Do not harm the olive oil and the wine (Rev. 6:5-6)
Previously: A balance scale in the rider’s hand (Rev. 6:5-6)
The scripture
Rev. 6:5-6 – When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a black horse. The horseman on it had a balance scale in his hand. Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius – but do not harm the olive oil and the wine” (HCSB).
Do not harm the olive oil and the wine
So what does this third seal mean to John’s audience in the first century – and to us today?
The preterist – who sees the events of Revelation primarily fulfilled in the first century – points to the severe food shortages of the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. “Though initially there was enough food stored up to last a long time, the warring factions in the city, out of sheer spite, regularly destroyed the grain stores of the opposing factions! Thus food became so scarce that Josephus records at least one case of a mother eating her infant (compare Deut. 28:53 and 2 Kings 6:28f). It was with reference to this time that Jesus had said, ‘But woe to those who are … nursing babies in those days!’ (see Luke 21:20-23; 23:28-29)” (Revelation: Four Views – A Parallel Commentary, p. 110).
In fact, in an eerie parallel to scripture, Josephus records, “Many there were indeed who sold what they had for one quart; it was of wheat, if they were of the richer sort, but of barley, if they were poorer” (Wars, 5:10-12). The phrase, “do not harm the olive oil and the wine” could be a reference to sacrilegious Jews who pillaged oil and wine from the temple.
The ESV Study Bible notes, “Some think the command not to harm the oil and wine … could also be a prediction of events like that of a.d. 92, when the emperor Domitian during a grain shortage ordered the vineyards cut down to make room for more wheat fields. This caused such a backlash that he rescinded the order. In other words, extreme measures would have to be taken due to the progressive pouring out of judgment.”
No doubt, as preterists contend, this passage of scripture is fulfilled before the very eyes of John’s first-century audience. But is there an application beyond that?
Many historicists – who view the events of Revelation as unfolding throughout the church age – see the black horse as financial oppression imposed by some of the Roman emperors in the third century. Taxes could be paid in cash or in produce, typically grain, oil and wine. Heavy taxation by such emperors as Caracalla (218-222 A.D.) crushed the Roman subjects and produced intense and widespread suffering.
Some historicists agree that the black horse symbolizes economic hardship, but place it at a later date. Grieved by heavy taxation, landowners resorted to destroying crops to avoid paying taxes. This practice became so widespread throughout the Roman Empire that the government forbade the destruction of olive trees and grapevines; thus the phrase “do not harm the olive oil and the wine” takes on special meaning.
Futurists – who interpret nearly all of Revelation as yet unfulfilled – contend that the events described at the opening of the third seal refer to worldwide famine during the seven-year Tribulation. Warren Wiersbe comments: “[D]uring the Tribulation, a man will have to work all day just to secure food for himself! There will be nothing for his family! At the same time, the rich will be enjoying plenty of oil and wine. No wonder Antichrist will eventually be able to control the economy (Rev. 13:17) as he promises to feed the hungry masses” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Rev. 6:1).
Finally, spiritualists, or idealists – who see Revelation as setting forth timeless truths concerning the battle between good and evil – understand famine to be one form of God’s judgment upon sinners. It is one of the four severe judgments God uses to take vengeance on corrupt societies (see Ezek. 14:21). The phrase, “do not hurt the olive oil and the wine” may be taken as a timeless truth that the rich are better equipped than the poor to endure economic hardships, or it could be a message to John’s initial readers throughout Asia that Domitian’s efforts to interfere with the cultivation of grapes in the provinces would be abandoned.
Some spiritualists understand the second and third seals to be consequences that follow the first seal, which they read as the advancement of the gospel. Therefore, Christians are persecuted by the sword and discriminated against in the marketplace. The first readers of John’s apocalypse can relate to these symbols, as can Christians throughout the church age. How often have Christ’s children been harassed, beaten, humiliated, impoverished, deprived, imprisoned, scorned, and killed because they stood firmly in their faith?
Next: The fourth seal (Rev. 6:7-8)
OnceDelivered.net 
The oil (refers to acts of obedience; those that walk in agreement with Christ) and the wine refers to being covered in Christ’s blood. Meaning: Do not harm those that are marked as Mine says the Lord….
If they say that the seals will happen just before the start of the great tribulation, we must understand it in its natural and literal sense.
If the seals began from the time the Lamb was found worthy to open the seals, which happened at the resurrection of Jesus and ascension to Heaven, then the seals can be understood spiritually as spanning from the Ascension up to the end of the Great Tribulation. Seal 6 is the Great Tribulation. Seal 7 is the Millennium. (I think the Lamb does not have to wait for 2,000 years to open the seals, it have to be done with right away.)
The end times started from Ascension up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We are at the last hour as 1 John 2:18 narrates. (Match the Seals also to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, it does fits to the testimony of Jesus Christ)
The key to consider for having this kind of time frame for the Seals are the following:
1. Seal 1 – Bow means Covenant of God. The Gospel is the New Covenant of God through His Son Jesus Christ (The Rider on the White Horse).
