that God will bring, not only upon the earth but upon the corporate church worldwide at the time of the end. Does Scripture inform us that plagues or pestilence will dominate the last days? Yes, Scripture does teach this and of course we seem to be already witnessing these spiritual plagues.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places,” (Matthew 24:7).

“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven,” (Luke 21:11).

“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”

(Revelation 15:1)

“And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory,” (Revelation 16:9)

“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)

IMPORTANT: It is common to read the above verse and interpret it literally. After all, how else can we understand it? Great hail falling to earth, each stone about the weight of a talent or one-hundred pounds! Whether this verse will unveil a double fulfillment, both literal and spiritual, remains to be seen. However, there is much to consider when we look at it’s probable spiritual fulfillment.

Discovery of Ezekiel 13:11

The first eleven verses of Ezekiel chapter thirteen are fascinating and give us a GIANT clue to end-time fulfillment of Scripture. In the first ten verses of this chapter God is scolding the prophets of Israel. Do not be forced, out of habit, into assigning these prophets to the Old Testament Era. God’s New Testament Israel is the global and corporate church of Jesus Christ - the “Israel of God,” Galatians 6:16. Believers are the spiritual seed of Abraham, Galatians 3:7. Old Testament Israel was without question a figure of God’s church, the spiritual Israel.

God, in Ezekiel 13:1-10, is scolding the prophets of Israel for a number of reasons:

A- They are foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

B- Israel’s prophets are like foxes in the deserts.

C- They have seen vanity and lying divination!

D- They say the Lord saith when the Lord has NOT sent them.

E- They have made others to hope that they would confirm the word - Ezekiel 13:6.

F- “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD,” Ezekiel 13:8.

G- God says that He is against these prophets and they shall NOT be in the assembly of His people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the House of Israel and neither shall they enter into the land of Israel.

Of course these statements refer to common biblical doctrine. “They shall not enter into the assembly of My people” more than likely refers to their not inheriting eternal salvation. They are not a part of God’s Elect - His eternally saved or God’s eternal congregation. The same holds true when we read that these prophets will not be written in the writing of the House of Israel. In others words their names are NOT written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, Revelation 3:5 and others. Again, “neither shall they enter into the land of Israel” - a reference to the eternal new heavens and new earth, which is God’s eternal bride and congregation of Israel. The name “Israel” means “Soldiers of God” and only true believing soldiers of God are allowed into God’s eternal tabernacle.

H- In verse ten of Ezekiel chapter thirteen God says that these false prophets have SEDUCED His people by declaring peace when there is no peace. This is what we hear so often in the polluted congregations of today. This “peace” has nothing at all in common with world peace. The peace that is spoken of here is the peace and safety of being eternally saved.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7.

By becoming saved, one is no longer at war with God. The false prophets are declaring to their congregations that they are all at peace. They are declaring peace - PEACE! But God says there is no peace. Why is there no peace? Because the majority of the world remains dead in their sins and trespasses. These pastors are lying to you when they tell you all is well with your soul - “smile, God loves you!” If you are not truly saved, you have no inner Godly peace and all in not well with your soul. You have been seduced and God HATES all workers of iniquity, (Psalm 5:5).

Startling Discovery

Now we come to a startling discovery in Ezekiel chapter thirteen. God is addressing ALL who teach false doctrines; those pastors, ministers, elders, deacons, laymen and just plain everyday people who teach anything other than God’s one and sacred Holy Word. Those who add their own books, theories or ideas to God’s Divine Word and teach them as part of God’s Word. Everywhere we go we find these types of teachings, do we not? Those who declare your salvation simply because you decided to become baptized. Those who insist that you cannot be saved unless you join their particular congregation. On and on and on the list goes. How then does God perceive these types of self-appointed Bible teachers? Let us read from Ezekiel 13:10-11:

[10] “Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

[Untempered morter is a figure of a weak foundation and symbolizes one’s false spiritual foundation which is foreign to the solid foundation of Christ and His Word.]

[11] “Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.”

These false prophets of Israel are seen by God as typifying great hailstones! Now we have much more information and confirmation as we study the end-time plagues of great hail.

