Is there a similarity between the Ten Plagues of Egypt and the 21 Judgements of Revelation?

The Ten Plagues of Egypt and the 21 Judgements of Revelation?

Is there a similarity to the Ten Plagues of Egypt mentioned in the Book of Exodus all those thousands of years ago in the times of Moses and the future calamities and Prophecy mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Is there something to be learned from the Ten Plagues of Egypt and their possible similarities to the Book of Revelation and the 21 Judgements of The Seals, The Trumpets and The Vials? Do the judgements of God change over time in line with changes in different civilisations, or is it a case that times change but God's judgements remain the same, but just demonstrate a slight variation to an already tried and trusted theme?

Something I think about a lot, maybe others do as well.......... hence this article.

The Ten Plagues of Egypt mentioned in Exodus
God gave Pharaoh ten chances to allow the children of Israel to leave Egypt so they could worship their God freely and come out of slavery. The Pharaoh of Egypt and his people were subjected to the Ten Plagues which affected all in Egypt as he would not release the ill treated children of Israel from their bond with Egypt.

According to the Book of Exodus, God hardened Pharaoh's heart so he would be strong enough to persist in his unwillingness to release the people, so that it would serve as a benchmark from which other people would discuss for generations to come. The Pharaoh gave in after the tenth plague, which was the triggering the Exodus of the release of the Hebrew people and their Exodus, hence the name of that particular Book in the Bible.

The Ten Plagues of Egypt are listed below and also the possible parallel verses in the Book of Revelation that either tie up moderately or precisely

1. Water into blood: Ex. 7:14–24. Parallel Rev 8:8-9 Rev 11;6  Rev 16:3-6

2. Frogs: Ex. 7:25–8:15. Parallel Rev16:13-14 But not mentioned as a judgement

3. Lice: Ex. 8:16–19. No real mention in Revelation apart from a possibility in Rev 6:8 as "The Beasts"

4. Flies: Ex. 8:20–32. Possible Parallel Revelation 6:8 "The Beasts"

5. Diseased Livestock (Animal Pestilence:) Exodus 9:3-4   Rev 6:8
6. Boils: Ex. 9:8–12. Parallel Rev 16:2

7. Thunderstorm of hail : Ex. 9:13–35. Parallel Revelation 8:7

8. Locusts: Ex. 10:1–20. Parallel Rev 9:3-4

9. Darkness for three days Ex. 10:21–29. Parallel Rev 8:12 Rev 16:10

10. Death of firstborn sons: Ex. 11:1–12:3. Parallel  Rev 19:19-21

Exodus and Revelation Bible Quotes comparison

Exodus 7:17-18 Rivers to Blood Parallel Revelation 8:8-9

Exodus 7:17-18
17. 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.

18. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

Revelation 8:8-9
8. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

Frogs: Exodus 8:6. Parallel Revelation 16:12-14
Exodus 8:6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

Revelation 16:12-14
 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

Lice: Exodus 8:16-17.  Parallel No direct mention to Lice in Revelation but see Revelation 6:8

Exodus 8:16-17
16. 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.

17. 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 became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Possibly Revelation 6:8
8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Flies: Exodus 8:21-22 Parallel Rev 6:8 "The Beasts"

Exodus 8:21-22
21. 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.

22. 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.

Revelation 6:8
8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.


Pestilence on Cattle Exodus 9:3-4.  Parallel remotely Rev 6:8

Exodus 9:3-4
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.

Revelation 6:8

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Boils Exodus 9:8-9. Parallels Rev 16:2 Grievous Sore

Exodus 9:8-9
8. 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.

9. 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.



Revelation 16:2
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.

Hail: Exodus 9:23-26. Parallel Revelation 8:7

Exodus 9:23-26
23. 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.

24. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

25. 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.

26. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

Revelation 8:7
7. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.


Locusts: Exodus 10:13-15. Parallels Rev 9:3-4

Exodus 10:13-15
13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

Revelation 9:3-4
3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Darkness: Exodus 10:21-23 Parallel  Rev 8:12 & 16:10

Exodus 10:21-23
21. 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.

22. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

23. 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.

Revelation 8:12
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

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,

SUMMARY

The Book of Revelation contains 21 judgements and some but not all bear more than a passing resemblance to one of the ten plagues mentioned in Exodus 7-11. This is surely no coincidence.

It has been noted throughout the Bible that four judgements keep recurring and that is The Beasts, The Sword, Pestilence and Famine. The Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse mentioned in Revelation 6 as the Fourth Seal of Revelation contains all four of these Judgements in some shape or form, again this is no coincidence.

The last plague The Torah describes God as actually passing through Egypt to kill all firstborn children and cattle, but passing over the houses which have the sign of lambs' blood on the doorpost and leaving them unaffected, hence the Jewish festival of Passover. A similar situation exists in Revelation but this time the distinguishing mark is in and on the person and not externally on a building.

Revelation 9:4
They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

This distinction was made throughout the ten plagues of Egypt where Moses and The Children of Israel remained unaffected by any one of the ten plagues. In Revelation a similar distinction is made but this time it will be Christians who will be unaffected either by being ruptured out before the tribulation and being present during some of it and being unaffected.

The Locusts in Exodus were real live locusts that destroyed every green thing, but the locusts mentioned in Revelation sound completely different where they are told not to touch vegetation but to seek those with the mark of the beast. They also sound like either helicopters or drones?

The similarities between Exodus and Revelation are not 100% but they are compelling enough to see that there are similarities there that cannot be ignored or denied.

