From the Book of Exodus    105 

sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret 

arts. For every man cast down his rod, and they became serpents. But 

Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.  (Ex 7:10 12). 

    Moses and Aaron performed miracles as a sign from God. Pharaoh's 

magicians also performed apparent miracles, but these were not from God. 

These events occurred during years of slavery and great suffering for the 

Israelites. 

    During the Church's great suffering, the darkest, most evil years on earth, 

apparent miracles and great wonders will be performed by false prophets 

and evil persons. Jesus himself warned of this:  For false Christs and false 

prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if 

possible, even the elect.  (Mt 24:24). But at that time there will also be true 

miracles from the power of God. And, just as Aaron's rod overcame the 

rods of Pharaoh's magicians, so will the miracles of the two prophets be 

invincible to the powers of darkness on earth. 

Water Turned to Blood (Ex 7:14 25) 

     Moses and Aaron did as the L

ORD

 commanded; in the sight of Pharaoh 

and in the sight of his servants, he lifted up the rod and struck the water that 

was in the Nile, and all the water that was in the Nile turned to blood.   

(Ex 7:20). 

    This passage on waters turning to blood foreshadows the events described 

in Revelation, when water will also turn to blood.  The second angel blew 

his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was 

thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood....  (Rev 8:8 9). 

    The two prophets of Revelation  have power over the waters to turn them 

into blood  (Rev 11:6), just as Moses and Aaron had this power. And as it 

was with the Egyptians, so it will be with the sinners of that future time; 

even the turning of water to blood will not soften their hard hearts. 

    The expression `turning water to blood' does not mean that water 

becomes actual blood, but that the waters turn a blood red color and that the 

creatures in those waters die. Water is necessary for our lives and the lives of 

God's creatures, but water that has `turned to blood' will no longer nourish 

life it has, in a sense, turned to death. 

Plagues (Ex 8:1 32) 

     And the L

ORD

 said to Moses, `Say to Aaron,  Stretch out your hand 

with your rod over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause 

frogs to come upon the land of Egypt!  '   (Ex 8:5).