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The manner in which the Lord accomplishes His purposes are similar throughout the writing of the scriptures. It is very evident that the Lord will punish the world in the end of the age in the same manner as that prophesied against Israel by Ezekiel. War, the sword, death by killing are declared as being last day sign. The opening of the second seal has leashed a flood tide of war and rumors of wars , ethnic purging, mass murders, and suicide bombings until the earth has become a virtual killing field. The color of the second horse and its subsequent power, loosed is red, the color of blood. Rev. 6:4 He has the authority to remove, eradicate peace from the earth, causing bloody revolutions, uprisings and disruptions of all kinds against legitimate governments. With the break down of a peaceful society they randomly kill in gang warfare, drive by shootings, road rage and deliberately, to cover a crime or kidnapping. The sword prevails and represents death by means other than that which is natural. Peace is found in Jesus and prevails in the hearts of those who know Him, regardless of the circumstances of the world. John 14:27
Black, the color of death by famine. Lamentations 5:10 confirms this by associating black to death by famine. Currently there is an advertisement being shown on TV which declares that one in eight in America go to bed at night, hungry. That is not caused by a lack of food but by the ability to obtain it. The scales in the hand of the rider indicates the weighing of food, doling out in measured portions. It is may seem insignificant to some that in the continuous increase of the price of food, the packages are increasingly smaller, while the price is raised. Under the opening of this seal, wheat sufficient for the food of one individual could be purchased for a days wage. Barley, barely enough for a small family, for the same price. It is better to be slain by the sword than to die of hunger. Lam. 4:9 However, in the midst of this bleak situation, there is a group whose needs are met, they are the oil and the wine. The anointed (the oil), the wine (the Spirit filled). A supernatural means of meeting the needs of His people is not uncommon with the Lord. Elijah was carried food twice a day by the ravens. 1 Kings 17:6 Elijah, an unnamed widow and her son, scraped the bottom of the barrel and poured oil from the diminishing contents of a cruse of oil and existed many days on a supply that could not be stopped. 1 Kings 17:12-14 The Lord sent Manna and quail to the children of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus said that He had meat to eat of which His disciples were not aware. John 4:32 God shall supply all your needs. Phil. 4:19.