The Opening Of The Seven Seals (Part 2)

Revelation 6:5 

"And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third

beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black

horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of

balances in his hand."

        When the "Third Seal" was opened, the "third beast" says to John; come and see.  This time John sees a Black Horse" appear.  The Rider holds a pair of scales in his hand and a voice cries; "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou not hurt the oil and wine."  The meaning is clear. When all the able bodied men are at war, the fields remain untilled and "famine" follows, just as Christ prophesied. "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matt. 24:7). The olive and the grape do not need cultivation, so their ruthless destruction is forbidden.

        It will help us to understand the idea behind this passage if we remember that John is giving an account not of the end of things, but of the signs and events which precede the end. So here the black horse and its rider represent famine, a famine which is very severe and causes great hardship, but which is not desperate enough to kill. There is wheat, at a prohibitive price; and the wine and the oil are not affected.
        As we continue in this study we must once again remember that it is telling not of the final end but of the signs which precede it. That is why it is a fourth part of the earth which is involved in death and disaster. This is a terrible time but it is not the time of total destruction.
        When the "Fourth Seal" was opened, the fourth beast says come and see.  And when John looked he saw a "Pale Horse" appear, and the Rider on it was "Death." It is noteworthy that the Riders of the first three horses are not named. However they will be recognized when they appear.  After "Death "Hell" Follows, ready to swallow up his victims caused by war and famine.
        Here John is using a traditional picture of what is to happen when God dispatches his wrath upon his disobedient people. At the back of it all is the permanent truth that no man or nation can escape the consequences of their sin. 
        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. 6:5-8)
Ref:        (HGSB;BSB)
               (C. Larkin) 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry