Africa 2003 -- Hope for Our Troubled World

#18
Surviving the Seven Last Plagues
How to Escape the Seven Last Plagues

A number of years ago, Flight #316 with 68 passengers sat on the runway at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Authorities delayed the flight for hours. Then the hours stretched into a day. Two days. For three long, dreary days, Flight #316 just sat there. Why? Why was the flight being held?

Was it mechanical trouble? Weather problems? A hi-jacking? No. United States authorities wanted to be sure one particular passenger aboard that plane really wanted to leave the U. S. They wanted to be sure she wasn’t being forced to leave the country against her will. Her husband had come from another country to the United States. Then he had wanted her to join him. So she came here.

But now she said she wanted to go back to her home country. So officials wanted to know: had she been pressured to leave? Did anybody force her to board the plane? Her husband feared someone was forcing her to go.

With television cameras whirring and reporters’ cameras clicking, this woman stood in the presence of officials of both nations and made her final statement: “I love my husband. But he made his decision to stay here. And I have made mine to leave.” And she walked away!
“Well!” U.S. Immigration wanted to know, “Had she spoken freely? Without being threatened? Did anybody force her to say this?”

But she made her decision. And so after 72 hours on the runway, television lights switched off, news reporters hurried to the telephones, and Flight #316 lifted into the evening sky.

Now, does that sound like something that is happening on planet earth tonight? Is the ship of time being “held” on the runway – waiting for certain passengers on board to make up their minds whether they want to leave and go to heaven or not? According the Book of Revelation that’s a fairly accurate description of what’s happening to our world. In fact, four angels pictured in the book of Revelation are waiting for some people to make their final decisions before the final events leading up to Jesus’ Second Coming can begin.

Here’s the text:

<Revelation 7:1>
“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.”

Winds on a leash! Angels holding back the winds of war and destruction. Holding back the flight of time. Turning aside disaster. Blunting the power of wars and hurricanes and floods. Restraining the winds of terror and violence. Still protecting our planet. Because God’s unwilling to wrap it all up until every man and woman has decided by their own free choice, what they want to do with their eternal future.

His restraining hand mysteriously holds the winds of international terror, or else Armageddon will erupt! Prophecy warns us one day soon those winds will be unleashed. They’ll blow with a fury that defies imagination. So furiously a whole planet will need to be evacuated! Why are the angels holding the winds? Holding our flight?

<Revelation 7:2, 3>
“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’”

Angels, friends! Angels are holding back the winds – until God’s people are sealed in their foreheads. With some sort of visible tattoo? No. We’ve learned millions of men, women, and children will be so in love with Jesus that they will say, “Lord, I want to be marked as one of Your children forever! I accept. I want to have God’s seal – I want to obey Him and let Him write His name on me so I can live with Him forever!”

But other millions – the majority, unfortunately – will say in their hearts (or by their actions), “No thank You, Lord. I know You died to save me. But I don’t want to be sealed. I don’t want to belong to You. I don’t want to obey You. I choose to go another way – my own way.”

2 Peter 3:9 says that hurts Jesus so much! To hear men and women say that they want to accept the gift of salvation that cost Him so much; but then reject His gift of restoration; so He keeps waiting a little longer. Holding our plane – our planet – on the runway of time because He doesn’t want a single one to be lost.

<2 Peter 3:9>
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

But one day soon every living person will have completely made up their mind. Those who have chosen Jesus. And those who choose Him not. God knows their decision is final, so the fateful decree goes forth,

<Revelation 22:11, 12>
“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

We call that decree the close of probation. For men and women on Planet Earth there’ll be no more changing of camps after that. Not because God wants to cut anybody off. Rather, the decree simply reflects the fact men and women have made their final choice. And now God will honor those choices. And it’s time for the flight to take off.

But notice what the prophet Daniel says will happen at that time.

