When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:5-6, NIV 1984)
My Musings – The color black is often connected with famine (Jeremiah 14:1–2; Lamentations 5:10). And famine is often connected with war (the red horse). A shortage of food will always drive prices up and force the government to ration what is available.
To eat bread by weight is a Jewish phrase indicating that food is scarce (Leviticus 26:26). A penny (denarius) a day was a standard wage for laborers (Matthew 20:2), but of course it clearly had much greater buying power than our penny does today.
A measure of wheat was about two pints, sufficient for the daily needs of one person. Ordinarily, a person could buy eight to twelve measures for a penny, and much more of barley, which was the cheaper grain. However, during the tribulation, a man will have to work all day just to buy food for himself, needing even more to feed his family. No wonder the anti-Christ will eventually be able to control the economy (Revelation 13:17) as he promises to feed the hungry masses.
At the same time, the rich will be enjoying plenty of oil and wine. Even today we are clearly seeing an increasing disparity between the rich and the poor and increasing animosity between the classes. Apparently, it will become even more acute during the tribulation.
My Advice – Even during the tribulation, the overriding need will be to satisfy spiritual rather than physical hunger. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6, NIV 1984). Sadly, some will be too preoccupied with worldly cares to worry about spiritual matters. Don’t let that be you now or then if you live to see those days. “So, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31–34, NIV 1984).
Sources:
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 588). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
The Brew Is A Musing 