part 38: The Greater Exodus at the End of the Age
Puzzled About Revelation, september 22 2022
“So many people are confused about biblical prophesy because they are not working with the picture that God gives us in scripture. ”
main text: Revelation 7:9-10,13-17
I. Introduction
I believe that the biblical history of Israel’s slavery and exile and the subsequent judgements and exodus from Egypt form the pattern for the end of the age.
When I began this series two years ago, I called it “Puzzled about the End of the Age” because I was comparing end-times prophesy to a jigsaw puzzle. So many people are confused about biblical prophesy because they are not working with the picture that God gives us in scripture. Moreover, we have had pieces taken out, and extra pieces added in. But if we begin with the right framework, we will find that the pieces naturally fall into place. Then we can see which pieces belong, and which ones don’t.
The Exodus is a great picture. If we can understand God’s working in history, it becomes a pattern for prophesy at the end of the age. This naturally assumes that we take the Bible as REAL HISTORY. I believe that the exodus really happened as recorded in scripture: that Israel’s slavery was real, that the plagues and judgements were real events, that God really did part the Red Sea and lead His people through on dry land, that Pharaoh’s army was drowned in the sea, and that He brought His people to Mount Sinai where He came down on the mountain in fire and smoke. If we don’t believe that these are real historical events, how can we believe that the events recorded for us in Revelation will be real historic events?
The Biblical foundation for a “Greater Exodus” at the end of the age:
Micah 7:15-16 CSB: “I will perform miracles for them as in the days of your exodus from the land of Egypt. Nations will see and be ashamed of all their power.”
Jer. 16:14-15: “However, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ 15 but it will be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors.”
This speaks of the greater exodus, the gathering of all of God’s people from throughout the earth, and bringing them into the promised land at the end of the age.
Ezekiel 37:12-14: “Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Ezekiel uses resurrection language, speaking of the greater exodus, our gathering to Christ at the end of the age.
II. The Pattern of the Exodus
This pattern from Exodus can be applied as a framework for the book of Revelation and for the events at the end of the age:
Slavery & oppression. Israel travels down into Egypt. A new Pharaoh arises who does not know Joseph and does not know the Lord. He enslaves the people, and then begins to commit genocide.
God’s people cry out. Israel cries out to God because of the bitterness of their oppression. God hears their cries and sends two witnesses to confront Pharaoh (Moses and Aaron). This sounds a lot like what we read in Revelation. First, the antichrist will rise and enslave the world, then God is going to raise up two witnesses who will confront the antichrist (Revelation 11).
God’s divine judgment on Egypt. There is a confrontation between the gods of Egypt and the True and Living God. Pharaoh’s magicians perform signs and wonders, but Moses and Aaron perform God’s signs and wonders, including His judgments against the land of Egypt. (Eventually the magicians give up and confess that they cannot do what God alone can do.) And throughout this time, God makes a distinction, protecting His people Israel. This is a pattern for the end times. Once again, there will be a spiritual confrontation between antichrist and his false prophet and the messengers of God. The people of God will be marked and sealed and preserved while God pours out His judgments on Egypt (figuratively, the beast empire, Mystery Babylon).
Deliverance out of Egypt. At the Passover, God brought His people out of Egypt after sending the destroying angel to destroy all of the firstborn of Egypt. God brought His people “quickly” out of Egypt and to the Red Sea. He parted the seas and brought them through while Pharaoh and His armies were drowned. This led to a great celebration by Israel. In Revelation, God says that He will part the heavens and come down (Isaiah 34:4, Revelation 6:4).
God gathers Israel to Himself. In Exodus chapter 19, God assembles the Israelites (and the foreigners who have chosen to come with them) at Mount Sinai. This is a picture of God bringing us - gathering us - to Mount Zion - where we will stand before Him. This is the “rapture.” After the resurrection, we will be assembled to Christ, who is going to come down and set foot on Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1)
Conquest. In Exodus, there was a 40 year gap between God assembling His people and the conquest of the promised land due to Israel’s disobedience (Numbers 14). In Revelation, we will set out immediately to take back our rightful inheritance (Revelation 19:11-21).
