"they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine"
(Jer. 16: 4)
"I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant"
(Isa. 14: 30)
As we have observed in regard to the circumstances that led to the numerous sins of Sodom, one of them was having "excess of food." Not having enough is bad, as all would agree. But, how many would agree that having too much is also bad in many cases? When the black horse rider comes, then the world will go from having plenty, or too much, to not having enough, to having scant supplies.
Having considered already the intemperate and gluttonous times that precede the Apocalyptic judgment of the red and black horses, we add these pertinent words of the prophet to that previous description of the "fat cats" of the last days.
"Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant." (Isa. 56: 11-12)
The religious and governmental leaders of the above texts are characterized; And, the description of them is also a description of the character of the world's citizens at the time of the coming sword of the red horse rider and of the famine of the black horse rider. The description is similar to other passages that we have already studied and which describes the evil characteristics of the Omega generation.
"Yea, they are greedy dogs - Margin, 'Strong of appetite.' Literally, 'Strong of soul' (עזי־נפשׁ ‛azēy-nephesh. Jerome renders it, Canes impudentissimi. So the Septuagint, Κύνες ἀναιδεῖς τῇ ψυχῇ Kunes anaideis tē psuchē - 'Dogs impudent in soul.' They were greedy and insatiable in that which the soul or the appetite demands. The idea here is, that the prophets to whom reference is here made were sensual, and disposed to gorge themselves; living only for carnal indulgence, insensible to the rights of others, and never satisfied." (Barnes Notes)
Surely if there was ever a description of a Hedonistic people it is here in these words of the prophet. Surely the final generation will be Hedonistic on a scale never before seen. People today are never satisfied, "can never have enough," and they are selfish, caring for no one but themselves, and are totally given over to serving their own carnal desires. As Solomon said, "the eyes of man are never satisfied." (Prov. 27: 20) On these words Dr. Gill commented: "so neither the eyes of the carnal mind, or the lusts of it, which are insatiable things, let the objects of them be what they will; as in an ambitious man, a covetous person, or an unclean one." (Commentary)
Men today think that if they can simply make enough money that they will be "satisfied." They work hard, oftentimes "by hook or crook," to obtain freedom from want and care, longing for the day they dream of, a day when they can "relax," and to "take it easy," to "live on easy street" for awhile, to be served rather than to serve (or to employ rather than being employed), etc. Yet, Solomon also warned:
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." (Eccl. 5: 10)
Rich people are no better than poor people, morally speaking. They also do not enjoy more peace and contentment than the poor or the not so rich. The rich are not exempt from family troubles, nor with addiction evils, nor with lack of self control, nor with other numerous consequences of being human and sinful. People who thought that wealth would bring them wealth find, once they have become wealthy and self sufficient, that it did not solve all their problems. Ironically, it often brings further tribulation. They thought it would "satisfy" but find out that it does not. The reason is, of course, is that they do not know "contentment."
Wrote the prophet:
"Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. You will store up but save nothing, because what you save I will give to the sword." (Mic 6:11-14 NIV)
These same words may be spoken by the Lord unto today's wicked generation. Much ill gotten gain with very few honest people in the world! Notice how the judgment of the Lord was against "your rich people" specifically and the "inhabitants" in general and is economic in nature. What would our description of today's rich people be? Would it be all that different from that given by Micah the prophet? What also would be our description of most of the world's citizens as respects honest dealings? Again, would it be all that better than as described above?
Barnes also added these thoughts on our opening text (Isa. 56: 11-12):
"Come ye, say they - (compare the notes at Isaiah 22:13). That is, one says to another, 'I will fetch wine;' or as we would say, 'I will take another glass.' The object is to describe a drinking-bout, or carousal, when the glass is shoved around, and there is drinking to excess. The language denotes the state of exhilaration and excitement when sitting at the table, and already under the influence of wine."
Again, of this kind of "lifestyle" we have already spoken much about. Recall how the apostle described the people of the world in the last days in these words:
"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (II Tim. 3: 2-4 NIV).
