Open the Seals
The Third Seal
“When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘Two pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’” (Revelation 6:5-6).
Throughout history, black horses have been revered as one of the most beautiful animals. While there are various breeds of its kind, the black horse stands out amongst others because of its strength and vibrant beauty. For example, the Morgan horse, although not all are black, is known throughout America for its strong physique and suitability for farming. This breed was used during the American Civil War by both the Union and Confederate armies to transport soldiers, weapons, and supplies. However, today, they are often used in shows, racing, and other sporting events.[1]
The Apostle John described seeing a black horse in his vision with a rider holding a pair of scales. In the Bible, the color black often symbolizes judgment, sin, disease, famine, spiritual darkness, and/or death. The Prophet Jeremiah, during Judah’s judgment by God, described the physical condition of their skin as one of blackness due to the famine they had experienced. The Bible says: “Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine” (Lamentations 5:10). Similarly, the black color of this horse suggests that there will be, and even now, a time when many will die due to the lack of basic human needs. According to Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the first set of needs a human being requires are physiological. Physiological needs encompass food, water, air, sleep, shelter, and even medical care.[2]
Without food, arguably, most adults can live anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. If one were to be without water, they could live between three and five days. Without oxygen, a person could survive for only a period of three to five minutes. Failing to get sleep, a person may live for about eleven days, although serious side effects may begin as soon as three days. Going without shelter and medicine can vary, depending on the climate and nature of the illness. Unfortunately, many people are facing a physiological crisis around the world, and even within Western nations, such as the United States.
Recently, in Washington D.C., many homeless people’s lives were once again turned upside down when their encampments were destroyed in order to clean up the city and free it from crime, drugs, and loitering. While their tent cities left many politicians and local residents with a sense of repugnance, their basic need for shelter was once again displaced, regardless of how meager they were. However, Washington D.C. will be opening a new dorm-style housing complex for people experiencing homelessness in September 2025 as temporary transitional housing until they get permanent placement.[3]
In John’s vision, the rider of the black horse held a pair of scales in his hand. Unlike today’s times, where things are often premeasured and sold on store shelves, in biblical times, sellers would use scales to measure goods for trade and commerce. These scales allowed for smooth transactions unless the seller was cheating the buyer. The book of Proverbs warns against cheating others with dishonest measurements. The Bible says: “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight” (Proverbs 11:1). Just think of a time you may have gone to a store to grab some freshly cooked food and watched as the worker placed the food on the scale. You expected to get a fair price for the food you purchased. Right? Unfortunately, the scale the rider on the black horse held would be anything but fair, as the prices of everything would have significantly inflated, leaving many without enough money to supply one of their basic needs—food. These scales also symbolize judgment, as the world has been weighed on God’s scale and has been found wanting. This is similar to the warning that God gave Belshazzar with the handwriting on the wall. The Bible says: “This is the inscription that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin. Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians”(Daniel 5:25-28). The scales of the black rider are scales of judgment upon the face of the world, and they will increase the closer we get to the Lord’s return.
The Apostle John heard a voice crying out that one would have to work for a whole day’s pay to get two pounds of barley. Additionally, the oil and wine would be of such limited value that one had to be careful not to waste a single drop. This verse lets the reader know that hard times were to be expected, where people would barely be able to afford food, and they could not afford to be wasteful. According to the Recycle Track Systems’ (RTS) statistics, the United States discards more food than any other country in the world. They estimate that nearly 40% of the US's entire food supply is thrown away, ultimately ending up in landfills.[4] That equates to 325 pounds of disposed food per person. What a wasteful nation we are, and yet, according to Feeding America’s statistics, 47 million citizens within the U.S. face food insecurity daily. This translates to approximately 1 in 7 households across the United States. Yet, the US is not alone.
People in various parts of the world do not receive and have access to the proper nutrition they need. Therefore, they become ill with all kinds of sickness and disease, which often leads to death if left untreated. However, many Western nations have not experienced this. Still, the day may come when even the wealthiest of nations will face the same fateful situations that have unfortunately plagued many third-world countries for decades. The Bible says: “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). The black horse and the rider’s scales represent the lack and financial instability that will be upon the face of the whole earth.
Numerous financial strategists have discussed
the potential effects of a global economic collapse. The devastation that would
occur if world economies were to collapse would be massive. Many people would
fall victim to financial ruin in addition to having a scarcity of supplies. A
significant divide would emerge between the wealthy and the impoverished. The term
"middle class" would not be one that many could use. One would need
to have things to barter in order to obtain the essentials that they need for
themselves and their families. However, the Bible speaks of a time when even
the wealth of the wealthy will not be able to save them in the hour of
judgment. The Bible says: “They
will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a
thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the
day of the LORD's wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their
stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin” (Ezekiel 7:19). While the rider of the black horse brings
uncertainty to the world, the Lord provides and protects those who honor and
serve Him. The Bible says: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have
never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing”
(Psalm 37:25-26).
CORRECTION...Homework Assignment: Continue reading Revelation 6, but in addition to this, please read Ezekiel 5. Your homework assignment is to write down elements from Ezekiel 5 that coincide with any of the four horses of Revelation 6. You will only have 5 minutes to discuss your written assignment for this coming week. Thank you, and God bless!
[1] Brittany A. Sulc, "Stunning Black Horse Breeds You Have to See to Believe," Always Pets | Celebrating What We Love About Animals, last modified November 18, 2024, https://alwayspets.com/s/black-horse-breeds-22d3e499a9f044cf.
[2] Saul McLeod, "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs," Simply Psychology, last modified July 26, 2023, https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html.
[3] Luke Lukert, "New Dorm-style Housing Project for DC’s Homeless Set to Open Next Month," WTOP News, last modified August 28, 2025, https://wtop.com/dc/2025/08/new-dorm-style-housing-project-for-dcs-homeless-set-to-open-next-month/.
[4] Feeding America's Editorial Staff, "Hunger in America," U.S. Hunger Relief Organization | Feeding America, last modified 2025, https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america.
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