^6:6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds^[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,^[b] and six pounds^[c] of barley for a day’s wages,^[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying,

“Two pounds^[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,^[b] and six pounds^[c] of barley for a day’s wages,^[d]

The two pounds of wheat or six pounds of barley approximate the equilavent of daily food consumption. This, then, says that during the "famine", all our wages would go to feed us. No more luxury living!

and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

This has been interpreted several different ways by Bible scholars. On a purely physical level, it would indicate that the rich will still have their luxuries; on a symbolic and spiritual level, this would indicate that the Holy Spirit should still be permitted to do His functions on the earth.

Oil was used extensively in the tabernacle. Olive oil was the oil in the temple lamps, Exodus 27:20-21. And the lamp was to burn continuously. Thus one could say that the churches will be thriving during this time.

In Jesus' time, oil and wine was used as medical treatment when one was injured. This was the case in the "Good Samaritan" discussion, Luke 10:25-34-37. The suffering during the famine certainly could be eased by the oil and wine.

^[a] Or about 1 kilogram
^[b] Greek a denarius
^[c] Or about 3 kilograms
^[d] Greek a denarius