Why is this? It's because the source is constant. It's just another illustrator that times change but God does not change and neither do his judgements, they seem to have an uncanny similarity throughout the Old Testament and seem to repeat themselves in the last book of the New Testament the Book of Revelation but with some updated  new additions with a few twists and turns thrown into the mix to keep people on their toes but the source will never be in denial.

The significance of Forty Days and Forty Years in the Bible?

The significance of 40 days and 40 nights in the Bible?

The significance and mentioning of Forty Days or Forty Days and Nights in the Bible, what does it signify and when was it it used. Also the mention of Forty Years. The number forty doesn't come up a huge number of times, but does arise frequently enough for it to be noted that it is something of significance. The importance of the event it is normally associated with means it is mentioned and is there in the Bible for an important reason, not numerology but something much deeper. This article also features an analysis to see if the term forty days and forty nights or forty years actually appears in the Book of Revelation, if at all.

The Number Forty is mentioned over 140 times in the Bible and seems to be a God chosen number to represent a period of hardship, trial, testing or a probationary period or a period of irreversible change . It also seems to be a time period that is significantly related to fasting. It could possibly signify a Chrysalis period from Caterpillar to Butterfly a sort of transformation which seems particularly relevant in relation to it's mention in the New Testament and Jesus quite a number of times. Forty Days is also the period of time that is used to Mark Lent that runs from Ash Wednesday and Ends before Easter Sunday.

In depth analysis video from The Twelve Gates at You Tube



THE INCIDENCES OF FORTY DAYS OR FORTY YEARS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1.The Flood in Genesis
The first instance of Forty Days and Forty Nights is with one of the first major events in the Bible and that is the Flood which lasted for exactly that period of time- this was a time when God was not happy with the planet and it's inhabitants and regretted making man on the earth and decides to reboot the planet with Noah on the Ark carrying the seed for the restarted planet

Genesis 7:4
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Genesis 7:12
And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

2. Moses and the 40 year coincidences

During the life of Moses the Number 40 appeared and manifested itself many times either in the form of 40 days or 40 years.

Moses lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert before God selected him to lead his people out of slavery.

3. Moses was also on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights and this happened twice in order to receive God's laws

Mentioned in the New Testament Acts 7:30
30. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

Exodus 24:18
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Deuteronomy 9:11
And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.

Deuteronomy 9:18
And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

4. Moses also sent spies, for again forty days, to investigate the land God promised the Israelites as an inheritance

Numbers 13:25
25. And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

5. Forty Years was mentioned again for the wandering in the wilderness of the Jews

Numbers 32:13
And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Joshua 5:6
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

6. The Children of Israel do evil again in the eyes of the Lord and he judges again with a Forty Year period to the Philistines

Judges 13:1
1. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

7. Goliath came for forty days before being killed by David

1 Samuel 17:16
And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

8. The prophet Jonah gave a powerful warning to ancient Nineveh, for forty days, because of it's sins it would see destruction.

Jonah 3:4
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

9. The prophet Ezekiel laid on His right side for 40 days as form of bearing Judah's sins for the idolatry they performed . This 40 days was representative of 40 years

Ezekiel 4:6
And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.

10. Elijah went 40 days without food or water at Mount Horeb after being strengthened by a meal presented to him by an angel.

1 Kings 19:7-8
7. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

11. The desolation of Egypt in Prophecy according to Ezekiel

Ezekiel 29:11-13
11. No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.
12. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
13. Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

INCIDENCES OF FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Forty Days or Forty Days and Forty Nights is also mentioned in the New Testament through Jesus. Firstly before he started his ministry he went into the wilderness and fasted, the second time when he appeared after the resurrection and thirdly the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

1. Jesus was tempted many times during the 40 days and 40 nights he fasted in the wilderness, just before his ministry began. Satan attempted to deceive and provide temptations to him while he was in a weakened state.

Matthew 4:1-2
1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.


2. He also appeared to his disciples a number of times and to others over a period of 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.

Acts 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

3. Jesus, before his crucifixion, prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem including The Temple. His crucifixion took place in 30 A.D., the Roman Empire at that time destroyed the city and burned its temple to the ground which happened in 70AD. This is the infamous 70AD Prophecy and formed part of the Olivet Discourse, the quotes below are in connection with that Prophecy between Jesus and his disciples. No actual date was mentioned!

Matthew 24:1-2
1. And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Mark 13:1-2
1. And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
2. And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Conclusions:
As can be seen by the above examples Forty Days or even Forty Years has a special significance in the Bible. It seems to mark a period of suffering, fasting or a transformative period. It happens too many times in the Bible for it to be a coincidence. This is not just something that happened in the Old Testament but happened in the New Testament as well showing that even Jesus was subject to this 40 days and 40 nights scenario.


What is interesting is that the Book of Revelation which includes the monumental Tribulation Period and the mention of the End Times or Last Days would appear to be a prime candidate for either Forty Days or Forty Years or Forty in any other form to appear. On closer inspection and analysis bizarrely it never appears in the Book of Revelation.....not once? Why is a mystery?

Further Bible Quotes that Mention Forty (there are many others)

Further interesting Bible quotes reveal the number Forty also is mentioned in isolation not as in a duration of time period such as 40 days or 40 years but also in reference to quantity and also age.

Genesis 25:20
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

Genesis 26:34
And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
Genesis 50:3
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

Exodus 26:19
And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

Deuteronomy 25:3
Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

Judges 3:11
And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Judges 8:28
Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

2 Samuel 5:4
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

1 Kings 11:42
And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

Acts 13:21
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

Hebrews 3:9
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.