Exodus: A Parallel for the End Times

This morning as we walked into church I was inspired to write a series of articles on how Exodus is an example or parallel to the end times – how God protects His people and will one day soon deliver us home to the Promised Land.

I have always loved the book of Exodus and there’s no doubt that we are living in the last days.

The stories recorded in the Bible are more than history; they are patterns, shadows, and reminders of God’s power to save. When we look at Moses, Pharaoh, the plagues, the Passover, the wilderness, and the Ten Commandments, we see pictures of Jesus, of redemption, and of God’s last-day people. This is truly a fascinating study!

Years ago I wrote a program for children called Out of Egypt. I’ve written several programs and I rotate teaching them to the primary kids each year at our annual church campmeeting. Out of Egypt was the first children’s program I wrote – way back in 2006. It’s still one of my favorite programs to teach!

Exodus is a beautiful story of God calling His people out of bondage so that they could be free! And if you think about it, Revelation is very similar: God calling His people to come out of Babylon – “Come out of her my people” (Revelation 18:4) – and imploring them to separate from sin, false worship, and the systems of this world so that they might be sealed, protected, and ready for His coming kingdom.

Just as Israel was called out of Egypt to serve the living God, so His end-time people are called to leave behind spiritual Egypt and Babylon to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Both stories remind us that God doesn’t abandon His people in times of trial; He delivers them with a mighty hand and leads them safely toward the Promised Land.

Exodus: Parallels for the End Times

Exodus is the story of God’s people being called out of bondage to walk toward freedom. Revelation tells the same story on a larger scale—God calling His people out of spiritual Egypt to prepare them for the heavenly Canaan. Just as God led Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, He promises to guide and protect His children in the closing events of earth’s history.

That’s why I want to explore this book more deeply with you. Each post in this series will look at a different aspect of Exodus and how it points us forward to Christ and His soon return. My prayer is that as we study these stories together, our hearts will be encouraged and our faith in God’s promises will grow stronger.

Part 1 – Moses and Christ

The story of Exodus isn’t just about the past. It’s a prophecy in story form—a pattern of how God saves His people. When we look at Moses, we don’t just see a great leader; we see a shadow of Jesus, the true Deliverer. And when we look at Israel’s deliverance, we see a glimpse of what God will do for His people in the last days.

Parallels Between Moses and Jesus

Saved from Infancy Slaughter

• Pharaoh tried to kill Moses when he was a baby (Exodus 1:22). King Herod tried to kill Jesus when He was a baby (Matthew 2:16).
• Both lives were preserved by God’s hand, showing that Satan has always tried to destroy the Deliverer before His mission could begin.

Rescued in Egypt

• Moses was saved by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:3–4). Jesus was taken to Egypt to be saved (Matthew 2:13–15).
• Egypt becomes both a place of refuge and a place of bondage in Scripture—a symbol of how God can use even unlikely circumstances to fulfill His plan.

From Prince to Pauper

• Moses was a prince who became a pauper (Exodus 2:15–19). Jesus was the King of Heaven who became man (John 1:1–3; Mark 6:3; Philippians 2:7).
• Both humbled themselves completely in order to serve and save God’s people.

Shepherd of the Flock

• Moses was a shepherd (Exodus 3:1). Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
• Before either could lead God’s people, they first cared for a flock. God trains leaders in small, humble ways before entrusting them with greater responsibility.

Redeemer of God’s People

• Moses was chosen to redeem Israel. Jesus came to redeem all mankind.
• One brought physical deliverance from slavery; the other brings spiritual deliverance from sin.

Rejected by His Own

• Moses was rejected by his people (Exodus 2:14; Acts 7:25). Jesus was rejected by His people (John 1:11).
• God’s chosen deliverers are often misunderstood, resisted, or despised before their mission is recognized.

Fasting in the Wilderness

• Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18; 34:28). Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2).
• Both faced seasons of preparation, testing, and dependence on God before carrying out their mission.

Intercessor

• Moses interceded for Israel after they sinned with the golden calf (Exodus 32:33–34). Jesus offered His life for us (Isaiah 53; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:20; 1 John 2:2).
• Both stood between God and sinful people, willing to give their lives for the salvation of others.

The Song of Deliverance

• Exodus: Israel sings the Song of Moses after crossing the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1–18).
• Revelation: The redeemed sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb on the sea of glass (Rev. 15:2–3).

Why This Matters for Us

These parallels show us that the Exodus story points to something bigger. Just as God delivered His people out of Egypt, He delivers us out of sin. And just as Pharaoh hardened his heart, Revelation tells us that many will harden their hearts against God in the last days (Revelation 16:9, 11).

The Promised Land for Israel was Canaan. For us, it is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1–3). God calls us to trust Him and follow the true Deliverer, Jesus, even when the wilderness journey feels long and hard.

The life of Moses gives us one of the clearest pictures of Jesus in the Old Testament. From their miraculous births and humble service to their roles as shepherds, redeemers, and intercessors, the parallels remind us that God’s plan of salvation was revealed long before Christ walked the earth. Just as Moses led God’s people out of bondage in Egypt, Jesus leads us out of the bondage of sin and prepares us for the Promised Land.

These lessons are more than history—they are for us today. The Exodus story reassures us that God has always had a Deliverer, and He always makes a way of escape for His people.

In this article, we’ve looked at the personal parallels between Moses and Jesus. But the book of Exodus also holds broader end-time lessons that connect directly to the prophecies of Revelation—parallels about God’s presence, true and false worship, the plagues, deliverance, and the hope of the Promised Land. We’ll explore those in the next article in this series.

There are probably other parallels that I have not listed. Which ones do you see? Let me know!

I believe this will be an exciting and thought provoking study. I hope you will join me next week!

I originally wrote and published this article in June 9, 2012.