The Third Seal: A Black Horse
6: 5-6
The third seal: a black horse DIG: How much will a quart of wheat cost during the Great Tribulation? How will the famine physically affect the people of the earth? How will it affect them spiritually? Do they see it as judgment and repent? Why or why not?
REFLECT: Where do you turn when things get out of control in your life? Do you think you can control your world? Ultimately, who is really in control? Who has their hands on the steering wheel of your life? What happens if there is an emergency? Do you instinctively grab the wheel? If need be, what would you have to do to let go?
The Lamb carefully opened the third seal. The leather scroll gently unrolls. At that moment, the third living creature steps to the center of John’s vision and gives out ADONAI’s command to the third rider, “Come!” Again, in the presence of the Lamb of God, the twenty-four elders, and angels emerges another horse and rider. Only this time the horse will be black, the color of grief and mourning, and its rider will bear yet a third warning to the peoples of the world . . . famine.
The color black is associated with famine in Lamentations 5:10 (KJV). Famine is the logical consequence of worldwide war as food supplies are destroyed and those involved in food production are killed. Jesus also predicted this future famine when He said: Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7). Ha’Shem has used famine as a means of judgment in the past (Leviticus 26:26; Deuteronomy 32:24; Second Kings 8:1; Psalm 105:16), but this will be the most devastating in all of human history.201 While the first rider had a bow and the second rider had a large sword, this third rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand for the purpose of measuring out grain that will sell at a greatly hyper inflated price.
Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures. Since the four living creatures ministered around the throne (4:6), this is probably the voice of YHVH, the One sitting on the throne (4:2-3). God also speaks in relation with the fifth seal (6:11). Like with His servant Job (Job 2:3-6), the LORD has Satan on a short leash. He will only allow the devil to do so much damage. Things may seem to be out of control during the Great Tribulation, but in reality, the sovereign will of God will be working behind the scenes.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are Almighty! Even when things look out of control-they are still in the palm of Your hand, waiting for the right time for You to execute judgement. Isra’el, God‘s firstborn (Exodus 4:22) became slaves after the death of Joseph when a new pharaoh came into power. They cried out to God, who already had the perfect plan and time for their redemption. It happened exactly as God said. No amount of opposition from the pharaoh could thwart God’s mighty power. Now the time that Bnei-Yisrael lived in Egypt was 430 years. So, it happened at the end of 430 years, to the very day that all the armies of ADONAI went out from the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:40). No amount of opposition from the anti-Christ can thwart God’s decisive winning victory of the world battle for power at the end of the 7 years of Tribulation (Revelation 19). God will come out victorious! We praise your mighty power! In the holy name of Your Son and the power of His resurrection. Amen
ADONAI revealed that a quart of wheat will cost the equivalent of a day’s wages. But many will not be able to survive on that, so they will be forced to buy barley, a cheaper food that is usually fed to animals. Three quarts of barley will still cost the equivalent of a day’s wages, so no money will be left for clothes, housing or transportation. There will be tremendous inflation. Survival will be the great issue of that time.
The voice of the Eternal One calls out one more instruction to the third horseman, who rides the black horse and carries the scales of judgment: And do not damage the oil and the wine. Some have said this pictures the social injustice at that time. It will be the poor who will suffer, not the rich who could still purchase luxury items. However, oil and wine were not luxuries, but part of the basic supplies of life. Since the roots of the olive and vine go deeper, they would not be affected as much by a drought that would all but destroy the grain. Consequently the coming worldwide judgment of famine allowed by God will be tempered by mercy. For while there will be a great lack of food, there will be an abundance of medicine, for the oil and wine will not be damaged.202
The two witnesses will shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the three and a half years they will be prophesying. And they will have the power to turn waters to blood and strike the earth with every kind of plague they want (to see link click Dc – I Will Give Power to My Two Witnesses and They Will Prophesy for 1,260 Days). This drought will obviously bring about a worldwide famine, adding to the judgment of the third seal at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (6:5-6).
Despite the initial success of the antichrist’s global economic unity, a worldwide economic meltdown will occur. This will increase the need for global economic controls, including a personalized insignia for anyone to buy or sell – the mark of the Beast (13:16).203 Christ is the bread of life (John 6:35), but the antichrist will be the counterfeit bread of life. Like the Adversary whom he serves, the Beast will prove to be a liar (John 8:44) when his economic programs fail and result in famine. All this will take place during the first half of the Great Tribulation, but the worst is yet to come.
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