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(Exodus 8:3). All the dust of Egypt produces
gnats (Exodus 8:17). Everything in Egypt is destroyed by flies (Exodus
8:24). All of the livestock owned by the Egyptians are killed (Exodus 9:6).
Festering boils break out on every Egyptian and their animals (Exodus 9:10).
Hail beats down everything in the fields - crop, tree, grass, and people
(Exodus 9:25). Locusts invade all of Egypt and destroy every tree, crop, and
blade of grass (Exodus 10:13-15). There are three days of absolute darkness
(Exodus 10:22,23). God kills the first born of every Egyptian citizen and
their livestock (Exodus 12:29).
Warning? Before every plague, Pharaoh is warned by
Moses. There is only one mention of the Israelites being warned to take
action before the onset of one of the judgments. In Exodus 12:21-23 Moses
instructs the Israelites to place the blood of the Passover lamb on the
doorposts to save their firstborn.
Who's protected? The fact that there's no mention, in
all cases, of the Israelites being protected from these plagues, the few
statements that are made show they were protected. Exodus 8:23 (flies)
I will make a distinction
between my people and your people. Exodus
9:5 (livestock) ... no
animals belonging to the Israelites will die.
Exodus 9:26 (hail) The
only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.
Exodus 10:23 Yet all the
Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
Who suffered/died? All the plagues were focused on the
Egyptians, only the Israelites were protected.
Snakes - Israelites
How? Numbers 21:6
The the LORD sent venomous
snakes among them; they bit people and many Israelites died.
Warning? No warning was given.
Who's saved/protected? Since the snakes were sent
against those listed below, it can be assumed that anyone who remained true
to God was spared.
Who's punished? Who Dies? Numbers 21:4,5
But the people grew impatient on
the way; they spoke against God and against Moses ... Many people use
this as an example that God uses nature to judge his followers. One must
take into consideration the Israelites were the only people present, there were no others from outside of the nation present. God does
punish his followers. However, it must be seen that those who were affected
by this punishment weren't just having doubts about God's plan, they had
actually turned away from God.
Earthquake and Fire - Israelites
How? Numbers 16:31-33 ...
the ground under them split open
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and
all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the
grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them and they
perished and were gone from the community. Numbers 16:35
And fire came out from the LORD
and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
Warning? Numbers 16:21
Separate yourselves from this
assembly so I can put an end to them at once. God warned all who
remained loyal to him to step out of the sphere of destruction.
Who's saved? Everyone loyal to God.
Who dies? Numbers 16:10,11 [Moses speaking to Korah]
... but now you are trying to
get the priesthood too. It is against the LORD that you and your followers
have banded together. Numbers 16:32 explains it was Korah, his
followers, and their families who died. Although they were a part of God's
chosen people, they chose to rebel against God and were judged and punished.
In the Book of Revelation
How? The first four predictions in Revelation tell of
the return to war, but this is the war Antichrist wages against the children
of God. Fire is sent by God to burn up one third of the earth (8:7). A large
"rock" falls from heaven to the sea causing one third of the seas to turn to
blood (8:8,9). A "star" falls into the fresh water and |
