WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7,2022

READING 5 – The Seven Last Plagues

By Idel Suarez Jr.

 “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.

The seven last plagues are the seven cups filled with God’s wrath that will be poured upon the earth before Christ’s return in glory. This event is similar to the great exodus of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. Just like God poured out His wrath in the form of 10 plagues upon the mighty idolatrous and poly- theistic Egyptian kingdom before taking His elect to the promise land, so God will once more bring about His strange work to liberate and emancipate His last generation on earth.

“When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the un- mingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark (Revelation 14:9, 10), will be poured out. The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God’s people.”1

According to the above testimony, the 7 last plagues will be “more terrible and extensive” than the plagues that fell on Egypt. Throughout this article, different possible or probable scenarios from a historical and scientific point of view are presented to bring the symbolic descriptions of Revelation to life. Remember that John was describing what he had never seen before and was limited by his own experiences and observations, even as modern believers are today. Only the future will reveal exactly what will happen, yet it will be worse than the explanations given here.

An Egyptian Scribe’s Admonition

History at times appears cyclical. History also strangely seems to echo the future as a repetition of past events. The coming seven last plagues are no exception. They will mirror the plagues that fell upon Egypt, but will be more terrible. By God’s grace, we have the testimony of Ipuwer, an Egyptian scribe who was an eyewitness to the 10 plagues which fell upon Egypt and wrote about the frightening destruction beheld. His papyrus known as the Admonitions of Ipuwer preserved at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquity located in Leiden, Netherlands.

Here is a brief summary of Ipuwer’s writing not as a poetic imaginary prose but as a historical factual declaration. Hence we have archaeological proofs for the Egyptian plagues which vali- date the Biblical registry.2

“Pestilence is throughout the land, blood is everywhere, death is not lacking…Indeed, the river is blood, yet men drink of it. Men shrink from human beings and thirst after water…Egypt has become an empty waste…it is the destruction of the land…. Lacking are grain…Indeed, laughter is perished and is [no longer] made; it is groaning that is throughout the land, mingled with complaints…Indeed, the children of princes are dashed against walls, and the children of the neck are laid out on the high ground…Indeed, trees are felled and branches are stripped off… there is no food [. . .]. cattle moan because of the state of the land…Indeed, everywhere barley has perished and men are stripped of clothes, spice, and oil; everyone says: ‘There is none.’ The storehouse is empty and its keeper is stretched on the ground…Woe is me because of the misery of this time!.. Be- hold, the fire has gone up on high, and its burning goes forth…”3

The Plagues as Retribution for Evil

The seven last plagues are the result of disobeying God’s mor- al law, natural laws, and health laws. Moses wrote that because of the abominations committed in the land, the earth vomits out its inhabitants. “And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.” Leviticus 18:25. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” Isaiah 24:5, 6.

Similarly, our planet, known to the ancient Greeks as Gaia, ap- pears like a woman going through labor pains which become more frequent, intense, and longer as the time of birth approach- es. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22. Scientists and historians have been tallying the amount of natural disasters over time and have concluded that climate changes have caused frequent, sever, and escalating storms, earthquakes, droughts, fires, devastations, and natural disasters.4 It seems that these damages become an avalanche racing toward the end of all things.

Yet “these plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals. All the judgments upon men, prior to the close of probation, have been mingled with mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt; but in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy.”5

The Wrath of God

The final plagues do not start till the door of grace is shut closed. They will last close to one year. They are literal plagues not spiritual ones. Five of the ten plagues which fell upon Egypt resurface as part of the seven last plagues to fall upon our planet. Each Egyptian plague was removed so that the subsequent one could be poured out, but such is not the case with the seven last plagues. Although not universal, the first plague does not cease when the second begins and so forth with each additional plague till all seven are excruciating their effects concurrently in different areas having a huge global impact.

The first plague is similar to the boils which the Egyptians suffered. The scripture says, it was “a boil breaking forth [with] blains upon man, and upon beast.” Exodus 9:10. John writes, “there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his image.” Revelation 16:2. The skin is our first barrier against the microbial and viral attacks. These sores are skin ulcers that break forth like blisters, causing itch and pain. Could it also be like small pox which deformed people’s faces? Or will they be like bed sores that produce pus? Regardless, this skin disease will be incurable. By the fifth plague, those with these boils, “gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.” Revelation 16:10, 11. It will fall primarily upon Rome, the seat of the beast, and America, the seat of the image of the beast.

