(Illustration above produced by ChatGPT for COGwriter)
After Russia began its Special Military Operation into Ukraine in 2022, there began to be shortages of fertilizer (see ‘Fertilizer Prices Continue Rising, Increasing Fears of Global Grain Costs and Shortages’). Then we saw a return of food price inflation (see Food Inflation: World Food Prices Jump Most In 18 Months).
One unintended consequence of the USA-Israel war against Iran has been a disruption of fertilizer exports which the Washington Post said was threatening the global food supply (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/05/09/iran-farms-thailand-food/).
Now, Ukraine is seeing food issues and has made some type of offer to Russia:
Ukraine offers Russia truce in Black Sea as food supply fears mount, source says
August 13, 2026
KYIV, Aug 13 (Reuters) – Ukraine has sent Russia an offer suggesting they both halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, a source said, after mounting strikes on vessels and ports there raised fears over global food supplies.The offer to suspend attacks was transmitted by Kyiv via a third party, and Ukraine was still waiting for a response, the source who is familiar with the matter told Reuters. Both Russia and Ukraine, major players in the world agriculture market, have accused each other of intensified attacks on vessels used for exports. … Kyiv was forced to turn to alternative shipment routes when many shipowners halted stops at ports in late July in the southern region of Odesa — a key hub for grain exports – wary after Russian strikes on dozens of ships. For its part, Russia had to suspend operations at all three terminals at its Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Wednesday and Thursday after a Ukrainian attack, and will have to cut its grain exports further. The Kremlin and Russian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report of Ukraine’s offer. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-offers-russia-truce-black-sea-food-supply-fears-mount-source-says-2026-08-13/
Hopefully some type of truce will happen.
There are already concerns about rising food price inflation in Africa. This was mentioned in the CCOG Letter to the Brethren: August 13, 2026.
Jesus warned:
4 Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 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 24:4-8)
The rides of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1-8) relate to what Jesus warned would happen.
And certainly we are in a time of wars and rumors of war.
Wars often lead to famines, food shortages, and/or food inflation.
Notice that this horseman results in scarcity 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)
Consider also that food inflation is associated with the ride of the third horse, the black horse. And while that is commonly called the black horse of famine, the word famine is not in Revelation 6:5-6. That does NOT mean that there will not be any famines–for there will be–but food inflation will be considered as caused by government overprinting of money, crop matters, trade issues, etc. and most will NOT attribute it to the ride of the third horseman or the opening of the third seal.
But yes, some will thus die as they will not be able to afford it, while others will survive but struggle.
Related to food inflation, years ago, we put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Food Inflation & the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse
The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, UN’s FAO, and others are reporting food price inflation as well as often selected shortages of some food items. Might it get worse? Did Jesus prophesy famines? One analyst stated, “WE haven’t seen anything yet” in regards to rising food prices. Should Christians prepare? What about helping others? Does the ride of the third horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:5-6) point to a coming time of severe food inflation. Is more food price inflation coming? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Here is a link to the video: Food Inflation & the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse.
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).
But prior to Jesus return, “there will be great tribulation” as Jesus foretold (Matthew 24:21).
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled Sorrows and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2033 or 20xx?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2026, 2027, or 2028? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? A short video is available titled: Countdown to the Great Tribulation.