Connect Revelation 6:5 to other biblical passages about famine and scarcity. Opening the Third Seal: Revelation 6:5 “ 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 a pair of scales in his hand.” Why the Scales? • A merchant’s balance pictures strict rationing. • The black color signals deprivation and mourning (Jeremiah 14:2). • In the next verse the voice announces famine-level prices: “A quart of wheat for a denarius.” (Revelation 6:6) Famine as a Covenant Warning God had long tied obedience to abundance—and rebellion to scarcity. • Leviticus 26:26 — “When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven… you will eat but not be satisfied.” • Deuteronomy 28:23-24 — “The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron… dust and powder will come down on you from heaven.” • Ezekiel 4:16-17 — “Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food… they will eat bread by weight and in anxiety.” Historic Snapshots of Scarcity These real events foreshadow the worldwide shortage under the third seal: • Genesis 41:29-30 — Seven years of “great abundance” followed by seven years of famine; Joseph’s planning spared lives. • 1 Kings 17:1 — Elijah’s word halted rain for 3½ years, exposing Baal’s impotence. • 2 Kings 6:25 — A donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver during the Samaria siege—an ancient mirror of Revelation’s inflated prices. • Lamentations 4:9 — “Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger.” Prophetic Echoes That Point Forward • Jeremiah 14:11-12 — “Though they fast, I will not hear their cry… I will consume them by sword, famine, and plague.” • Haggai 1:9-11 — “You expected much, but it turned out to be little… I called for a drought on the land.” • Ezekiel 7:15 — “The sword is outside; plague and famine are within…” Jesus Foretells End-Time Famines • Matthew 24:7 — “Nation will rise against nation… and there will be famines.” • Luke 21:11 — “There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places.” Christ places famines alongside wars and earthquakes as labor pains preceding His return—fully harmonizing with the seal judgments. The Protective Limits: “Do Not Harm the Oil and Wine” Revelation 6:6 preserves some luxury items: • Indicates famine targeted at staple foods while limited prosperity lingers for the wealthy. • Shows God setting boundaries—judgment is severe yet controlled, echoing Job 1:12 where the Lord sets limits on Satan’s reach. • Hints at future judgments intensifying; later bowls will strike the entire earth’s produce (Revelation 16:1-21). What These Passages Teach Today • God literally controls rain, harvest, and economy; turning from Him carries material consequences. • He repeatedly warns before unleashing full judgment—Joseph’s dreams, prophetic sermons, even the present Church’s witness. • Preparation is both practical (Joseph stored grain) and spiritual (Elijah trusted daily provisions). • The coming Tribulation famine will be global, swift, and unmistakable—yet even then, anyone who calls on the Lord can still be saved (Joel 2:32; Revelation 7:14). Living in Light of Revelation 6:5 • Cultivate gratitude for daily bread (Matthew 6:11). • Hold resources loosely; generosity now lays up treasure in heaven (1 Timothy 6:18-19). • Stay watchful—the same Lamb who opens the seals is also the Shepherd who guides His people through every valley (Psalm 23:1-4). |
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