<Daniel 12:1, 2>
“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Then the winds will blow! Then we’ll be ushered into a time of trouble such as this world has never known. Then the seven final judgments of God, the 7 Last Plagues, will be released upon the enemies of God. Then the predictions of Revelation will reach their final fulfillment. Then the last grains of sand will slip through the hourglass.

But then the prophet Daniel encourages us, God’s people will be delivered. And Jesus will return!

Are you prepared for the winds to blow? Doomsday hasn’t happened to an unsuspecting planet – yet! But it will not be this way for long. Even now those angels could be letting go the winds in places like Afghanistan, the West Bank, in Iraq, and in North Korea, Indonesia, Libya, Lebanon, Congo, Liberia.

One day soon, the final winds of strife will blow on all the earth. And once they begin to blow, it will be too late to change your mind and take God’s side!

The prophecy we’re turning to now is about how to escape the seven last plagues. But let me remind you of a technique of God. We have discovered in our studies that God’s great Bible prophecies are consistent. They reveal a God who is predictable. The way God has worked in the past, He will work again today.

<Hebrews 13:8>
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

So, in other words, if we’ll carefully study the plagues of the Old Testament and the miracle of
the Exodus, we’ll discover how we in the New Testament can escape the seven last plagues and the final days of tribulation. Those things in the past were written for our benefit to alert us in the last days.

<1 Corinthians 10:11>
“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Here’s what this means: Those Old Testament miracles during the Exodus when the plagues fell on Egypt – but God’s people escaped – are extremely important because this has something to do with our message today. It is a sobering parallel to the final exodus from Planet Earth. But before we look at the time God rains down the seven last plagues here at the end of New Testament; let’s review a moment. Let’s remember this happened in Africa! First He rained ten plagues on Egypt in the Old Testament. And if we examine what He did then, it will help us understand how He’ll operate now. Remember God first sent Moses and Aaron to Africa with a prophetic message, “Pharaoh, this is God’s end-time message. You don’t have to receive these plagues. If you cooperate with God, He’ll bless you. “Thus says the Lord God Jehovah, ‘Let My people go.’” But Pharaoh wouldn’t budge. Refused. Hardened his heart. Insulted God.

So the plagues began. Let’s review those ten calamities one by one.

First, the Nile River, worshiped by the Egyptians, turned to blood. Fish died and all the water in Egypt became blood for seven days. But Pharaoh still refused to let God’s people go.

Next a plague of frogs infected the land. Millions of them – in their food, their beds, everywhere. Pharaoh stubbornly refused to budge.

A plague of lice came next. But Pharaoh thought it was a trick, so he had his magicians try to do the same. But Pharaoh still wouldn’t agree to let the people go. By the way, the Bible tells us the first three plagues fell on both the Hebrews and the Egyptians. But from here on, the plagues fell only on the ungodly Egyptians. Now things got more serious.

The fourth plague came: swarms of stinging flies. It was epidemic – so awful, it swept through the land. But then the fifth plague came, destroying farm animals and livestock. Devastating. With the stench of death everywhere.

To the point now Pharaoh’s curiosity was aroused. Wow! “I wonder…Have the animals of the Hebrew people up there in Goshen been destroyed, too? Or, have they been protected as Moses predicted?”

<Exodus 9:7>
“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.”

So, the sixth plague fell. Boils on man and beast. Head to toe – miserable boils! Still the obstinate monarch refused to release the children of Israel.

Next a plague of hail, laced with lightning and thunder. So stupendous the Bible says the lightning ran along the ground! Wow! For a few fleeting moments Pharaoh actually toyed with the idea of obeying God and letting the people go. Every living plant and crop and tree was flattened. But when the bombardment ended, so did his good intentions.

The eighth plague hit: a cyclone of locusts eating up every living thing the hail didn’t get! Pharaoh’s counselors pleaded with him, “No more plagues, please! Pharaoh, it’s over – please! Let the slaves go!” But still the king refused.

Then came three days of mysterious darkness. So cold, so intense, so bitter and oppressive, it could be felt. But rebellious Pharaoh continued to defy the God of heaven.

