[Zechariah 6]
{6:1} And I turned, and I lifted up my eyes and I saw. And behold, four four-horse chariots went out from the middle of two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of brass.
{6:2} In the first chariot were red horses, and in the second chariot were black horses,
{6:3} and in the third chariot were white horses, and in the fourth chariot were speckled horses, and they were strong.
{6:4} And I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”
{6:5} And the angel answered and said to me, “These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth to stand in the presence of the Sovereign of all the earth.”
{6:6} The one with the black horses was departing into the land of the North, and the white went forth after them, and the speckled went forth towards the land of the South.
{6:7} Yet those who were the most strong, went out, and sought to go and to roam quickly through all the earth. And he said, “Go, walk throughout the earth.” And they walked throughout the earth.

The white, red, black, and speckled horses represent the four horses and horsemen of the Book of Revelation. The horses which are most strong, and which go out to all the earth, are the red ones; they represent the civil violence. They go out “through all the earth”; therefore, this civil violence will be the most widespread of these four events. The other horses primarily go forth to particular regions, so the afflictions they represent are not worldwide, or at least are not as severe in the rest of the world.

The black and white horses go to the North, that is, to Europe, where World War 3 occurs. For the white horses represent a war ordained by God, while the black horses represent famine. The famine is most severe where the war is being fought.

The civil unrest is caused, in part, by the war, which puts the whole world in fear because a nuclear bomb began the war, and a nuclear missile is used later on in the war. The civil unrest is also caused by the Warning, Consolation, and Miracle, which puts the unrepentant sinners in great fear. Both the repentant and the unrepentant will be fearful, realizing that the end times have begun. And when people are afraid, they act with poor judgment, with violence, and without reason.

Despite their fear, the faithful of the world will trust in God. They will not resort to unjust violence. They will understand that all these events are ordained by God in order to bring the world to a great repentance and to the path of salvation.

The civil unrest and great increase in violent crimes will mean that many just and law-abiding persons will need to own and use weapons, for self-defense and defense of their families and homes. Self-defense is a fundamental human right, a right not often acknowledged by governments.

Famine

The famine which is the third horseman and third seal is not like any other famine in the history of the world. It is most severe in the wealthy nations, and least severe in the poorer nations. For the poorer nations tend to grow their own food, or at least the food is produced nearby. But the wealthy nations have developed long complex food production and distribution channels, which will be easily disrupted by the war and the unrest.

The black horses in Zechariah go forth to the North, i.e. to Europe, and this is where the famine will be most severe. Then, secondly, the famine will be still quite bad in wealthy nations, such as the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, etc. So this is an unusual type of famine, one that afflicts wealthy nations more so than developing nations.

[Revelation]
{6:5} And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying: “Draw near and see.” And behold, a black horse. And he who was sitting upon it was holding a balance in his hand.
{6:6} And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A double measure of wheat for a denarius, and three double measures of barley for a denarius, but do no harm to wine and oil.”

The balance represents the rationing of food. During the time that the book of Revelation was written, wheat was the food of the wealthy, and barley the food of the poor. So one double measure of wheat means lower rations, less food, for the wealthy peoples. Then three double measures of barley means more food for the poorer nations. Oil and wine represent wealthy items, not only food items. The wealthy nations will have money to buy items like electronics, computers, phones, fine clothing, etc. These items will be in abundance. But at the same time, there will not be enough food.

A denarius was a day’s pay, so for the wealthy, a full day’s pay provides only one double measure of food: two meals a day, not the usual three. But for the poor, a day’s pay buys three meals for two persons: much more food. However, for everyone, there will be shortages of many types of food, and rationing of the most sought-after foods (animal source foods, chocolate, coffee).

This famine of the apocalypse is the first worldwide famine. A similar but more intense worldwide famine occurs during the second part of the tribulation, under the reign of the Antichrist. He claims to be a god, but he can’t even provide food for his citizens. Similarly, during this famine, the Muslim extremists who claim that conquering Europe is the will of God (which it is, but not in the way that they think), can’t provide food for their own people, nor for the populations that they conquer. This shows that, while the war is ordained by God, the extremists are just a rod of correction, not true worshippers of God.

The war and the other sufferings are intended by God to bring the world to repentance. And this is achieved, at various points in time. During the famine, the Orthodox Christians and Protestants repent and return to unity with the Catholic Church, just as Jesus predicted (Jn 10:16; Lk 15:24). This unification of all Christians in one Church is a great blessing. Subsequently, after a great Ecumenical Council, the Church is confirmed and strengthened in unity, faith, and holiness. Finally, after the first part of the tribulation, the world repents and the Church has great success in preaching the Gospel.

Jesus predicted the famine, which is the third horseman:

[Luke]
{15:11} And he said: “A certain man had two sons.
{15:12} And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them.
{15:13} And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury.
{15:14} And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need.
{15:15} And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine.
{15:16} And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.
{15:17} And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine!
{15:18} I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
{15:19} I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’
{15:20} And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.
{15:21} And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’
{15:22} But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
{15:23} And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast.

The prodigal son is the Protestants. They departed from the Father, that is, from the Church. They repent during the great famine, and seek to return to the Church. And after they return, a Pope is elected who is a former Protestant, one of the new converts from Protestantism to Catholicism: that is the meaning of the robe and ring, papal authority. A great feast occurs after this conversion, and so, I tell you, nothing can stop the famine of the third Seal, except the conversion of the Protestants and their return to the Catholic faith. This conversion occurs in the midst of great suffering, as conversion often does.

Ronald L Conte Jr