When it comes to the Church suffering in the last days many have taught that we will be removed from it. Yet all the Biblical examples seem to indicate that God never removes His people from the occasion of His judgment but preserves them in the midst of it.
For example, Noah was not removed from the earth prior to the flood but was preserved through it in the ark. Daniel was not spared from the lions' den but was protected in it. Likewise, his friends before him were not spared the fiery furnace but were preserved while in it.
But the most compelling case is Israel in Egypt, which I propose is not simply a general example of the principle stated above but is actually a type - that is, a literary figure with prophetic significance - for believers' experience in the last days. In fact, I believe the very prophecies of Revelation are patterned after the Exodus account.
That leaves the first nine plagues to be considered together (though, to be thorough, we also observe a seven day interlude of time after the first plague of blood after which the remaining plagues unfold without interruption).
Upon closer examination this larger cycle of nine plagues is composed of three mini cycles - three cycles of three plagues - each of which unfold according to the same pattern. One of the patterns is seen in how Moses initiates the plague.
The first plague in each cycle (blood, 7:14; flies, 8:20; hail, 9:13) has Moses arising early in the morning and confronting Pharaoh. The second plague in each cycle (frogs, 7:25; anthrax, 9:1; locusts, 10:1) continues the confrontation with God telling Moses in each case "Go to Pharaoh...". The third plague in each cycle (gnats, 8:16; boils, 9:8; darkness, 10:21) has no confrontation but involves either Moses or Aaron stretching out their hand to enact the plague.
Another pattern is seen in the LORD's ultimatums and warnings. The first plague in each cycle has God saying "Let my people go...". The second plague in each cyle repeates this ultimatum with a warning to Pharaoh against refusing the will of God. The third plague in each cycle commences with no ultimatum or warning. Again, we are to see a pattern here - a pattern which communicates the ordered design of God and by extension His perfect justice.
Ok, so how does this become a 'type' of the end times judgment? Consider first that God's cycle of judgment poured out in Revelation is also in the form of three mini cycles of seals (Rev.6), trumpets (Rev.8) and bowls (Rev.16). The pattern is identical.
Consider further that the agents or administrators of these judgments in Revelation are angels. In Psalm 78:49, as Asaph recalls the judgments poured out on Egypt he says, "[God] unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility - a band of destroying angels."
Consider also that Revelation uses the language of Exodus in describing the judgments. Nearly all the bowl judgments of Revelation 16 (excepting the fourth) are reenactments of the Exodus plagues. The last bowl judgment of darkness on the beast's throne also makes the implicit connection between Pharaoh and the Antichrist.
Through all these plagues God was displaying His glory by judging the gods of Egypt, but He was also demonstrating His power by preserving His people in the midst of them saying things like:
"But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live... so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people." (Exodus 8:22-23).
And again, "There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt -- worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal. Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel." (Exodus 11:6-7).
So the goal of the plagues was not just judgment on Egypt but also the protection of Israel. We see this same concern for distinction between peoples in Revelation 7 where God marks with a seal all who belong to Him thus protecting them to stand in the day of wrath (Rev.6:17).
Given the Exodus event becomes for all time the model of God's deliverance of His people through the blood of the Passover lamb, why would He abandon this model of also preserving His people through judgment? That Revelation is patterned after Exodus indicates He hasn't. God's people will go through the tribulation of the last days but be preserved in it.
