Church of God News

Notice also the following:

Why global olive oil prices are at their highest ever

Thanks to weather-related shortages, prices have gained 32% since May, when they hit a 26-year peak

November 6, 2023

Olive oil prices have gone from bad to worse. Extreme heat, wildfires, and drought are cutting harvest yields for producers, prompting shortages—and higher prices. In May, the global price of olive oil reached a 26-year high. It’s since gained another 32%, setting an all-time record. Nearly $6,000 per metric ton in May, the global price now tops $9,000.

Spain, the world’s largest exporter and importer of olive oil, has yielded only half what it normally would this year, thanks to extreme heat and drought. The country’s annual production is usually more than a million tons. But lack of rain over the past year—when Spain received only about one fifth of its typical precipitation—led to the driest and hottest conditions in the nation’s history for olive farmers, slashing output.

Throughout the Mediterranean, weather problems have made for less than ideal farming conditions lately. Italy, the No. 2 olive oil producer, suffered its worst drought in 70 years in 2022 and is still recovering.

Tight supply drives olive oil prices higher

In August, the Spanish government reported dwindling supplies of olive oil, intensifying concerns and pushing prices higher this fall. https://qz.com/why-global-olive-oil-prices-are-at-their-highest-ever-1850995343

Yes, weather and tight supplies are factors driving up the price of olive oil.

But weather issues are worsened by sin and the tight supplies have also been caused by a reduction of vegetable oil exports from Ukraine.

Before going further, here is some information on the health benefits of extra-virgin olive oil (which is simply from olives that have been only pressed once):

EVOO differs from regular olive oil in that it comes from the first olive pressing only. In contrast, regular olive oil may contain a blend of refined and virgin olive oils.

While regular olive oil may be blended and further refined, EVOO contains the highest levels of beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols and vitamin E.

These antioxidants have anti-inflammatory and cell-protecting effects in the body and provide the unique health benefits of EVOO.

The Many Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil is very good for you. Decades of research have uncovered many ways that the nutrients in EVOO contribute to good health:

Heart health

EVOO is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids that can improve cholesterol levels and lower heart disease risk. The antioxidants in EVOO also protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation.

Reduced inflammation

Chronic inflammation contributes to many diseases. The antioxidant phenolic compounds found abundantly in EVOO have powerful anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

Cancer prevention

EVOO may inhibit the growth of cancers including colon, breast and skin cancers. Researchers believe its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity play a role.

Better brain health

EVOO intake is associated with reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties promote healthy brain aging.

Diabetes management

The fat composition and antioxidants in EVOO have beneficial effects on blood sugar regulation and metabolism. EVOO is preferred for diabetics over other oils.

Digestive health

The anti-inflammatory activity of EVOO may relieve discomfort from conditions like IBS or IBD. Some studies show EVOO enhances digestion and gut health.

Longevity

Many aspects of the Mediterranean diet, including EVOO intake, correlate to longer lifespan and healthspan. EVOO’s versatility makes it easy to incorporate daily. https://www.myfashionlife.com/archives/2023/08/09/what-is-evoo/

As I have mentioned before (see also Christian Health Matters), my family personally does regularly use and consume olive oil–and normally that is extra-virgin olive oil.

As far as food issues and prophecy go, Jesus Himself warned that the “signs” of the end of the age would include pestilences and famines:

7…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8)

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

Reducing food supplies can lead to famines.

In an article on famine in prophecy (Walter EM. Famine in Prophecy. Tomorrows World, November 1969), the old Worldwide Church of God quoted parts of the first chapter of the book of Joel using The Living Bible. Here are some passages from that translation:

9 … Hear the crying of these ministers of God. ¹⁰ The fields are bare of crops. Sorrow and sadness are everywhere. The grain, the grapes, the olive oil are gone.

¹¹ Well may you farmers stand so shocked and stricken; well may you vinedressers weep. Weep for the wheat and the barley, too, for they are gone. (Joel 1:9b-11, TLB)

So, the above points to some type of olive oil crisis.
Furthermore, in the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation, the ride of four horsemen are described. The passages about the third horseman are as follows:

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)

So, the opening of the third seal is the time of food shortages and food price inflation. We have seen more food price inflation since Russia launched its ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine.

One of the reasons that is relevant is that Ukraine has been a major supplier of wheat, barley, and cooking oil.

At this time, we seem to be in the “beginning of sorrows” that Jesus foretold. And it is possible that the first three seals have been opened. Related to that, 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.

There are already vegetable oil shortages and price inflation, and biblically it appears that more are expected.