Revelation 16:1-2

In chapter 15, seven angels came out of the temple in heaven — the consecration of the temple. Now in chapter 16 we see what the plagues are. If you didn't notice, several of these match the plagues of Egypt.¶

Egypt as a type¶

All through the Bible there are types — physical, historical things that also represent something else (typology). Egypt is a type of the world; Israel a type of the church. Israel were sojourners in a land not their own, enslaved under the prince of that land — so too are we, sojourners in a world ruled by the prince of the air, until all things are put under Jesus. These plagues point back to when God judged Pharaoh.¶

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Revelation 16:2 (ESV)¶

The sores only come on those who bear the mark — just as in Exodus 9 the boils fell only on the Egyptians and magicians aligned with Pharaoh. This is God's pattern: when he brings wrath, he does it to those not aligned with his kingdom, and protects those who are — Noah in the flood, Lot in Sodom, Israel in Egypt, Rahab in Jericho, and, I believe, Christ's church in the end days. God's people are not always protected from trial and tribulation (we are told we will experience those), but nowhere does Scripture show God pouring out his wrath on those who love him — except the one time he poured it on the One who loved him perfectly: Jesus took what we deserve so that we can receive what only he deserves.¶

Hardening of hearts¶

This first plague of sores is the sixth plague on Egypt — the one where God stepped in and hardened Pharaoh's heart (judicial hardening; Pharaoh first hardened his own heart for five plagues). Looking back to Revelation 9, after six trumpets that touched only a third, "the rest of mankind... did not repent of the works of their hands" (Revelation 9:20-21). The people have hardened their hearts over and over. This is why we are warned: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15). Are we hardening our hearts to God? Is his Spirit convicting us of something we keep refusing to repent of? The Israelites who left Egypt saw the signs and still rebelled (Hebrews 3:16) — we are those people, rescued, led, and fed. Are we keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)?¶