The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is reporting a significant increase in food price inflation:

World Food Prices Jump Most In 18 Months
August 5, 2023
Global food prices increased the most in 1.5 years as trade disruptions from the El Nino weather phenomenon battered agricultural-producing countries, and Russia’s exit from a crucial UN-backed agriculture deal stoked supply concerns.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported Friday that the global food index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 123.9 in July, up 1.3% from the previous month.
The FAO Food Price Index’s July print was the largest monthly gain since March 2022.

FAO explained the FAO Vegetable Oil Price subcomponent of the index was responsible for the monthly increase:
The increase was driven by a sharp jump in the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index, which rose 12.1 percent from June after seven months of consecutive declines. International sunflower oil prices rebounded by more than 15 percent in the month, due mostly to renewed uncertainties surrounding the exportable supplies after the Russian Federation’s decision to end implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. World prices for palm, soy and rapeseed oils increased on concerns over output prospects in leading producing countries.
Also, the FAO All Rice Price Index increased 2.8% on the month and 19.7% on the year due to “India’s 20 July prohibition of non-parboiled Indica exports fostered expectations of greater sales in other origins, amplifying upward pressure already exerted on prices by seasonally tighter supplies and Asian purchases,” the report said.
This upward pressure on rice prices “raises substantial food security concerns for a large swathe of the world population, especially those that are most poor and who dedicate a larger share of their incomes to purchase food,” FAO warned. https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/world-food-prices-jump-most-15-years

The Wall Street Journal reported:

Food Inflation Could Get Worse.
August 4, 2023
Food prices have been rising rapidly for longer than central bankers had expected, and recent setbacks may prolong the agony https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-is-cooling-food-inflation-could-get-worse-bb373e06

Although it is now the poorer nations that are being most affected, the USA and its British-descended allies are also at risk.

The old Worldwide Church of God published the following:

The black horseman’s future ride will reduce the proud faces of white America, Europe, and the British Common wealth into the blackened skin of starvation such as now afflicts the vast majority of mankind. (Alexander G. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Ambassador College Press, Pasadena (CA), 1973, p. 31)

Here is one report related to South Africa, which is a member of the Commonwealth the old WCG referred to:

Food – inflation, security and the gathering storm
November 10, 2022
Economics is boring. Or at least it can be a lot of the time. ..
But then, every 10 to 15 years, we find ourselves in a storm. Sometimes economic factors cause the storm (like the global financial crisis) and sometimes other factors are the cause. But regardless of what causes the storm, it always becomes (at least in part) an economic one.
And when this happens, the world of economics becomes very significant, very quickly. That narrow band within which economic metrics usually move are replaced by volatile swings, with predictions by economists making the weathermen look good.
Our current storm is a confluence of the pandemic’s after effects, coupled with the complex unwinding of government’s stimulus attempts during the pandemic, ignited with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine then intertwined with “load shedding”, “water shedding” and the recent Transnet strike. Part of the side effect of all these factors combined is the high inflation currently being experienced globally and in South Africa.
… over the past six months, year-on-year PPI in South Africa has exceeded CPI by around 8% on average. When it comes to food inflation over the same period, food PPI has exceeded food CPI by around 4% on average. …

The current dislocation between food PPI and food CPI of 4% implies that these food producers don’t have much more room to absorb this inflation dislocation.

… there is worse to come for consumers, with more significant food CPI in the year ahead as producers recover their higher input costs through prices. If food PPI doesn’t reduce sharply, this will almost certainly happen. …This reduction in supply will not be quickly reversed, as establishing new capacity or revitalising old capacity, takes time (in many cases, a number of years). Collectively this will drive food inflation even higher and for longer. But beyond inflation, reduced food supply will mean just that, less food being available. …
We’re in the middle of the storm: consumers are hurting, interest rates are rising, and the risk of recession is ever present. But beyond this storm, there is another storm gathering on the horizon. It’s the storm of inflation dislocation and the knock-on effect for food producers. The gathering storm may dissipate as they sometimes do. If it doesn’t, we’ll need to brace ourselves for tougher times ahead as we’ll move into a world that is ‘higher for longer’, even more than the one we’ve come to know. https://www.news24.com/citypress/voices/food-inflation-security-and-the-gathering-storm-20221110

Droughts, floods, rising fertilizer costs, rising energy costs, governments printing up money (and various other governmental policies), Russia’s ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine, etc. are all current factors.

Jesus, in both the 24th chapter of Matthew and the Book of Revelation in chapter 6, lists a sequence of events including war, famine, and pestilences.

