Plagues One and Two

Daniel and Revelation - Revelation Chapter 16

CHAPTER -- XVI -- The Plagues Poured Out 

(Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911)

Having now shown the chronology of these judgments, that they are before us in the very near future, treasured up against the day of wrath, we proceed to inquire into their nature, and what will result when the solemn and fearful mandate shall go forth from the temple to the seven angels, saying, "Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." Here we are called to look into the "armory" of the Lord, and behold the "weapons of his indignation." Jer. 50:25. Here are brought forth the treasures of hail, which have been reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war. Job 38:22, 23.

Jer 50:25  The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

Job 38:22  Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

Job 38:23  Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

The first plague. - "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 worshiped his image."

There is no apparent reason why this should not be regarded as strictly literal. These plagues are almost identical with those which God inflicted upon the Egyptians as he was

p 687 --

(picture omitted)

p 688 -- about to deliver his people from the yoke of bondage, the literality of which is seldom, if ever, called in question. God is now about to crown his people with their final deliverance and redemption, and his judgments will be manifested in a manner no less literal and terrible. What the sore here threatened is, we are not informed. Perhaps it may be similar to the parallel plague which fell upon Egypt. Ex. 9:8-11.

VERSE 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.

The Second Plague. - A more infectious and deadly substance can scarcely be conceived of than the blood of a dead man; and the thought that the great bodies of water on the earth, which are doubtless meant by the term sea, will be changed to such a state under this plague, presents a fearful picture. We have here the remarkable fact that the term living soul is applied to irrational animals, the fish and living creatures of the sea. This is, we believe, the only instance of such an application in the English Version; in the original, however, it occurs frequently; showing that the term as applied to man in the beginning (Gen. 2:7) cannot be taken as furnishing any evidence that he is endowed with an immaterial and immortal essence, called the soul.

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Some want to believe the plagues are fictitious. Some explain away all the plagues poured on the Egyptians by saying they are all natural events brought on by nature itself.  They ignore the truth that the Egyptians felt the wrath of God through the plagues  while the Hebrews were spared! Time and again they were spared! And this was UNDISPUTED by the historians of the time, undisputed by people alive and sharing their history over and over down through time. We want to explain all of it away and many do. They choose their own fables, their own science and their own ways rather than believe in God and His power.

The seven LAST plagues will come.

All those who choose NOT to believe will unfortunately feel the wrath of the various plagues.

The first plague one of sores.

The second plague one of the sea's waters turning into dead man's blood.

Will the plague fall upon everyone all at once, no.  More on this tomorrow by the grace of our LORD, by the WILL of GOD!

In Jesus' name always!

Amen!