Finally the tenth plague. The most terrible of all. Slaughter of all the firstborn.

<Exodus 12:29>
“And it came to pass, that at midnight that the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh...unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.”

But before this happened, God had told His people to sacrifice a little lamb and place its blood on the doorposts of their houses – as a sign that they trusted in God’s protection. And where the blood had been sprinkled on the doorposts in obedience to God’s instructions, not one child was harmed. Can you imagine as the clock approached midnight: “Daddy, did you sprinkle the blood on the doorposts yet? Like God instructed?” Thousands of anxious firstborn sons must have stayed up till midnight asking that question. “Yes, dear, and the angel has passed over.”

But not throughout the vast kingdom of Egypt. Cries of mourners could be heard. Death. Wailing, even in proud Pharaoh’s household, as with trembling legs and hoarse voice (in anguish) he finally shouts “Let the children of Israel go: Get out of Egypt. And hurry. Or, we’ll all die!” With shoes on their feet and coats on their backs, at the stroke of midnight the children of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land!

Someone asks, “But Lonnie, what’s this 3500 year old story from Africa have to do with us today?” Ah! Revelation tells us it’s profoundly significant to us here in the 21st Century! Because Bible prophecy warns us history will be repeated. The final events on Planet Earth during the final tribulation will parallel the Exodus story. Almost identically. Not ten plagues, but the seven last plagues will fall. Only on a more devastating scale. Global catastrophes.

This time, ending not in the Exodus from Egypt, but the final departure from spiritual Egypt and our planet. The final deliverance of God’s people from Africa to heaven!

Now, some people believe that God’s people won’t be here for the plagues. We’ll be raptured, Out of here! We’ll be up there in heaven with front row seats looking down on all this. But look at the Bible record. Look at the prophetic evidence. The Children of Israel didn’t get to avoid the plagues then. They didn’t get raptured then. No, they had to endure a time of affliction and tribulation first – before their glorious deliverance from Egypt. They were there to witness the plagues. They were there for the tribulation. They were there when the plagues were falling all around them on the Egyptians.

Revelation clearly says God’s church will be here. On earth. Going through affliction as we witness the outpouring of the seven last plagues all around us on the wicked just prior to Christ’s coming. But just as God delivered them then, just so we’ll experience the miracle of being preserved from the plagues by God’s angels now. The prophet Daniel clearly describes this period of tribulation and trouble for the saints, right here just before Jesus comes and the Battle of Armageddon. Listen:

<Daniel 12:1>
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

Delivered in the middle of all this tribulation. Delivered in the midst of the seven last plagues. Yes, the everlasting Gospel will have been preached to all the world. Yes, the call to “come out of Babylon” and the false systems of worship will have been given. And yes, the third angel’s message has been proclaimed. But notice the warning nonetheless; God’s final appeal – “Please everyone, you can escape the plagues! Listen!”

<Revelation 14:9, 10>
“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God...”

That’s the most awesome warning in all the Bible ever addressed to humans! This is when the final crisis forces every individual to make a final decision; to choose between the commandments of God or the commandments of men – that’s the only time anyone receives the mark of the beast and the seven last plagues. .

But then probation’s door closes forever. But we’re still here, God’s church is still here. On this planet. Which infuriates Satan. Finally he goads the wicked to get so angry with us they want to destroy us with a death decree because we won’t accept the mark of the beast. But when they say, “Destroy them!” that’s when God says, “Enough! They’ve gone too far. It’s over, My children! They have rejected My last messages of mercy.” And the seven last plagues come. That’s when Revelation 14:10 says wicked people “drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” But we the righteous are still here on earth.

Because in heaven the solemn announcement is made: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:

And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
And behold I come quickly. Why? To get us. Then.

Christ’s work as our Great High Priest in heaven has ended. Every case has been decided for eternal life or eternal death. The door of God’s mercy is shut. And just before Jesus descends in glory, now earth’s inhabitants are plunged into one final great “time of trouble such as never was,” spoken of by the prophet Daniel.