The second and third plagues are similar to the plague that fell upon the Nile River and Delta of Egypt which turned into blood. “And the fish that [was] in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.” Exodus 7:21. The ocean, the rivers, and fountains of water, and itself will stink. Much of marine life will die. Perhaps it will be resemble “red tide”—an algae bloom whose presence and neurotoxin (poisons) causes water discoloration and affects the marine and human respiratory systems. The sea “became as the blood of a dead [man]; and every living soul died in the sea.” Revelation 16:3. Many whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and fish will beach themselves on the shores of the red oceans. Flies will probably roam over the dead bodies. “The plague will extend to the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.” Revelation 16:4.

These plagues will cause thirst for water and for the word of God. Many will travel from country to country, from sea to sea, from north even to the east, searching for the gospel which was rejected, but “shall not find it.” Amos 8:11-12. These plagues are poured out because the governments of this world will have issued a death decree upon all Sabbath keepers. “By condemning the people of God to death, they have as truly incurred the guilt of their blood as if it had been shed by their hands.”6

During the fourth plague, the sun scorches the earth, its animals, plants, and humans. It produces terrible heat waves, heat strokes, sun stroke, and wild fires. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun god Ra. In a transformed manner, many pro- fessed believers continue to adore the sun in submitting to the reigning Sunday law. Under likely intense greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, and climate change effects, the modern Sunday worshippers languish, collapse, and die. Power was given to “the sun… to scorch men with fire. 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 16:8, 9. Joel foretells that “the trees of the field are withered… the beast groan! the herds… are perplexed, because they have no pasture… The rivers of water are dried up.” Joel 1:10-12; 17-20. This description echoes Ipuwer’s lamentations.

The fifth plague is poured “upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness.” Revelation 16:10. It brings dark- ness resembling the dark day of May 19, 1780, and the dark days which hovered over Egypt. “There was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days…” Exodus 10:22, 23. It is imaginable to conclude that the raging heat causes fires which burn out electric utility plants. Perhaps it will also entail a total utility blackout like the one which New York suffered on August 14, 2003. It started with a bush fire in Ohio which caused a trans mission line to go out.7 All electric and internet services ceased. Subways did not run. Elevators were jammed. No hot water. All refrigerated and perishable foods spoiled. Looting and crime resulted, but in this case the darkness may well be felt with the fingers! Why darkness? “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19.

While the fifth plague falls over the papacy, the sixth probably affects Islam. The frogs that sprang out over the land of Egypt reappear as part of the sixth plague. “Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.” Psalms 105:30. These new frogs are the spirits of devils which bring their evil spells upon the leaders of nations to make war. “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. 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.

This sixth plague is known as the battle of Armageddon—the last world war. Revelation 16:16. To those who are skeptical of a world war involving the lonely mount of Megiddo, World War I included a major battle over Jerusalem between the British under the command of General Allenby and Turks exactly at Armageddon and its surroundings.8 Here, the Euphrates River, which was one of the four rivers of Eden, literally and prophetically dries up. Waters are a symbol of people. Revelation 17:5. Hence, Islam’s millions inhabiting the lands—Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Kuwait—through which the Euphrates flows may perish in war. Muslims will embark on a Holy Jihad over Jerusalem. Daniel 11:44-45. They are part of “the kings of the east.” John Wesley clearly taught this. “Those who lie east from the Euphrates, in Persia, India… will rush… toward the Holy Land, which lies west of the Euphrates.”9 These will face the King of Kings who will come as the lighting from the east to the west. Matthew 24:27.

During the final plague, is “the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air.” Why the air? Perhaps it is because the heavens will shake and be rolled up as a scroll. “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together.” Revelation 6:14. God’s voice will shake the atmosphere. “Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” Hebrews 12:26. The seventh plague involves two great earthquakes. One at the beginning of the seventh plague awakens the part of the 144,000 dead known as the special or partial resurrection. The other at the end of the plague awakens the Great Multitude as the first resurrection and part of Jesus’ Second Coming. With these huge earthquakes greater than the Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755, “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” Revelation 16:20. “There was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great.” Rev- elation 16:18. The great cities with their massive sky-scrappers will crumble like the Twin Towers of New York on September 11, 2001. “The cities of the nations fell.” Revelation 16:19.

Revelation mentions “hail” which in the original Greek was “chalaza”. It literally means “to let loose, or let fall”. So is it hail, hailstones, meteriorites, fire balls, or all of them, or something else? Conceivably, our solar system’s great meteorite belt which Job beheld will release its space stones resembling a supersize hail storm. “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?” Job 38:22,23.“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. Each will weigh 50 to 70 pounds (or 23 to 31 kilograms).