Back To The Cattle

Returning back to our study of God’s fifth plague upon the land of Egypt we again consider this great murrain or plague upon the cattle: horses, mules, camels, oxen and sheep. We know that sheep are portrayed in Scripture, as we mentioned earlier, as being representative of both the saved and unsaved of humanity. We also saw that horses can, to a much lesser degree, signify false prophets and/or false doctrines as Revelation chapter nine shows us the locusts (false prophets) having the appearance of horses. Let us now turn to Isaiah chapter thirty and consider some of the deepest metaphorical language that God uses. Please read the following nine verses carefully and decide for yourself. Keep in mind that the interpretation of words and phrases in these verses that do not deal directly with our topic will not be examined.

Isaiah 30:18-26 -

18 - “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”

19 - “For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.”

[God does not dwell in the literal city of Jerusalem, nor in a physical Israel or Zion. These are figures of Christ’s eternal Jerusalem, housing His eternal Bride - the “Israel of God.”]

20 - “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:”

[It is the Christian’s destiny to receive trials and tribulations in this life; the bread of adversity and the water of affliction. In this world you shall have tribulation, Christ tells us, but be of good cheer, He has overcome the world, John 16:33.]

21- “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

[Thus far these verses seem to be speaking NEW TESTAMENT LANGUAGE. The phrase “This is the way” is New Testament language altogether. John the Baptist appeared, as prophesied, before Christ began His ministry preaching “prepare ye the way!” Christ preached “I am the way. The New Testament states: “. . . Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” Matthew 7:14.

While some of the terminology here in Isaiah 30 such as “Zion” and “Jerusalem” may appear to be Old Testament language, do not think these verses have had their final fulfillment. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament Era, thus Isaiah 30 is alluding to events not only during the latter times (a reference to the Church Age) but in addition, it seems to be pinpointing the final days or end-time period of the Church Age. It is New Testament salvation language. ]

22 - “Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.”

[This verses seem to be referencing the time of the Cross and onward. Verse 22 tells us we are to defile our graven images. Old Testament national Israel was commanded to defile their graven images long ago. At the Cross of Christ this command goes into all the “Gentile” world:

“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles, (Acts 26:22-23).]

23 - “Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy CATTLE feed in large pastures.” (Isaiah 30:23)

[When Christ Messiah finally arrived; - born of a virgin, crucified on the cross, raised on the third day and ascended into heaven - this grand event brought with it the binding of Satan and a very substantial increase in salvation. Christ is the “bread of heaven” Scripture tells us and the above verse 23 states at that particular time God gave the “bread of the increase of the earth.” Yes, it is alluding to the Gospel of Christ which began at that first Pentecost. Notice the beginning of verse 23 - “then shall he [that is God] give the rain of thy seed.” This is the latter rain Scripture speaks of in various places. God uses “rain” or “showers” in highly symbolical terms to signify the Gospel of Christ. God figuratively waters the earth with this heavenly rain. Next - “that thou shalt sow the ground withal.” When Christ spoke of the “parable of the sower” He used allegorical terms such as sower, ground, seed and so forth in showing His disciples how the Word of God (as a seed) falling on good ground germinates into eternal life. Verse 23 is New Testament Gospel language to it’s fullest extent. It is making reference to the time or day (that day) when the Gospel of Christ will go forth to water all the earth with salvation - to increase the bread [Christ] of the earth - and to provide abundant pastures for feeding . Pastures are feeding grounds for cattle, livestock, herds or flocks. God utilizes this type of language to symbolize the feeding of His people with the bread of life and the waters of the Gospel. These are green rich pastures with abundant food.

Psalm 65:13 also touches upon this concept: “The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.”

[Corn is yet another synonym for the Gospel. Flocks also represent herds of cattle.]

IMPORTANT - the end of verse 23 tells us “in that day shall thy CATTLE feed in large pastures.”

These pastures seem to be quite obviously the “spiritual” feeding grounds, i.e. the once faithful congregations of the world. This is where the bread is preached and God’s people nourished. Now ask yourself one question: Is God’s Good News of Salvation preached to livestock or cattle? Have you ever tried reading the Bible to a donkey or a cow?God’s beautiful Word uses a great variety of metaphors in describing how His Gospel is preached to man. Yes, God’s congregations are depicted as CATTLE just as His elect are depicted as His sheep. God uses many figurative descriptions to demonstrate His plan of salvation. Some may say our ideal is silly, but then that would mean we are to preach to literal cattle.