Are you listening, friend? God isn’t going to snatch away His people before the plagues fall. Not until after the plagues are over. We’ll be right here on earth, right until the end! But we’ll be protected, just as the children of Israel were during their plagues. No, we won’t be free from difficulties and suffering. It will be a time of trouble for everyone. Big time!

In fact, God’s Voice of Prophecy says our wildest imagination can’t comprehend the magnitude of its reality, as the wicked now drink the cup of God’s wrath unmixed with mercy! John was given a sneak preview of this terrible time of trouble…

<Revelation 15:1>
“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”

Seven last plagues. Terrible. What are they? You can read about them in Revelation 16 in detail, but I want you to notice some striking similarities to the ones that fell upon Egypt.

God’s four angels, holding back the four winds, finally let go, so the first heavenly missile is launched.

<Revelation 16:2, TEV>
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Terrible and painful sores appeared on those who had the mark of the beast and on those who had worshiped its image.”

Perhaps sores similar to the horrible boils suffered by the Egyptians. Did you know that Revelation 13 says this vial specifically targets the United States? And any country where the mark of the beast is legislated and observed.

Imagine the impact such a plague will have on America’s 21st century society! Schools will close. Factories will shut down. Stores won’t be able to open. Hospitals will overflow with people seeking emergency treatment, but the doctors and nurses will be suffering from the same affliction. So they close. Millions die. Will we, too? No. Because just as the Israelites had the sign of the blood on the doorposts that caused the destroying angel with the plague of death to “pass over” them – so God’s people have a sign – a seal – which causes the angel with the vial to pass over them. Notice that wicked people will still be suffering from their sores when another calamity strikes…

<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.”

What a sight! What a terrible smell! Infection breaks out everywhere. Creatures of the sea wash ashore. No more unclean sea food to eat. People stumbling over one another to escape their beach homes. Those governments that have legislated against Sabbath-keepers, mandating “You can’t buy food for the family or milk for the baby, because you don’t have the mark of the beast;” Now God turns the tables and they can’t get food, period! But then another plague follows,

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

Just think! A person turns on the tap to get a drink, and instead blood gushes out! Talk about total chaos. Could anything be worse? The angel says all this is God’s “strange act,” that God’s justice is finally being mysteriously vindicated.

<Revelation 16:5, 6>
“...Thou art righteous, O Lord...because Thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink...”

But in all this here’s some good news. While the wicked are perishing of thirst because they have nothing to drink but blood, God’s people who walk righteously have a fantastic promise!

<Isaiah 33:16>
“...bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”

Perhaps manna…wow! Will that bread and water taste good when the wicked have only blood to drink!

Then the Bible says,

<Revelation 16:8, 9>
“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 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.”

You billions who persist in worshiping the sun through remnants of sun worship on the sun’s day – in open rebellion against God – you want the sun? Okay, have all the sun you want. In fact, God will give you more sun-days than you can handle. But God’s people? God promises a cloud will protect them! Air conditioning, like the children of Israel had! What’s next?

<Revelation 16:10-11>
“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, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

Look! A total reversal. The tables are turned, from solar-atomic heat; global-warming big time; freezing cold! Notice, this text reveals something very interesting. Evidently not all the plagues are going to be universal, nor fatal. This plague particularly falls on the beast power. The papal power is rewarded double darkness, twice as much trouble as she measured out to God’s saints for 1260 years! Darkness so deep and dark it can be felt.

Then the sixth plague. Under this plague comes the great final battle, Armageddon.

<Revelation 16:12-14>
“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. 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. 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.”

Revelation 16:16 tells us that’s when the whole world gets involved – Armageddon – it’s the final conflict. But then right in the middle of Armageddon suddenly it’s all over!

<Revelation 16:17, 18, 20, 21>
“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.’ And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake,...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 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.”

