Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. More specifically today’s passage is found in the nineteenth chapter of this prophetic book. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And it fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not; I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:1-10).

 

            “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

 

            “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a like of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with t he sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword, proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:17-21).

 

            AND AFTER! AND AFTER THESE THINGS! AND AFTER THESE THINGS I HEARD! AND AFTER THESE THINGS I HEARD A GREAT VOICE OF MUCH PEOPLE IN HEAVEN!WORSHIP RETURNS! WORSHIP RETURNS TO HEAVEN! A GLIMPSE OF WORSHIP AGAIN! When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the beginning of the transition to the end of all things in the midst of the last days. At this point in the prophetic vision which the apostle John saw we have not only witnessed the breaking of the seven seals but we have also witnessed the sounding of the seven trumpets and the pouring out of the seven vials of the judgment of the living God. Within the prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ we witness and behold the judgment and wrath of the Lord Jesus Christ being poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth as the inhabitants of the earth would face a reckoning much like the people of the land of Egypt did. If you turn and direct your attention to the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find that God’s people were and had been slaves in the land of Egypt for more than four-hundred years. In order to deliver the people of God from their slavery in the land of Egypt—not only would he raise up Moses who was tending his father’s sheep on the backside of the desert in Midian but would also send with him his brother Aaron. Initially Moses and his brother Aaron would enter into Pharaoh’s court and demand that he let the people of God go—something which Pharaoh was indeed reluctant to do. It would be there in the midst of the court Moses would perform three distinct and unique signs which were given unto him by the living God at Horeb in the midst of the wilderness—the turning of water into blood, casting his rod down upon the ground and it would become a serpent, and putting his hand inside his cloak and pulling it out leprous only to put it back in and pulling it out again as good as new.

 

            If you take the time to read the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find the living God raising up Moses to return and send him to Egypt that he might be His chosen instrument and vessel to deliver the people of God from their suffering, their oppression, their bondage and their slavery. With this being said, however, we also understand from Scripture that when the living God sent Moses unto Pharaoh in the land of Egypt He knew and understood that Pharaoh would not allow the children of Israel to depart from the land of Egypt willingly and voluntarily. The LORD knew and understood that Pharaoh would need a strong harm of might and power exercised against and executed upon the land in order for his heart to finally be in a place where he would allow the children of Israel to be delivered from their slavery and oppression. It would be this direct understanding that would prompt the living God to send and execute ten plagues of judgments against and upon both the land of Egypt and the people within the land. The living God would not only send ten plagues and judgments against and upon the land of Egypt and its inhabitants but would also enter into judgment against the false gods which were present in the midst of the land of Egypt and worshipped by the Egyptians. It wasn’t merely ten plagues and judgments against Pharaoh, against the land of Egypt and against the people of Egypt that would take place in the midst of the ten plagues for it would also be judgments which were meted out and executed against the false gods which were present in the midst of the land.

            I sit here today thinking about and considering this awesome and powerful truth concerning the children of Israel living as slaves in the land of Egypt being subjected to oppression, affliction, bondage and slavery and how in order to deliver them from such a reality the living God would need to send plagues and judgments upon the land of Egypt. I am absolutely convinced there is a great need for us to pay attention to what took place in the land of Egypt for in order for the living God to deliver His people from the midst of their slavery, bondage, oppression and affliction in the midst of the land He would need to exercise and execute His strong arm and mighty power in the midst of the land. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for I am absolutely and completely convinced it has a direct impact and effect on how we should and ought to read the prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are and there have been those who have believed in what is called a pre-tribulation rapture which simply put is the rapture of the church prior to the final seven years of recorded human history and the tribulation. There are and there have been those who would hold to this truth that the Lord Jesus Christ can and will come in the clouds and rapture His church from this earth before the tribulation even begins. With this being said there is another camp of people who believe in what is called mid-tribulation which is simply the rapture of the church and body of Christ together with the dead in Christ at the end of the first three and a half years of the great tribulation. Still there is a third camp and group of people who believe in what is called a post-tribulation rapture which is the belief that the rapture of both the dead in Christ and those which are alive and remain will take place at the end of the seven years period of the great tribulation.