The same apostle spoke of how true love (agape) does not "rejoice in iniquity" (I Cor. 13: 6). "Rejoice in iniquity"? Is that not a description of the "rejoicing" (happiness, enjoyment) that characterizes sinners who are today lost in sin and depravity? Paul not only spoke of "rejoicing not in iniquity" but also of how love "rejoices in the truth," in what is right and real. Those who rejoice in iniquity do not rejoice in what is right and real, but in what is false and myth. These unrealities, call them dreams or aspirations, are false beliefs and realities; And, in these men take mental refuge. So said the prophet in the long ago: "for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves." (Isa. 28: 15)
As we have pointed out, being wealthy is generally a temptation that few escape. Wrote the apostle:
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6: 9-10)
Taking the principle above and applying it to the world in general, we can say that the Omega generation will be one given to luxury and extravagance and that this state will precede the bloodshed and famine under the coming of the red and black horse riders. The world will, being rich, at the time of the end, "fall into temptation (trial) and a snare (trap)," and will experience "many foolish and hurtful lusts" and "pierce themselves through with many sorrows," such as we see under the judgments that begin the Apocalypse via the four horsemen.
Wrote the prophet Jeremiah:
"How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" (Jer. 5: 7-9)
Notice that it is when the people had been "fed to the full" that they were led astray. Sinners today, with so much wealth on every hand, and likewise "fed to the full," arise each day as "fed horses," ready to go "neighing" (lusting). Upon these the Lord promises vengeance, and this is what we see in the coming famine under the black horse rider. Then it will be like that described by Jeremiah who wrote:
"The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her." ( Lam 4: 4-6)
They will also be living "after the manner of the Zidonians."
"Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; he and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man." (Judges 18: 7)
Every man at the time of the coming judgment of the four horsemen will be "doing their own thing," being fully "Libertine," or "Libertarian," even anarchists and antinomians. Again, in the Book of Judges we read where the people did "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21: 25)
Famine Is The Fruit Of Covetousness
"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness." (Jer. 6: 13)
OT word for covetousness is betsa`and means "profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence" (Strong) The NT Greek word is pleonexia and means "greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice." And, people are addicted or "given to" their covetousness. It controls them.
Wrote Dr. Henry Morris:
“And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
The sin of covetousness perhaps has been the most besetting sin of the human race since Eve, and God finally wrote it into the Decalog itself: “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). The apostle Paul even made the sweeping statement: “The love of money is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10). “For no covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:5).
In view of such warnings, the Christian should indeed greatly beware of covetousness. Nevertheless, one of the distressing characteristics predicted for the “last days” is a great increase of covetousness, even among professing Christians. “In the last days...men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:1,2,5).
It is sad to see so many modern “Christian” movements promoting what might be called a “prosperity cult,” teaching that “gain is godliness.” Stressing “positive mental attitude,” “self-help,” “creative visualization,” and various other supposed spiritual psychotherapies, these modern false teachers and their affluent life styles have deluded multitudes of coveting Christians into thinking they have some sort of divine right to material prosperity.
The Greek word for “covetous,” describing men of the last days (II Timothy 3:2) is the same as that for “love of money” (I Timothy 6:10), an undue attention to material things. It is also used (in negative form) in Hebrews 13:5, and this is the true Christian standard. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Covetousness In The Latter Days BY Dr. HENRY M. MORRIS - here)
The word "content" is from the Greek arkeō and "primarily signifies "to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing;" hence, "to defend, ward off;" in the Middle Voice, "to be satisfied, contented with," Luk 3:14, with wages; 1Ti 6:8, with food and raiment; Hbr 13:5, with "such things as ye have;" negatively of Diotrephes, in 3 Jo 1:10, "not content therewith."(Vine)
Rather than having contented citizens in the world today we rather have "malcontents." We also have rampant "materialism," which is "a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress."
Notice these verses on covetousness:
"For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart." (Isa. 57: 17)
"Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!" (Hab. 2: 9)
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Heb. 13: 5)
"And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages." (Luke 3: 14)
We have already observed how one of the characteristics of people at the time of the end time judgment is one of being "covetous." Further, the Bible says that "covetousness is idolatry." (Col. 3: 5)
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