The Four Horsemen and You - THE RIDER OF THE BLACK HORSE

"I saw, and look! a black horse, and the one seated upon it had a pair of scales in his hand. I heard what sounded like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures say:  'A quart of wheat for a denarius and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the olive oil and the wine.'" -Revelation 6:5, 6. 

This rider represents famine. We find a here a picture of food rationing so severe that a quart (1.08 L)  of wheat would cost one denarius, a whole day's wage in the first century!  (Matthew 20:2) The same coin could purchase three quarts (3.24 L) of barley, a grain viewed as inferior to wheat. How far would that go to feed a large family?  People are then warned to be frugal even with daily foodstuffs, aptly pictured by such basic staples of that time and culture as olive oil and wine. 

Since 1914, have we seen evidence that this rider of the black horse has been on the move?  Yes, about 70 million people died in famines during the 20th century. One authority estimated that "805 million people-about one in nine of the world's population-were chronically undernourished in 2012-2014."  Another report states:  "Hunger kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined"  In spite of may earnest efforts to feed the hungry, the rider of the black horse continues to ride. 

Next time: The Four Horsemen and You - THE RIDER OF THE PALE HORSE

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