No, God has structured His Word in the most beautiful manner; everything has meaning, both literal and spiritual.

Concluding Isaiah 30: 18-26

(Going Forth of the Gospel)

24 - “The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.”

[Once more God seems to be using cattle (asses and oxen) as representative of humanity who feeds of the Word of God. “They ear the ground” is a phrase describing how God’s people (cattle) “work the soil.” This word soil is interchangeable with land, ground, earth, country, husbandman and husbandry. It can be representative of Christ (the believer’s husband; His Word we feed on) as well as the “land of Israel” . . . believers (cattle: oxen, asses, sheep, mules) “ear the ground” - WE WORK THE BIBLE. Of course that is what is ultimately in view here. Can it be anything else? We that ear the ground “shall eat clean provender.” Meaning if we faithfully read and study God’s Word He will show us “clean provender” - this is to say pure and undefiled spiritual food.]

25 - “And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.” (Isaiah 30:25)

[The rivers and streams of waters are without question God’s Word, His Living waters. It is these waters (Christ’s Gospel) that will expose all of the high mountains and high hills, which are terms representing other foreign and false gospels. God’s Gospel will bring down the high towers and cause them to fall. God’s Word is a “tower,” Scripture tells us and there are many imitators of His Gospel - but those towers will eventually fall. It is a great slaughter in the spiritual sense - from the beginning of the Church Age until Christ returns - His Word will tear down His enemies and feed His Flock. Once more, how do we feed the cattle (flock) of God? Might we feed them straw grown by Christian farmers? That’s silly but this point needs to be hammered home.]

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock,” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock,” (Acts 20:28-29)

[Verse 28 has just given us all of the confirmation we need in deciding whether God’s people can be typified as cattle. Verse 28 is stating that believers should take heed unto ourselves and to all of the FLOCK . . . to feed the Church of God. Flock and church of God are synonymous here.

26 - “Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.” (Isaiah 30:26)

[This can be a troubling verse and some even believe this is proof of a literal one-thousand-year reign of Christ on this earth; a doctrine that is totally foreign to Scripture. However, since it is in the context of the going forth of the Gospel age, we then should look at it in that perspective. While some believe it to be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, yet it still holds more immediate meaning for the Gospel Age.

The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun. If God is using figurative language here, and there is no reason why He isn’t, since the entire context up to this point deals in figurative language. Being consistent, we continue to look for metaphors. The church itself is likened to the “moon” in the New Testament age (Revelation 12). The moon reflects the light of the sun, which is Christ. Thus the spiritual light of the church dwarfs the literal moon in comparison. It has become as the sun itself! And “. . . the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.”

Yes, in that day - what day? The day of grace! The day of salvation! The day Messiah comes and pays a ransom for our sins! The day Christ’s atonement began gathering in the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The day of Pentecost when three-thousands souls were saved in Jerusalem, marking to beginning of the Gospel Age. It was that day that the light of the sun became seven fold. Christ is depicted in Scripture as the “sun.” The number seven carries the meaning of spiritual completeness. Thus the light of the Sun during the Church Age has become sevenfold. In other words the knowledge of Christ has become much, MUCH greater than it once was. The light of the sun becomes sevenfold (the completed Gospel) in the day that God bindeth up the breach of His people and heals the stroke of their wound, Isaiah 30:26. To bindeth up the breach and to heal the stroke of their wound is altogether salvation language! It refers to Christ’s atonement which not only heals our spiritual wounds (Scriptural language depicting sins), but it also binds up the breach or in other words it brings us back into favor with God.

Conclusion and Review

God has thus far sent five plagues into the land of Egypt in our study of this subject. Each plague wrought havoc and devastation to the people of Egypt. Literal devastation that effected all of Egypt’s people from the youngest to the oldest and from the peasant to Pharaoh himself. In every literal plague that hit Egypt, we have searched Scripture and discovered spiritual figures, types, metaphors and allegories that strongly suggest - and even confirm - these plagues, as massive as they were, to be mere physical pictures (true and historical parables) that contained - at that time - unfulfilled spiritual prophesies that are to unfold at the end of time.

