The ten plagues in Exodus are a prototype of what God is going to do at the end of time. Each plague has a specific meaning and there are several parallels to events in the book of Revelation.  Contrary to popular belief, God did not send these plagues to be cruel, He sent them to show the Egyptians that He is Lord over all the earth, and also to introduce Himself to the Hebrews who did not yet know Him. VF-2507.