The Third Seal: Famine Revelation 6:5 – 8
And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius,a and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not waste the oil and wine.”
The black horse and its rider were sent out to bring famine on the earth. During John’s time, there were several such famines. The grains used to make bread had shallow roots and would wither quickly in a drought, so bread would be scarce. Several times in the Old Testament God warned the Jews that if they disobeyed Him, famine would come and they would have weigh every morsel of the bread they were to eat. Being able to eat as much bread as one wanted was considered a sign of wealth. Vines and olive trees had deeper roots, so there would still be oil and wine. At the same time, the prices mentioned for the bread indicated that a poor working man would barely make enough money to feed himself each day with nothing left over. Only the rich would be able to afford the oil and wine!
Another equally valid interpretation is the problem of those who enjoy luxuries such as oil and wine, continuing in lavish lifestyles while the poor suffer. Barclay comments “There is always something radically wrong with a situation in which some have too much and others too little. This is always a sign that the society in which it occurs is hastening to its ruin.”
As Christians, the question facing us is this: yes, poverty exists in the world. What are we doing about it? Are we pursuing our own pleasure or are we trying to take practical steps to help those around us?
The Fourth Seal: Death
And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a pale horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.” This horse is not merely a white horse, but it is the color to which one’s face would change if one were terrified. This horse and rider are to bring death and pestilence on the earth, but not a complete end to all the people. One fourth of the earth’s population will be destroyed, but three fourths will be left.
We don’t know the nature of this pestilence, but in recent times we have seen several horrifying diseases. In 2014 there were Ebola outbreaks in several parts of Africa. Ebola is a viral illness so contagious that contact with any blood or body fluid, even sweat or tears, is enough to spread the disease. One Catholic father in Liberia contracted Ebola when he reached out compassionately to carry a lady from a taxi cab into a hospital so that she could be treated. That man died within a week of this exposure. As I write these words, there is a possible resurgence of COVID – 19 in several parts of the world. While some people are exposed and have no problems, others have died quickly.
Again, what should our response be to all these terrors?
1. God is still on the throne and is sovereign. Nothing can come to us that has not come through the hand of God.
2. We must trust God and be faithful, no matter our circumstances. If we are only willing to serve God when things are easy, our faith is no faith at all.
3. We can trust that the Blood of Jesus still cleanses us from all sin.
Romans 14:8 says, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” As Christians, we have the assurance that God is always with us, no matter what happens.
PRAYER: Father God, please help us not to be frightened or discouraged by these verses but to realize that no matter what happens to us, you are always with us and that we have your promise of eternal life in Jesus. Christ. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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