These massive plagues seem to have already been released, at least some of them. Many, if not most, will only be seen by the spiritual eye, heard by the spiritual ear and known by the spiritual mind of Christ’s people. The most important thing that anyone can do at this time is to simply study your Bible and call out for salvation.

These massive plagues of Egypt are being played out today in their final and spiritual state. Some may say that as long as they aren’t physical, they don’t care. That is the world’s ignorance, just as Scripture predicts. However, some plagues may be manifested in literal ways as well. What we know is that God first struck Egypt by turning their waters into blood; a portrait of the Gospel waters being rendered dead in these last days. Remember, Christ’s Gospel and His true Church can never be harmed, but His truth, as it stands in the congregations of the world can, will, and has been poisoned (turned to blood).

In the second plague God brought frogs in abundance throughout all the inhabitants of Egypt. These frogs pictured the false prophets and false and damnable doctrines within the churches during these last days. The fact that these frogs were seen in the kneading troughs and ovens gives us further insight and reveals the final and ultimate climax to these age-old prophesies. They are invading the congregations of the world, where Christ - the Bread of Life is preached. Thus the kneading troughs and ovens were where the Egyptians made their “bread,” figures of the congregations of the world. These frogs invaded all of Egypt’s waters: rivers, ponds, pools etc. They were everywhere, even in the people’s beds and bedchambers, which can be shown to mean that they were in their “innermost parts,” or invaded their very souls! This shows us the total overpowering effect and determination of Satan and his end-time army of false prophets; common everyday appearing kind and loving people.

God continues to send plague upon plague into Egypt, which we saw typified the entire unsaved world that is still in bondage to sin. Each literal plague that God brought forth hinted at the nature of the end-time plagues we read of in the Book of Revelation. The entire time that God was striking the land of Egypt with plagues, the children of Israel remained right there in Egypt as well but were never touched by any of these plagues. The dust becoming lice and the swarms of lice also carry highly symbolical meanings. In the fifth plague God strikes down all of the cattle of Egypt, which we saw can be symbolical term defining God’s people (as cattle) feeding on His Word. Do not forget that in among God’s people are unbelievers; these can feed on His Word as readily as a true believer but still having an unrepentant heart. The plague upon the cattle of Egypt hints to a high degree that this same thing will and is occurring today throughout the congregations of the world. God’s cattle are feeding in their pastures, but to no avail. The pastures or congregations, which were once rich in truth as the Garden of Eden have now become wastelands!

“A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them,” (Joel 2:3)

Final Thought

Isaiah 32:15-20

[15] - “Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.”

[Pentecost: The releasing of the Gospel; the pouring out of God’s Spirit from on high resulting in salvation in the multitudes; the wilderness turning into a spiritual fruitful field and growing into a great spiritual forest.]

[16] - “Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.”

[God’s (Christ’s) righteousness will remain in the true Church forever.]

[17] - “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

[God’s eternal peace and assurance of salvation accompanies the believers.]

[18] - “And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;”

[The eternal House of God; Israel of God; New Jerusalem; Kingdom of Heaven, etc. is our sure, permanent and heavenly dwelling place.]

[19] - “When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.”

[Prior to eternity, the true Church is still subject to spiritual attacks - “when it shall hail, coming down on the forest” as this verse says. God’s one of many ways in teaching that there will be spiritual attacks upon God’s people (forest).

[20] - “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.”

[In the midst of these attacks, God tells us to simply continue on with the proclaiming of the Gospel - (blessed are ye that sow beside all waters - that send forth thither the FEET of the OX and the ASS.) We are to continue to sow the Gospel seeds of faith. Another way of saying it is we are to send forth the feet of the ox and the ass. Cattle?

Yes, another confirmation from Scripture that God likens His Elect to cattle. Notice the close word association or cross-reference to the following New Testament verse:

Romans 10:15 -

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the FEET of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

God’s Word is amazing!

End of Part 5

by Daniel Webster