the crown of a triumphing general signify that the empire will appear victorious for a time in its conflict with the new-born Church.
This verse clearly foretells the terrible persecutions launched against the Church with all the powers of the Roman empire, then undisputed mistress of the world. These persecutions continued almost without interruption from the time of Nero in 64 A. D. until the victory of Constantine in 312 A. D. But it was not until Theodosius in 394 A. D. that Christianity completely triumphed over paganism.
3, 4. The red horse signifies war as the context clearly indicates. This is a prediction of the many wars and internal troubles that harassed the Roman empire before its final overthrow by the barbarian hordes from the North.
5, 6. In the wake of war follow pestilence and famine foreshadowed by the black horse. The sixth verse explicitly predicts times of famine when the necessities of life sell for exorbitant prices. The English version does not bring out this idea clearly. The Greek Χοιωιξ is a dry measure equal to one and one-half pints. Our bushel contains 42 of these Greek measures. A "penny" is the translation of the Greek word δηυαριου a Roman coin worth about 17 cents in our money. It was an ordinary day's wage for a workingman. [1] At this rate it would require 21 days labor for a bushel of wheat, and 7 days for a bushel of barley.
- ↑ Cf. St. Matthew xx, 2.
