God Sends His Plagues

God's judgments will fall on those who are trying to destroy His people. To God, punishment is a “strange act” (Isaiah 28:21, KJV; see also Ezekiel 33:11). The Lord is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,” yet “by no means clearing the guilty” (Exodus 34:6, 7; see also Nahum 1:3). He bears long with the nations, but when they have filled up their measure of iniquity, they will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.LF 253.1

When Christ ends His ministry in the sanctuary, God will pour out the unmingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast. The plagues on Egypt were similar to the more widespread judgments that will fall on the world just before the final deliverance of God's people. John the revelator says: “A foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.” The sea “became blood as of a dead man.” And “the rivers and springs of water ... became blood.” The angel declares: “You are righteous, O Lord, ... because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” (Revelation 16:2-6.) By condemning the people of God to death, they have become guilty of their blood as truly as if they had shed it with their own hands. Christ declared the Jews of His time guilty of all the blood of holy men shed since the days of Abel (Matthew 23:34-36), for they possessed the same spirit as those murderers of the prophets.LF 253.2

In the plague that follows, God gives power to the sun “to scorch men with fire.” The prophets describe this fearful time: “The harvest of the field has perished.... All the trees of the field are withered; surely joy has withered away from the sons of men.” “How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are restless, because they have no pasture.... The water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the open pastures.” (Joel 1:11, 12, 18, 20.)LF 253.3

These plagues are not universal, yet they will be the most awful afflictions ever known. All judgments before the close of probation have been mingled with mercy. The blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from the full impact of his guilt. But in the final judgment, wrath is unmixed with mercy. Many will want the shelter of God's mercy which they have despised.LF 253.4

While the people of God will be persecuted and distressed and will suffer for lack of food, God will not leave them to die. Angels will supply their needs. “Bread will be given him, his water will be sure.” “I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 33:16; 41:17.)LF 253.5

Yet to human sight it will seem that the people of God must soon die for their faith, as the martyrs did before them. It is a time of dreadful agony. The wicked boast, “Where now is your faith? Why does not God deliver you out of our hands if you are indeed His people?” But the waiting ones remember Jesus dying on Calvary's cross. Like Jacob, all are wrestling with God.LF 253.6