Assignment of the inheritance. For Israel, this was the giving of the promised land to each of the tribes. This is included in our eternal inheritance at the end of the age, as well as our glorified bodies, eternal life, and God Himself dwelling with us forever.
III. The Purpose of a Greater Exodus
Q: When and how did the exodus begin?
The exodus actually began with a promise and a prophesy that was given to Abram when God made a covenant with him.
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’”
Yet, we know that Abram did not permanently settle in the land. He did not receive the promises, yet he was looking forward to their ultimate fulfillment, which we also look forward to at the end of the age.
In Genesis 15, The Lord came to Abram again. Abram had been complaining to God that he had no heir to receive his inheritance, and God promised him a son that would come from his own body who would be his heir.
“He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your [seed] be.’ 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness…
12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.’”
Q: Why would God allow His people to go through (the) tribulation?”
The answer is two-fold:
The first reason is to multiply the number of Abram’s descendants (Exodus 1:11-12, Revelation 7:9-17). The more that God’s people are persecuted and martyred, the more numerous they become. The great harvest follows the great tribulation.
The second reason is to give those who are at enmity with God time to repent, and to bring just judgement only once the full measure of their sinfulness has been reached. In Genesis, the Amorites were living in the land of Canaan - the place promised to the descendants of Abram. God’s judgement would not be poured out on the Amorites until the fullness of their sins had been reached, speaking God’s mercy and time for repentance. I believe that the same will be true in the last days. (See also Jonah 4:1-3)
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Dan. 8:23 CSB: “Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, a ruthless king [Antichrist], skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne.”
Q: How did the Israel end up in Egypt?
It started with a great famine that caused the sons of Jacob to go down into Egypt to buy grain. Recall that Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son, had been sold into slavery by his brothers. After many years of in prison, Joseph interpreted a dream given to Pharaoh by God about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Thus, Egypt was able to prepare to provide food to the nations during the famine. Joseph was given power and authority second only to the Pharaoh and eventually revealed his true identity to his brothers.
This is prophetic of the end of the age when the Lord Jesus, who is the greater Joseph will reveal himself to His Jewish brothers, those who persecuted and pierced Him (Revelation 1:7).
The pattern of the famine is also prophetic of the end of the age:
Egypt prepared by collecting and storing up twenty percent of their harvest each year for seven years.
At first the people bought their food from this storehouse.
When the people ran out of money to buy food, they sold their animals.
When they had no more animals, they sold their land for food.
And when they had no more land to sell, they sold themselves into slavery to Pharaoh.
Oppression, Response and the Judgment of God
As the Israelites multiplied, oppression turned to persecution, and persecution turned to attempted genocide. Midwives were ordered to murder babies at birth.
All of this led to the people crying out to God. And we will see this again in the days of the great tribulation: In Revelation 8:3-5, the prayers of the saints are offered on the golden altar before the throne of God just before the bowl of judgment is poured out on the earth. Just as the Israelites cried out to God, and their prayers moved God to save them and pronounce judgment on Pharaoh, so also the people of God must pray, knowing that God hears and responds to the prayers of His people.
God sent Moses and Aaron, who were plainly incapable of defeating Pharaoh or rescuing God’s people in order to demonstrate that He alone was in control. Interestingly, God appoints two witnesses to prophesy for 1260 days at the end of the age, in Revelation 11:3.
Mal. 3:18: “And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Ex. 11:9: “The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”
Ex. 11:4-7: “So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”
prophetic Timing
Ex. 12:40-42: “Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt [and Canaan] was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, TO THE VERY DAY, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.”
Dan. 12:11-13: “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days (43 months). 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise (in the resurrection) to receive your allotted inheritance.”
Conclusion
Rom. 9:17-18: “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then, He has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy and He hardens whom He wants to harden.”
Rom. 9:22-24: “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?”
The Biblical purpose for a “Greater Exodus” at the end of the age:
1. To reveal God’s justice.
2. To reveal God’s mercy.
3. To reveal God’s glory.
4. To multiply God’s people (the saints).
5. To multiply God’s praise!