In Exodus 7-12, Moses and his brother Aaron confront Pharaoh, hoping to convince him to let the Hebrews go free. As many Bible readers know, Pharaoh refuses, and so God sends ten different plagues on the Egyptians.
Plague #1: Water turned to blood (7:14-25)
Plague #2: Invasion of frogs (8:1-15)
Plague #3: Lice infestation (8:16-19)
Plague #4: Infestation of flies (8:20-32)
Plague #5: Diseased livestock (9:1-7)
Plague #6: An outbreak of boils (9:8-12)
Plague #7: Unrelenting hail (9:13-35)
Plague #8: Invasion of locusts (10:1-20)
Plague #9: Prolonged black-out conditions (10:21-29)
Plague #10: Death of every firstborn in Egypt (11:1-12:30)
Moving forward to Revelation 16, John hears a loud voice from the temple in heaven instructing seven angels to pour out their “bowls of the wrath of God on the earth” (v1). The Bible prophesies only seven bowls of judgment during the Tribulation. Interestingly, these judgments are strikingly parallel to several of the ten ancient plagues.
Bowl #1: Loathsome sores (Rev 16:2)
This bowl brings an outbreak of “foul and loathsome” sores or boils, similar to plague #6, upon every person who takes the mark of the beast and worships the antichrist.
Bowl #2: The Sea Turns to Blood (16:3)
Much like the Nile River turning to blood (plague #1), God will command an angel to pour its bowl on the ocean and turn it to blood “as of a dead man.” Every living creature in the ocean will die, directly echoing the effects in Egypt.
Bowl #3: More Waters Turn to Blood (16:4-7)
Another angel will pour out its bowl on the earth’s rivers and springs, turning them to blood and destroying the world’s drinking sources. The angel explains this event as retribution for the “shed blood of saints and prophets.”
Bowl #4: Scorched with Fire (16:8-9)
Unlike the previous parallels, this next bowl judgment does not match any of the ten plagues. Nevertheless, an angel will be given power to burn unrepentant people with heat and fire. The verse seems to indicate this judgment will be caused by the sun, creating great thirst, but there will be no water to drink because of bowl judgment #3.
Not Done Yet
Bowl #5: Darkness and Pain (16:10-11)
Just as Egypt was plunged into total darkness (plague #9), a fifth angel will darken the antichrist’s kingdom. Widespread darkness is also a part of God’s judgment in Isaiah 60:2, Joel 2:2, and Mark 13:24-25.
Bowl #6: The Euphrates River Dries Up (16:12-16)
While there is no direct correlation between the Nile River in Exodus 7:14-21 and the Euphrates in Revelation, the sixth bowl involves frogs coming from the mouths of the dragon (Satan), the beast (the antichrist), and the false prophet (the antichrist’s associate). This parallels the Egyptian plague of invasive frogs, as unclean spirits (demons) will spread across the earth, gathering followers of the antichrist into battle, the “Battle of Armageddon.”
Bowl #7: Great Earthquakes (16:17-21)
Although earthquakes are not part of the ten plagues in Exodus, both the seventh plague (Ex 9:13-35) and the seventh bowl in Revelation involve massive, destructive hailstorms, with hailstones weighing about 75 lbs (34 kg). The severity and symbolism of these events point to God’s ultimate, complete judgment.
God sent the plagues against Egypt for its disobedience and evil toward His people. In the last days of the Tribulation, similar judgments will occur against the unrepentant, with the outcome being utterly final.
The Lord will destroy Satan, sinners, and evil forever in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15) while those of us who are already in heaven, raptured, or enduring in obedience to the end will experience a holy renewal (Rev 21:5). The Lord will create a new heaven and earth (Rev 21:1), and we will dwell safely and joyously with Him forever.
