The Seven Last Plagues

A little while ago, my friend and I studied the seven last plagues of Revelation 16 for a Sabbath School lesson.  We found some really interesting things that I would like to share with you all.  These plagues start right after the close of probation, when everyone on earth has either the Mark of the Beast or the Seal of the Living God.  The plagues fall on those who have the Mark of the Beast, and the Sealed of God are protected.  Just as a starting note, I am not condemning individual catholics in any way.  It is only the system that is condemned in the Bible.  There are many catholics that have done great things for God and will be in heaven. However, in the end, the true Sabbath and the true truth will be a telling sign of redemption. 

First plague: Sores

  Revelation 16:2   And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Other times sores/boils were on people: 

Philistines after capturing ark (emerods)

Hezekiah after showing his riches

Job

6th Egyptian plague (Egyptians were idolatrous and enslaved Israelites)

In Isaiah’s time, as if Israelites had putrefying sores because of their spiritual condition

^It is interesting that sores are used, because no one wants to touch them, and they stink, etc.  Except for Job's situation, the sores could be symbolic of the sins that each of these people had.  We should regard sin as untouchable, stinky, etc.  It is not a pleasant thing.

Second plague: The sea turns to blood

  Revelation 16:3   And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

Third plague: The rivers and streams become blood

  Revelation 16:4   And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5   And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

^Why blood?  Because the Papacy and the other persecutors slew the saints. Revelation 17:6 says that Babylon (the Papacy) was

Fourth plague: The sun scorches the earth

  Revelation 16:8   And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

 9   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.

   ^Sun scorches the earth <From the beginning of pagan history, the sun has had an important role as a “god”.  Many times, it was the highest “god”.  Sunday was the day that the sun was worshipped on, and the US and the Papacy have worked together to enforce the Sunday Law.  Now the sun scorches the earth.

   ^In the Egyptian plagues, two of the plagues corresponded to their Gods: The Nile river and frogs.  One of the plagues was turning the Nile to blood, and another plague was an overpopulation of frogs.   “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:25 

Fifth plague: Judgment on the beast

  Revelation 16:10   And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

^The Seat of the Beast represents Rome or the Papacy.  The Papacy is covered in darkness.  This shows them that they didn't actually have the light.  Although they said they had what was true and right, they didn't and their doctrine was of darkness.  So God gives them darkness.

Sixth Plague: Euphrates is dried up

  Revelation 16:12   And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

^Interesting fact:  The Euphrates river is already drying up.  It’s a serious economic problem in Syria. 

^The actual city of Babylon was fed by the river Euphrates.  The Persian army conquered Babylon by rerouting the Euphrates river (Essentially dried it up), and going under the gates.  The drying up of Babylon symbolizes the drying up of support (water is like life) to the Papacy. 

^Christ told the Samaritan woman that He would give her living water.  Now, what's interesting, is that after drinking the water, He said you would never thirst.  When the Euphrates dries up, it shows that it is not from God.  The "life" that was supporting the Papacy was not from God, so it fails.

Seventh Plague: It is done, earthquake, Babylon divided into three parts, islands gone, mountains gone, hail

17   And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18   And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19   And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20   And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21   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.

^Babylon divided into three parts:  The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet (cf. v 13) are not in harmony anymore, and they fight. 

^There was an earthquake when Christ said “It is Finished” on Cross, and an earthquake also when Christ says “It is Done” in Heaven. 

^When the thousand years begin, the earth will basically be in the same state as it was before God created it.  And that will be the home of Satan for that time until Christ comes the third time to for the second resurrection.

Revelations 18:8   Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. <One day is a year in Bible prophecy.  If the plagues lasted longer than a year, the earth would be completely destroyed. 

“These [seven last] 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.”--Great Controversy 629

Revelation 16:9, 11, 21   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….And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds…. 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.  <The wicked are not repentant.  Even though the plagues are coming on them, they are not sorry for what they did, and for their wickedness.  They are sorry for the results of their disobedience to God.  This is also because Probation has ended already, so no one will have any inclination to change the side that they are on.  They have decided firmly already.

The seven plagues undo Creation

Comparison of End Plagues and days of Creation

First: Man has destroyed, marriage, and then man will have destroyed the Sabbath

1st plague: Sores  cf.  6th day: man created

2nd plague: Sea into blood  cf.  5th day: Fish created

3rd plague: Rivers and streams into blood  cf.  6th day: beasts of earth created

4th plague: Sun scorches the earth  cf.  4th day: Sun, moon, + stars created

5th plague: Darkness on the Beast  cf. 1st day: Light

6th plague: Euphrates dried  cf.  possibly 2nd day: God dividing water from sky.

7th plague: Earthquake/hail/flat earth/Babylon in 3 parts  cf.  1st day: void earth, 3rd day: land comes out of water

^7th plague is also poured into the air.  <also correlation with 2nd day

In closing, writing of one of her visions containing the seven last plagues, Mrs. White said, “Then my eyes were taken from the glory, and I was pointed to the remnant on the earth. The angel said to them, “Will ye shun the seven last plagues? Will ye go to glory and enjoy all that God has prepared for those who love Him and are willing to suffer for His sake? If so, ye must die that ye may live. Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have, for the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory. Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no thief can approach or rust corrupt. Ye must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here if ye would be partakers with Him of His glory hereafter.”” (EW 66.2)