The eighth plague of God upon Egypt is the plague of locusts. All that survived the plague of the hail, mingled with fire, will now be consumed by the locusts. All of the plagues, of Egypt, are but figures of the spiritual plagues poured out upon this unbelieving world to accomplish the redemptive purpose of God in the deliverance of his people. They are given to teach Israel, both then and now, that there is no hope outside of Goshen. (Christ) Everything God intends to save he has put in Christ. It is from the safety of our Savior that he shows us his viles of wrath poured out on this present evil world. These last several plagues are plagues of reprobation. He no longer speaks of Pharaoh and Egypt hardening their hearts but now it is God who hardens their hearts. God can break the hardest heart, but what God hardens he will not break! What are these spiritual locusts and what do they have to do with the reprobation of unbelieving rebels?
In Revelation 9 he reveals the spiritual antitype saying they were released out of Hell and rose from the smoke of the pit to cover the earth. The spiritual locusts of our day are the demonic spirits who like Satan of old, left their first estate and were bound in chains of everlasting darkness. Satan is here pictured as a falling star. Stars represent preachers in the scriptures. (See Rev. 1: 16-20) Even so the falling star is set forth as a false preacher. (See Jude verse 13) By the Lords permission the father of lies unlocks the bottomless pit and a thick smoke fills the air out of which the spiritual locusts come in a great swarm.
Most people today do not believe in demonic spirits, but the bible is quite clear as to t heir existence and to their nature. The apostle Paul tells us, “to put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness (spiritual darkness) of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6: 11-12) The spiritual death out of which we were quickened is described as “…in time past walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2: 2) The spiritual locusts are the vast swarm of invisible satanic spirits sent into this world as a plague for their persistent rejection and unwillingness to receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. (II Thessalonians 2: 10-11)
What do they do? They do as the locusts did in Egypt; they take away all hope of life. They devour within themselves all the spiritual food that gives life to fallen sinners. God has sent them strong delusion to believe a lie and be damned. (II Thessalonians 2: 11) There are so many that all light is blotted out and all gospel hope utterly taken away. The locusts that God sent into Egypt filled Pharaohs houses, his servant’s houses, and all the houses of the Egyptians. Is there any house in this day of apostasy that are not filled with these spiritual locusts? Be it churches, homes, or individuals anywhere you look at it this plague has surely fallen upon this world. “If our gospel be hid it is hid to the lost: In whome the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (II Corinthians 4: 3-4)
What will God have us to see as this plague falls upon this unsuspecting world? He intends to show us that outside of Christ there is nothing but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. (Heb. 10:27) God also will show us these plagues to prepare our hearts to leave this cursed place and follow him to our promised place of rest. Without doubt he intends for us to see in his preserving hand, in Christ, the glory of his mercy and grace. -- Darvin Pruitt
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