It’s hard for us to get our minds around the size of this disaster, hammering our planet! Huge, 25-kilo hailstones? Can you imagine the devastation? There’ll be nothing left after the seventh plague.

Oh, but friend! That’s when Jesus comes! The Second Coming interrupts the seventh plague or everyone would be destroyed! Prophecy says that’s when Jesus Himself personally interrupts the chaos and conflict as He rides forth in majesty and power and glory with all the armies of heaven to deliver His people from this planet in rebellion.

Finally we’re rescued. Finally we’re taken to heaven! Finally we’re home at last. Home at last! Thank God, we’re home at last! It’s all over. Jesus comes to end the saga of sin, sickness, suffering, disease, sadness and selfishness.

You ask, How can I make certain of God’s protection for me when this great time of tribulation comes and when the plagues begin to fall?” There is only one way to get “out of Africa.”

The Bible says it’s the very same way people escaped the flood in Noah’s day. The same way the children of Israel escaped from Egypt. The same way throughout all salvation history. It’s still the same way today. Sprinkling the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts of our lives!

If you want those destroying angels to pass over your house, then you and I have got to follow God’s instructions and make the one necessary preparation now. Apply the blood!

And just as God spared His faithful people during the plagues in Egypt – just as He set them free, rescued them; just as God spared Noah’s family in the tribulation days of the flood;...just so when the seven last plagues fall in the final tribulation, God’s people will be spared and escape only if we’ve accepted the blood of the Lamb as our sacrifice and allowed His blood to cleanse us from our sins. We’ve sprinkled the blood of Calvary’s cross on our doorposts. Do you see the parallel? And just as God delivered His people in Egypt then – He’s going to do it again today in the whole world! Folks, that’s Bible pure and simple.

We are choosing today which side we’ll be on: God’s side? Or, the side of a rebel angel? And the point is this: Once destruction begins, it will be too late to change sides! Probation’s door will close forever. That’s why God is pleading with love today. That’s why our planet is still sitting on the runway of time waiting to take off. Friend, won’t you place yourself on Jesus’ side now? Under the protection of His blood? The saddest words men will ever utter will be…

<Jeremiah 8:20>
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!”

I remember the story of a man in Australia who built a little cabin at the edge of the forest. It wasn’t much, but it was home to him. One day, as he returned home from work, he was stunned and heartbroken to find his little cabin just a heap of smoldering ruins. All that was left were a few pieces of charred lumber and some metal, blackened by the flames. He walked out to the place where his old chicken coop had stood.

All that he found was a mound of ashes. Some burned wire. Aimlessly he shuffled through the debris. Then, glancing down at his feet, his eye caught sight of a curious little mound – a lump of charred feathers. Idly, he kicked it over. And what do you suppose happened?

Four little fuzzy, baby chicks scrambled out, miraculously protected by the wings of a loving mother hen.

In the most beautiful and meaningful language of Scripture, God poetically describes that’s what He longs to do for every one of His children on earth when the plagues fall:

<Psalm 91:1, 4>
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

Friend, listen to the wonderful assurance God gives to those who choose to follow Him:

<Psalm 91:5-11>
“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is thy refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee...”

Could anything be more reassuring? When the times of trouble and tribulation come, I want to be sheltered under the wings of the Almighty, don’t you? When the plagues begin to fall when there’s no place to hide – you know what – your Heavenly Father wants to protect you! He wants to save you (not destroy you) in the hour of trouble and destruction!

The question is, will you let Him? Will you turn your life over to Him? Today. Now. Completely. Holding nothing back. He’s able to protect you just as a mother hen gathers her little chickens under her wings.

But the choice is up to you today. Not then. It’s too late then. The decision is yours. Today. Now. I’m certain God would like to make your decision for you so that you can be with Him throughout eternity, but He cannot do this. You have free choice. You are the only one that can make that decision. Don’t wait. Do it today.

I invite you to come forward and make your decision for eternity just now during this song.