 

            I have to admit that for the longest time I believed that the rapture of the Lord Jesus Christ would indeed take place prior to the great tribulation which would last seven years upon the face of the earth. I believed the Lord Jesus Christ would indeed take place prior to the great tribulation as the Lord Jesus Christ would rapture His church and body which was present upon the earth to somehow “deliver” them from the great tribulation which would come upon the face of the whole earth. Having said this I have found myself leaning more toward the mid-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture than anything else due to what I find in Scripture. Perhaps one of the greatest reasons I would be a proponent of a post-tribulation rapture—a rapture that would take place after the great tribulation—is because of what I find within the Old Testament book of Exodus. If you read the Old Testament book of Exodus concerning the ten plagues which would come upon the face of the land of Egypt you will find that not only would these plagues and judgments be executed and exercised against and upon the land of Egypt and its inhabitants but the children of Israel would even experience some of the plagues themselves. As you read the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find that when the plague of darkness struck the land of Egypt the LORD God made the declaration that the people of the land of Egypt would know that He made a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. What makes the narrative of the ten plagues and judgments of the land and inhabitants of the land of Egypt so incredibly unique is that they didn’t take place after the LORD delivered His people from the land of Egypt as judgment for everything they had done toward and against them. The judgments and plagues which the living God executed and exercised upon the land of Egypt would not be exercised against Pharaoh in response to his subjecting the people of God to slavery, bondage and oppression after the living God delivered them from their slavery, bondage and oppression.

 

            The more I read the words which are found in the Old Testament book of Exodus the more I am struck by the awesome and incredible truth that the children of Israel would indeed still be in the land of Egypt while the ten plagues and judgments were executed upon Pharaoh, upon the inhabitants of the land of Egypt and upon the land itself. The children of Israel would themselves witness the strong and powerful hand and outstretched arm of the living God against Pharaoh and the land of Egypt in response to their more than four century long enslavement of the children of Israel. The children of Israel would still be oppressed and afflicted even while their oppression and affliction would continue in the midst of the land. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth that the children of Israel were themselves not exempt from experiencing the ten plagues and judgments of the living God against Pharaoh and against the land of Egypt. We would like to think that the children of Israel were themselves exempt from the ten plagues and judgments which the living God exercised and executed against and upon the land of Egypt and yet the truth of the matter is that it wouldn’t be until the LORD would strike the land with a darkness so real and palpable it could be felt that there was actually a distinction that was made between the children of Israel and the people of the land of Egypt. The children of Israel would indeed remain and abide in the land of Egypt while the ten plagues and judgments were being meted out and exercised against the land of Egypt and its inhabitants.

 

            It is at this juncture I find it absolutely necessary for you to consider the actual ten plagues and judgments which the living God exercised and executed against and upon Pharaoh, upon the Egyptians and upon the land of Egypt itself. Moreover I would dare say it is absolutely necessary for you to consider the plagues and judgments which were exercised against the false gods of the land of Egypt which the Egyptians themselves worshipped and which exercised control and dominion over them. What we must needs recognize and understand is that the ten plagues and judgments which were exercised against the land of Egypt would be such the children of Israel would themselves witness, behold and even experience within their hearts and lives. This is something we have a great need to recognize and pay close attention to for it calls and draws our attention to the awesome and powerful truth surrounding the judgments of the living God being executed and exercised upon a specific land and ancient empire in the midst of the earth and yet the children of Israel still being present in the midst of the land while the plagues and judgments were taking place before and all around them. In fact one might very well say that the children of Israel themselves might have been somewhat impacted and affected by some of the plagues and judgments which the LORD God would execute and exercise against and upon Pharaoh, against the land of Egypt and against the inhabitants of the land. Oh it is with this being said I invite you to consider if you will the following words which are found in the Old Testament book of Exodus concerning the ten plagues and judgments which the LORD God executed against and upon Pharaoh, against the land of Egypt and against the inhabitants of the land of Egypt.

 

            The ten plagues and judgments which the LORD God exercised against and upon Pharaoh, upon the inhabitants of the land of Egypt and upon the land itself would begin with a mighty and powerful declaration unto Moses concerning that which Pharaoh would witness and behold in the midst of the land of Egypt. It is when you begin reading with and from the first and opening verse of the sixth chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find the emphatic and bold declaration spoken by the LORD God unto Moses concerning that which He was about to do in the midst of the land of Egypt and that which Pharaoh himself would witness and behold in the midst of the land of Egypt. Consider if you will the following words which are found in this passage of Scripture beginning with the first verse:

 

            “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I. not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 6:1-13).

 

            “And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: Speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me” (Exodus 6:28-30).

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet, Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hands upon Egypt, and bring forth. Mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them,. And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they. And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1-7).

