The Black Horse

When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked and there was a black horse. The horseman on it had a set of scales in his hand. Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, "a quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius- but do not harm the olive oil and the wine." Revelation 6:5,6

I have been reading various commentaries and have come upon John Wesley's commentary of the book of Revelation. It makes sense to me. He indicates that the first four books we a record of the immediate future to the times of John. There were Roman Caesars. Domitian was succeeded by Neva who ruled for one year then he named Trajan his successor, in other words he was given the crown to rule, he would not have had it by any other means. Trajan lived for nothing else than to conquer and that he did. He succeeded in this. He fulfilled the prophesy made by Daniel in 2:40; 7:23 regarding the fourth empire.

Vespian, AD 75 dedicated a temple to peace but did the exact opposite, he took peace away. The successive Caesars and particularly Trajan removed peace with much bloodshed and wars lasting years.

The Grecian measure was used in the time of the present seal and under Trajan Egypt was the granary of the empire but a famine came and was so bad that Trajan had to supply Egypt with corn.

This is good history yet where does this leave us? We have experienced famine in Australia, especially when the weather is unseasonably warm and there is no rain. We know that the bush fires will come, and if not the bush fires the locusts. What can we do?

As a Christian I interceed. I drive out through the countryside with my work and see the state of the land. As I go I pray for rain. God hears my prayer and sends the rain because He has an ear for the prayers of the saints. Remember the golden bowls in chapter 5? These bowls are filled with our prayers. Bend your knee on behalf of your nation, God hears! Amen!