Here is some of what Jesus said:

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:6-8)

Famines and food price inflation are consistent with Jesus’ words.

That being said, we are getting to the end of the 6,000 years that God has allowed humans to rule themselves, which will soon be followed by the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Pray for Jesus to return and God’s Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10).

Notice that the ride of third horseman of the Apocalypse results in scarcity, inflation, and famine. Revelation 6:5-6 indicates that there will be food, but that it will be quite expensive (food-price inflation).

5 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. 6 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)

Some will thus die as they will not be able to afford it, while others will survive but struggle. Notice also the comment about the specific items.

The FAO report pointed to a major rise in the price of food oils, which is consistent with the ride of the third horseman. The nation of Ukraine was not only a significant supplier of that, but also wheat and barley.

Related to some food matters, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

16:00
Russia, Ukraine, Food, & the Ride of the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse
Did you know that the sanctioned lands of Russia and Belarus are dominant suppliers of ingredients used in modern fertilizers? Are you aware that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 33% of the farmland in Ukraine may not be planted and/or harvested because of Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine? Are parts of the world like Sudan, Lebanon, and the USA experiencing food price inflation? What about impact on the Palestinians in Gaza? Could any of this help lead to the rise of the King of the South? What are some factors that look to increase rice prices? Did Jesus warn of wars and troubles? What are three foods that Ukraine exports that are associated with the shortages and food price inflation of the ride of the third horseman of the Apocalypse? What does Jesus say His followers should do? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.

Here is a link to the video: Russia, Ukraine, Food, & the Ride of the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse.

Expect more food inflation. And yes, there will be famines as well.

Yes, it is also wise to take physical steps:

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep —
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11).

All who can afford it should, just for emergencies, have a week or two worth of food and water in case of emergencies and supply cutoffs. God’s statement about ants is intended to tell us to take proper physical steps.

As far as horsemen go, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

24:08
These Signs of the 4 Horsemen Have Begun
Are we at the time of the ride of at least some of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse? If so, are many prophecy watchers missing signs associated with them? History shows that authoritarian totalitarian regimes tend to arise after famines and/or pestilences. Those are events associated with three of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Could the beginning of sorrows, and the associated ride of the first horseman of false ecumenical religion, have started in the Fall of 2009? What is the significance of this rider having a bow? Is Satan the prince of the power of the air? Did Dr. Thiel warn of a prophetic threat of a “novel” coronavirus back in 2013? Could COVID-19 been related to the taking away the peace from the earth that is associated with the ride of the red horse, the second horsemen of war? What are some of the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and the opening of the second seal? Was Amos inspired to write that God does nothing without revealing it to his servants the prophets? Who warned of these matters? The ride of the third horse, the black horse of famine and food price inflation–specifically wheat, barley, edible oils, and wine. Since Ukraine is a major exporter of the first three, could this, as well as fertilizer shortages, have anything to do with the ride of that horseman? The pale horse of the fourth seal mentions one-quarter of humankind being subject to being killed by the sword, hunger, and pestilence–will this be a factor in the rise of the Beast of Revelation 13? Is persecution associated with the start of the Great tribulation and the rise of the Beast? Why is the Beast going to be in charge of a European-based empire? Will the opening of the first four seals and the starts of the rides of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse get Europe to reorganize such as is prophesied in Revelation 17:12-13? What does Jesus say you should do? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters and more in this video.

Here is a link to our video: These Signs of the 4 Horsemen Have Begun.

We later put together the following related video:

14:44
3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse and Food
There are reports about food price inflation around the world. While it is worsening in many areas, some believe it will improve in 2023. Instead, could prices continue to rise in 2023 and get much worse in 2024 and thereafter? What are the causes of food price inflation? Is there any connection between weather, government policies, fertilizer prices, energy costs, economic sanctions and food price inflation? What are we seeing in reports from the United Kingdom, Hungary, and South Africa? What about impacts from Russia’s ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine? Could EU and/or USA policies be effecting any of this? Is the ‘black horse’ the one associated with famine, food shortages, and food price inflation in the Book of Revelation? Are there any physical lessons we can learn from ants according to the Book of Proverbs? What are some spiritual steps we should take according to Jesus? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters and more.

Here is a link to our video: 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse and Food.

Remember that Jesus said:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Do not be part of those who will not be ready.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God Calling You?

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Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU?

Predestination and Your Selection

Is God Calling You? (animation)

There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra

Might Petra be the Place of Safety?

Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected?

Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians

Physical preparedness for Christians (sermon)