 

            It is important for us to recognize the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for it is what we find in these passages of Scripture we are brought face to face with the living and eternal God preparing Moses for the judgments and plagues which He was about to exercise and execute against and upon the land of Egypt and upon Pharaoh. The living and eternal God knew and understood that Pharaoh would not allow His people to go out unless He exercised great strength, might and power and as a direct result of this the LORD would send ten plagues and judgments against and upon the land of Egypt. Oh this is something we must needs pay close attention to for it calls and draws our attention to the awesome and incredible truth surrounding the LORD God beginning to enter into judgment—not only against Pharaoh and not only against the taskmasters which oppressed and afflicted the children of Israel but also with the false gods which were in operation behind the scenes within the land of Egypt. The LORD God would begin to manifest plagues and judgments within and upon the land of Egypt which were meant to both harden the heart of Pharaoh as well as bring Pharaoh face to face with the judgments of the living God. The LORD God knew that Pharaoh’s heart would remain hardened and He knew that unless he was compelled with a strong right arm and the divine power and might of the living God he would not let the children of Israel depart from the land of Egypt together with their wives, their children and all their livestock and possessions. This is something that is of great importance for us to recognize and understand for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the great plagues and judgments which would be exercised and executed against Pharaoh and the land of Egypt.

 

            Having said all of this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the ten plagues and judgments which the living and eternal God would exercise and execute against and upon Pharaoh, against the inhabitants of the land of Egypt and against the land itself. If you begin reading with and from the fourteenth verse of the seventh chapter you will find the beginning of the plagues and judgments of the living and eternal God against and upon Pharaoh, the land of Egypt and the inhabitants of the land of Egypt. Important to recognize and understand concerning this is that while the ten plagues and judgments of the living God were being executed upon and exercised in the midst of the land of Egypt the children of Israel were still in the midst of the land. What’s more is that it might very well be said that even while the plagues and judgments of the living God were being exercised and executed against and upon Pharaoh and the land of Egypt the children of Israel might still have been subjected to cruel bondage, affliction and oppression from their taskmasters. Scripture is not entirely clear as to whether or not when the plagues and judgments began if the oppression and affliction of the taskmasters in the land of Egypt would stop and the children of Israel would find and experience respite and reprieve from their oppression, bondage, affliction and slavery. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider if you will the following words which are found in the Old Testament book of Exodus beginning to read with and from the fourteenth verse of the seventh chapter:

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s bring against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river. And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to 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. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river” (Exodus 7;14-25).

 

            “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: and the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs: and the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only. And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered together upon heaps: and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said” (Exodus 8:1-15).

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land because lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he harkened not unto them; as the LORD had said” (Exodus 8:16-19);

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be. And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies. And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us. And Pharaoh said, I will you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far way: intreat for me. And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD. And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses ; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go” (Exodus 8:20-32).

 

            “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. For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, 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. And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel. And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land. 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. 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” (Exodus 9:1-7).

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses” (Exodus 9:8-12).

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For. Now I will stretch out my hands, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence: and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: and he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward the heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the LORD (For it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail: and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God. And the flax and the barley was smitten: for they were not grown up. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad this hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses” (Exodus 9:13-35).

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: and that hou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD. And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: and they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which growth for you out of the field: and they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go? And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD. And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you. Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt; very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only. And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD. And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go”  (Exodus 10:1-20).

 

            “And the LORd said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and 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: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind: for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, Take heed to thyself, see my face no more: for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more” (Exodus 10:21-29).

 

            “And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from pharaoh in a great anger. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land” (Exodus 11:1-10).

 

            Now I fully realize that was a lot of Scripture I just presented you with as I covered five chapters within the Old Testament book of Exodus and brought you face to face with the first nine plagues and judgments which the living God would bring against Pharaoh, against the land of Egypt and against the inhabitants of the land of Egypt. Thus far we have watched the LORD completely and utterly decimate and destroy the entire land of Egypt, and even Pharaoh’s servants would present this very stark and bleak reality before and unto Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh’s magicians would at one point recognize that what was taking place within the land of Egypt was indeed the finger of God and eventually his own servants would speak unto him concerning the sheer and utter destruction of the land of Egypt. Everything from the herb of the field, to the trees of the field, to cattle, to livestock and everything within the land of Egypt would be entirely and altogether destroyed with and by the ten plagues which struck the land of Egypt. Oh we must needs recognize and understand this and how absolutely necessary it is for us to pay attention to this. Through the first nine plagues and judgments of the living God upon the land of Egypt we find the children of Israel still being present within the land in Goshen. There would be a series of plagues which the children of Israel would themselves experience in the midst of the land of Egypt before the LORD would draw and make a distinction between them and the inhabitants of the land of Egypt. Eventually the plagues and judgments which were executed against and upon the land of Egypt would not touch the children of Israel as the LORD would draw a distinction between themselves and the inhabitants of the land of Egypt.

