A Day’s Wages

“And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, Come and see. So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”  Revelation 6:5-6

 

“And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.”  Matthew 20:2

 

There are many places in the world where men will work for daily food and the most basic housing.  Oftentimes there simply is not enough money to provide adequate nutrition, education, clothing and suitable housing.  Yet in many countries the opposite is true. 

 

While there are many who complain about the unfairness of the world economic system, in many countries adequate food can be obtained, as well as a better quality of the necessities that each individual desires.  Then there are countries like the United States, large portions of Europe, portions of Asia, Australia and Canada where food only becomes a lack of choice, due to finances, not a lack of availability. 

 

As an American, understanding the system well, the focus will be with the United States in mind regarding this prophecy that will be fulfilled during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), which will begin after the Rapture (1 Thes. 4:16-17). 

 

Reflecting about the global pandemic, as well as now a rumor of a Spanish-type influenza pandemic potential emerging from China (G4 virus) or simply round two (or three) of COVID-19, looking at what has happened in regards to the food supply in the United States is of particular interest. 

There were some serious food shortages in the grocery stores and still are in many places in the United States.  I keep a keen eye on what shortages there are and watch as the grocery stores quickly begin to fill up, though if one were to count the empty slots of missing products, there are certainly hundreds and hundreds of missing products, though no lack of easily being able to fill up a grocery cart with enough food.

 

For awhile the stores got very scarce on products.  In fact, if there was ever a time for grocery stores to be able to dust and clean off the shelves, this was it.  Locally many shelves that had canned goods were bare, as well as pasta, lunch meat, low levels of meat, etc., we all saw it. 

The thing is, certain things have to be grown in order to be canned.  You can’t just produce beans or tomato sauce (though you can water it down).  Even though there was such massive shortages, as I have heard that even exceeded World War 2 in Europe, the price increases were mostly modest, except for a brief peak of meat prices.  So just how much can our global food network handle before pricing and availability become out of control?

 

Considering this, I think it allows us a peak into how serious of a situation the Tribulation is for the inhabitants of the earth.  For example, if there was a new pandemic influenza or if COVID-19 suddenly had a more deadly outbreak, imagine the grocery stores being emptied out a second time?

 

There are a few countries who are restricting certain food exports.  Other products are simply experiencing shortages due to stockpiling and a higher than usual demand, such as the spice market.  The global food network is quite resilient, but if problem after problem continued to happen, it would cause massive food shortages worldwide, which would result in massive price increases, a basic supply verses demand scenario.

 

Could what we are witnessing be the beginning of such problems?  Could we be so close to the Rapture and the time of the Tribulation, that these are the things that will eventually lead into a day’s wages for daily food?  Or during the Tribulation will the major events that are prophesized bring such a time quickly?

 

No one will be able to answer these questions, but we can learn about how serious of a time the Tribulation is for the inhabitants of the earth.  We can get a small glimpse as to understand a little better of what will occur during that time. 

 

We can stir these things up (2 Tim. 1:6) to memory to remind ourselves how important it is that we share the Gospel, that we preach that men ought to be Saved (Ac. 17:30-31, 2:38, 20:21; Ro. 10:8-10).  Brothers and sisters in Christ, how long do we have to be actively preaching the Gospel, to be faithful workers of Christ before time is up?

 

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”  1st Corinthians 4:1-2

 

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and instruct all the nations, immersing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”  Matthew 28:18-20

 

Amen!