2. Seal 2 – Wars had been going on from that time on. (World War 1 & 2 and all other wars including the Great Tribulation War)
3. Seal 3 – Orchestrated Economic Woes by the Antichrist spirit to push poverty and inequality, and to cause ongoing conflicts
4. Seal 4 – Deaths by murders, wars, famine, plagues, pestilence, diseases, calamities, and deaths from attacks of wild beasts (sea and land)
5. Seal 5 – Martyrdom of the Saints from Stephen up to the last martyr of the Great Tribulation
6. Seal 6 – The Great Tribulation / Bowls Judgement / Rapture and Resurrection / Ez. 39 Armageddon / Second Advent
7. Seal 7 – The Millennium / Trumpets Judgement / Ez 38 Gog and Magog / White Throne Judgement / New Heaven and New Earth
The Number Seven (7) is the number of Completion; Completion of the Mystery of God (7 Seals); Completion of Judgement (7 Bowls and 7 Trumpets); Completion of Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Atonement to Israel, and anointing the Most Holy / Jesus Christ / King of kings and Lord of lords (70 Weeks / Jubilees)
If they say that the seals will happen just before the start of the great tribulation, we must understand it in its natural and literal sense.
If the seals began from the time the Lamb was found worthy to open the seals, which happened at the resurrection of Jesus and ascension to Heaven, then the seals can be understood spiritually as spanning from the Ascension up to the end of the Great Tribulation. Seal 6 is the Great Tribulation. Seal 7 is the Millennium. (I think the Lamb does not have to wait for 2,000 years to open the seals, it have to be done with right away.)
The end times started from Ascension up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We are at the last hour as 1 John 2:18 narrates. (Match the Seals also to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, it does fits to the testimony of Jesus Christ)
The key to consider for having this kind of time frame for the Seals are the following:
1. Seal 1 – Bow means Covenant of God. The Gospel is the New Covenant of God through His Son Jesus Christ (The Rider on the White Horse).
2. Seal 2 – Wars had been going on from that time on. (World War 1 & 2 and all other wars including the Great Tribulation War)
3. Seal 3 – Orchestrated Economic Woes by the Antichrist spirit to push poverty and inequality, and to cause ongoing conflicts
4. Seal 4 – Deaths by murders, wars, famine, plagues, pestilence, diseases, calamities, and deaths from attacks of wild beasts (sea and land)
5. Seal 5 – Martyrdom of the Saints from Stephen up to the last martyr of the Great Tribulation
6. Seal 6 – The Great Tribulation / Bowls Judgement / Rapture and Resurrection / Ez. 39 Armageddon / Second Advent
7. Seal 7 – The Millennium / Trumpets Judgement / Ez 38 Gog and Magog / White Throne Judgement / New Heaven and New Earth
The Number Seven (7) is the number of Completion; Completion of the Mystery of God (7 Seals); Completion of Judgement (7 Bowls and 7 Trumpets); Completion of Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Atonement to Israel, and anointing the Most Holy / Jesus Christ / King of kings and Lo
If the seals began from the time the Lamb was found worthy to open the seals, which happened at the resurrection of Jesus and ascension to Heaven, then the seals can be understood spiritually as spanning from the Ascension up to the end of the Great Tribulation. Seal 6 is the Great Tribulation. Seal 7 is the Millennium. (I think the Lamb does not have to wait for 2,000 years to open the seals, it have to be done with right away.)
The end times started from Ascension up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We are at the last hour as 1 John 2:18 narrates. (Match the Seals also to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, it does fits to the testimony of Jesus Christ)
The key to consider for having this kind of time frame for the Seals are the following:
1. Seal 1 – Bow means Covenant of God. The Gospel is the New Covenant of God through His Son Jesus Christ (The Rider on the White Horse).
2. Seal 2 – Wars had been going on from that time on. (World War 1 & 2 and all other wars including the Great Tribulation War)
3. Seal 3 – Orchestrated Economic Woes by the Antichrist spirit to push poverty and inequality, and to cause ongoing conflicts
4. Seal 4 – Deaths by murders, wars, famine, plagues, pestilence, diseases, calamities, and deaths from attacks of wild beasts (sea and land)
5. Seal 5 – Martyrdom of the Saints from Stephen up to the last martyr of the Great Tribulation
6. Seal 6 – The Great Tribulation / Bowls Judgement / Rapture and Resurrection / Ez. 39 Armageddon / Second Advent
7. Seal 7 – The Millennium / Trumpets Judgement / Ez 38 Gog and Magog / White Throne Judgement / New Heaven and New Earth
The Number Seven (7) is the number of Completion; Completion of the Mystery of God (7 Seals); Completion of Judgement (7 Bowls and 7 Trumpets); Completion of Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Atonement to Israel, and anointing the Most Holy / Jesus Christ / King of kings and Lord of lords (70 Weeks/Jubilees).
He ordered frankincense and myrrh for his birthday, commended the woman who poured a pound of spikenard on His head “to prepare My Body for burial.” Mark 14
His 1st miracle – turning water into wine and told the 11 he would not drink of the wine again until we are all together in His Kingdom.
He is making sure there is plenty of essential oils and good wine for the celebration and healing of the nations at His arrival very very soon.
The oils come from plant extracts. The leaves of the trees growing along the River of Life are for the nations’ healing. Rev
Thank you.
I still do not understand to well.,,, REV: 6-6. What does it mean, DO NOT DAMAGE THE OIL AND THE WINE…?
Thanks for your time.
Ignatius Bob Garabedian