 

            As you come to the twenty-ninth verse of the twelfth chapter of this Old Testament book you will find the tenth and final plague and judgment which the living God would execute against the land of Egypt together with Pharaoh and the inhabitants of the land. It would be this tenth and final plague which would perhaps be the most personal and most powerful plague of all the others and one that would once and for all cause Pharaoh to thrust forth the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and let them go. It would be the tenth and final plague of the death of the firstborn within the land of Egypt that would cause Pharaoh to finally cause the children of Israel to depart from the land of Egypt and would no longer keep them enslaved and in bondage. Oh we must needs recognize and understand this for what it demonstrates is how the children of Israel were living and dwelling in the midst of the land of Egypt during each of the ten plagues and judgments which the living God executed against and upon the land of Egypt. The children of Israel would remain and abide in the land of Egypt during each of the ten plagues and judgments of the living God against and upon the land and it would be after the tenth and final plague and judgment the children of Israel would final be let go. Oh this is something which takes on an entirely different meaning when you consider the seven seals being broken in the prophetic book of the Revelation, the seven trumpets being sounded and the seven vials of the judgment of the LORD being poured out upon the earth together with its inhabitants for when you come to the nineteenth chapter you almost get the sense that with the end and conclusion of the judgments of the living God upon the earth and with the fall of Babylon the people of God would be redeemed from the earth and would be raptured together with and by Christ—both the dead in Christ which would rise first and those which were alive and remained.

 

            Before I return unto the prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in the twelfth chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus. The words which we find in this passage of Scripture presents us with the tenth and final plague and judgment which the living God would exercise and execute against Pharaoh, against the inhabitants of the land of Egypt and against the land itself. It is absolutely necessary we recognize and pay close attention to this for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely incredible and powerful truth concerning the tenth and final plague and judgment that would come upon Pharaoh, upon the land of Egypt and upon the inhabitants of the land. It would be as a direct result of this plague Pharaoh would once and for all allow the children of Israel to depart from the land of Egypt and go and worship and serve the LORD—something which the rapture will indeed mean for the redeemed people of God when they depart from this earth. It is and will be through the rapture of the church the saints of the living God can and will be ushered into the presence of the living God and will be free to worship and serve the living God for all eternity in the midst of the heavens much like the children of Israel were free to worship and serve the LORD—first at the mountain of God in the wilderness, then through the Tabernacle which would travel with them, and ultimately and finally at the Temple which would be present in the midst of the land of Israel.

 

            Having said this I invite you to consider if you will the following words which are found in the twelfth chapter of this Old Testament book of Exodus beginning with the twenty-ninth verse. It is the words we find here in this passage of Scripture that not only presents us with the final plague and judgment of the living God against and upon Pharaoh and the inhabitants of the land of Egypt but also with the departure of the children of Israel from their slavery, bondage, affliction and oppression in the land of Egypt. Consider if you will the following words which are found in this passage of Scripture:

 

            “And it came to pas, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captives that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise sup, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and gold serve the LORD, as ye have said, Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone: and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the people took their dough before it was haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the people took their dought before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughts being bound up in their clothes uponj their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses, and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succouth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. N ow the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generation” (Exodus 12:29-42).

 

 

            When you come to the nineteenth chapter of the prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ you will find the apostle John hearing in heaven a great voice of much people, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our Good: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:1-2). As the vision which the apostle John progresses he would go on to hear the voice of much people in heaven saying again “Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever” (Revelation 19:3). On top of this we find the four and twenty elders and the four beasts falling down and worshipping God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia (Revelation 19:4). There would come a voice coming out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great (Revelation 19:5). The apostle John would continue listening and would hear as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the LORD God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (Revelation 19:6-8). The apostle John would then be instructed to write “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” and going on to declare unto him, saying, “These are the true sayings of God.” The apostle John would then fall down and worship the one who spoke unto him only to find him declaring unto him, saying, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

 

            As I prepare to bring this writing to a close it is absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in this chapter for with it we begin to see the victory and triumph of the Lamb. We already saw the Lamb of God overcome the ten kings which aligned themselves with the beast and with his kingdom and now in this passage we find the apostle John seeing heaven opened and beholding a white horse. The One who sat upon the white horse was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. The eyes of the rider on the white horse were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. This rider was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his named is called The Word of God. Moreover the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of the mouth of this rider on the white horse went a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations and he would rule them with a rod of iron and would tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Moreover this rider on the white horse would have on his vesture and on his thigh a name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! Oh we must needs pay close attention to this for what we find in this passage of Scripture is not only rejoicing over the destruction and judgment of the great whore which polluted and corrupted the earth with her abominations and fornications but also preparing for the victory and triumph of the rider on the white horse. What’s more is that in the final verses of the nineteenth chapter we find the defeat and ultimate destruction of the beast and the false prophet who were both captured and taken and cast alive into the lake burning with fire and brimstone. It is these words I leave you with at the conclusion of this writing:

            “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the summer of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh or horse, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:17-21).