The Testimonies do mention the fall of “great balls of fire” from heaven in the end of times:

“Great balls of fire were falling upon houses, and from these balls fiery arrows were flying in every direction. It was impossible to check the fires that were kindled, and many places were being destroyed. The terror of the people was indescribable. After a time I awoke and found myself at home.”10

The world shall make war against Christ and His host coming in the clouds of heaven, but those who are called, chosen, and faithful will overcome. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14.

God’s Protection Assured

In the midst of all the pestilence, natural disasters, sword, and genocide, His 144,000—the last generation of saints on earth— will be preserved and not die during this terrible ordeal. Daniel looked into the future and witnessed these last seven plagues and wrote, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1. Hence, those who are written in the book of Life will be spared not from suffering, nor thirst, nor heat, nor fear, but from death.

“The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish. That God who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing children. He who numbers the hairs of their head will care for them, and in time of famine they shall be satisfied. While the wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence, angels will shield the righteous and supply their wants.”11

Isaiah too beheld that time and took particular notice of God’s people on the verge of their deliverance from life’s toils and the world’s grand massacre. He wrote that God’s people were to hide within their doors sprinkled with the blood of a lamb like the Israelites during that infamous night of terror in which the first born of Egypt died mysteriously. Isaiah also hinted to the special resurrection. “Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD com- eth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:19-21.

Like with Elijah, the living 144,000 are promised water and bread. Many will be in hiding in mountains as Jesus advised. Others will be in dungeons and prisons. Some may be in their own rural homes. “He shall dwell on high: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.” Isaiah 33:16.

The Psalmist’s counsel to the elect is to hide in God, to hide spiritually, emotionally, and mentally in the Almighty, like a little girl who hides in her mother’s skirt in the presence of perceived danger. He tells the children of God not to be afraid. The last pandemics would not touch His elect. “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Psalms 91:5-10.

“The precious Saviour will send help just when we need it. The way to heaven is consecrated by His footprints. Every thorn that wounds our feet has wounded His. Every cross that we are called to bear He has borne before us. The Lord permits conflicts, to prepare the soul for peace.”12

Another scribe’s admonitions

Ipuwer, the Egyptian scribe, wrote his admonitions, so did God not only in Scripture but in the inspired Testimonies. The messenger of God had a vision of the plagues and she tells about it.

“Said the angel, ‘Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died.’ I saw that there was a great work to do for them and but little time in which to do it.

“I was then made capable of enduring the awful sight of the seven last plagues, the wrath of God. I saw that His anger was dreadful and terrible, and if He should stretch forth His hand, or lift it in anger, the inhabitants of the world would be as though they had never been, or would suffer… Terror seized me, and I fell upon my face before the angel and begged of him to cause the sight to be removed, to hide it from me, for it was too dreadful. Then I realized, as never before, the importance of searching the Word of God carefully, to know how to escape the plagues which that Word declares shall come on all the ungodly who shall worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands.”13

Are you ready for the seven last plagues? Will you be able to stand? Take hold of Jesus, His righteousness by faith, and grace, and you will. Amen.

1 The Great Controversy, pp. 627, 628.

2 Anne Habermehl, The Ipuwer Papyrus and the Exodus, Research Gate, July 2018. Accessed on March 29, 2022.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329770320_The_Ipuwer_Papyrus_and_the_Exodus

3 Complete translation of the ancient EgytianIpuwer Papyrus with notes (potential confirmation of Moses and the Exodus), Bible Blender, February 1, 2020. Accessed on March 29, 2022. https://www.bibleblender. com/2020/biblical-lessons/biblical-history/ancient-texts/complete-translation-ancient-egypt-ipuwer         papyrus

4   Carlyn Kranking and Katie Peek, “The Rise of the Billion-Dollar Disasters,” Audubon, Winter 2021, 16-17.

5 The Great Controversy, pp. 628, 629.

6 The Great Controversy, p. 628.

7 “Disasters: New York City Blackout of 2003,” NYC Data, Baruch College, New York. Accessed on March 31, 2022. NYCdata | Disasters (cuny.edu)

8 “General Allenby Shows How a Moral Man Conquers Jerusalem,” Haaretz, December 11, 2014. Accessed June 24, 2022. HYPERLINK “http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2014-12-11/ty” www.haaretz.com/ jewish/2014-12-11/ty article/premium/1917-generalallenby shows-how-a-moral-man-conquersjerusalem/0000017f-db81-df9ca17f-ff992e570000

9 John Wesley, Comments on Revelation 16:12, New Testament Notes.

10 The Evangelism, p. 29; The Last Day Events, p. 24.

11 The Great Controversy, p. 629.

12 The Great Controversy, p. 633.

13 The Early Writings, pp. 64, 65.