The Great Harvest Of The Lamb

"A measure of wheat for a denarius and three measures of barley for a denarius; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." Rev. 6:6

The meaning of this scripture is that the condition of man during this era (i.e., the "end of days") will be reduced to such that he will have to labor a whole day simply to buy a loaf of bread or three measures of barley. But the second part of the scripture [i.e., "... and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine ..."] means that the "hard times" of this period will not extend to the elites. This is the common interpretation.

One of the most distressing dynamics of today's world is the speed at which the world is being divided between a small elite of wealthy "worthies" and a huge population of indigent "worker-serfs"  and it is important to note here that the division of the earth's population in this fashion is occurring not only in the "Developing World," but, also, in the "Developed World."

To point out just how big this process has become, and how rapidly it is taking hold of the world...The fact is, the world that permitted Christians in the United States to live comfortably "in this life" and "in this world" while others starved is passing away. As a result, we Christian's stand at the edge of hunger. It's just a matter of time before many of us fall off the edge into the horror of pennylessnes and destitution - precipitating a panic for which most of us are ill prepared. How we as Christians react to this panic will determine our future, both now and in the world to come - either to honor or to dishonor.

Two paths lay open before us: one path leads into apostasy; the other leads to a transformed life. The path we choose will reveal us for what we really are - children of this world, or children of the kingdom heaven. Unbelievers will be looking at us to see how we react to the turmoil to come.

If we panic and join the mob in its stampede for an easy way out - for renewed financial security - then we will be led straight into the arms of the "coming world-ruler."

But if we can say with the prophet Habakkuk:
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls "YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD, I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION."
Habakkuk 3:17-18

- then we will be the kind of testimony the world (and unbelievers) are secretly looking for; people who are so in love with the Lord that there is no longer any duplicity in their witness before the world. There is no longer any self-serving in their testimony; no attempt to serve both God and mammon - they follow Christ now wherever He goes, be it into fire, death, torture, or economic ruin. Their love for Jesus no longer permits any separation from Him Who now is the ABSOLUTE object of their love and desire.

Again we say, the Lord is looking for such to follow Him - those who will follow Him long after the "things" are gone, the crowds have left, the popularity faded; when the clothes are tattered and torn, there is no longer any food on the table, and persecution rages all around. These are the disciples of Jesus - with such people one can repose trust and friendship; true love is here to be found.

It is in this kind of love that the TRUE church will be "revealed," and "disclosed" (Romans 8:19) It is this kind of love that will expose the hypocrites for who they really are. It is this kind of love which will separate the wheat from the tares. And it is only in tribulation that this love is truly revealed in all of is splendor and beauty - the kind that will produce "The Great Harvest of the Lamb."