The black horse (famine), which has been galloping with ever-increasing speed, death and destruction throughout the past several centuries, is now sprinting toward the finish line–the return of Jesus Christ following the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. The entire Book of Revelation is about “… things which shall be hereafter”–events that would take place following the era of the Apostle John (Rev. 1:19). In Revelation 6 John discusses the seven seals–time and event eras–that lead up to the Lord’s return. The first four are commonly referred to as “the four horsemen of the apocalypse” which warn mankind of religious deception, wars, famines and disease epidemics (“pestilence”) that officially began following Christ’s conversation with John as presented in verses 1-8. This posting concerns the rider on the third (black) horse which appears following the opening of the third seal as noted in Revelation 6:5,6: “And when He had opened the third seal I heard the third beast say, ‘Come and see.’ And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances (scales) in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say: ‘A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny ….” (verses 5,6).

This passage describes a time when food will be extremely scarce and very expensive. A “measure” was the amount of food needed to sustain a man for a day. A “penny” was the normal wage for a day’s work. Wheat was more valuable than barley. This passage warns that a man will have a hard, if not impossible task in feeding a family during the prophesied end-time famine. Over the generations following Christ’s conversation with John the world has experienced various degrees of famine that have taken place in a variety of geographical locations. Spot famines were not unusual during the first years of the New Covenant Church. Recall Paul gathering food from various areas to take to the “poor saints in Jerusalem.” Evidently the area around Jerusalem was experiencing hard times while other areas were not. The Lord’s conversation with John signaled a gradual increase in the number, severity and coverage of famines that would come upon mankind because of his ever-increasing sins. Concerning man’s increasing sinfulness, the spiritual condition of mankind at the end of the age has been described as being “as it was in the days of Noah” and “in the days of Lot.” These were times when men were extremely evil. During the coming famine the entire world will suffer because the entirety of mankind will be unbelievably evil. As was the case with Noah and Lot, only the righteous will be protected when God allows Satan to display his hatred for man during the Great Tribulation, then pours out His own wrath on sinning man during His Day.

Lack of rain is normally the cause of food shortages. This will be the case with the world’s final famine. Recall that the Lord’s “two witnesses” will “have power to shut up heaven that it not rain during the days of their prophecy, and have power over (standing) waters to turn them to blood” (Rev. 11:3-6). They will prophesy for 3 1/2 years, which means that during the time of the Great Tribulation (2 1/2 yrs) and the Day of the Lord (1 yr) no rain will fall on the earth. Three and a half months without rain is devastating. One can only imagine what three and one half years without rain will do.

But there is hope for those who are willing to turn from serving the god of the earth (Satan) and surrender to the Biblical God. This opportunity is available to church people for whom my website and YouTube site were designed. God will hear and forgive anyone who will truly repent, turn from their wicked ways and humbly obey Him. God offers His divine protection only to those who have yielded to Him and His way of life (“walk”–1 Jn. 2:6). The black horse is just over the spiritual horizon and is approaching at full gallop. He is readying his horrific weapon which he will unleash on sinning mankind. Each of us must determine whether we will be run over by him or will watch him perform God’s work from the place of safety He has promised to provide for His Very Elect. L.J.