The 3rd SEAL - PHYSICAL DEPRAVATION

The 3rd Seal and the Judgment of Physical Deprivation

"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." "And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."

The Origin of the Opening of the Seal

"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."

The Outset of the Opening of the Seal

The Appearance of the Black Horse

In the song that is now sung, echoing and reechoing through the corridors of heaven, is the fulfillment of God's purpose in Grace (Eph. 1:5-6, 12, 14). They praise him because in His grace He has redeemed them from utter loss and has exalted them to the highest of all posi­tions. Rev. 1:6; 20:6 would support this position.
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."
"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

This follows on the heels of the red horse and clearly symbolizes famine and starvation (Jer. 1:2-6; Jer. 14:1-6; Lam. 4:8-9; 5:10; Ezek. 4:10, 16, 17).
"To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign." "It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month." "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." "Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." etc.

The Rider with the Balances

This one may very well be the same as above, the Antichrist. He inaugurates a system of ration­ing as indicated by the balances. cf. Rev. 13:16-17.
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:" "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

The Outcome of the Opening of the Seal

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." 

Restriction of Food Supply Because of Scarcity

Penny is a day's wages and buys only enough for one person (cf. Matt. 20:2, 9).
"And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard."
"And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny."

This means that food is scarce and high-priced. Three measures of barley is the amount of food for animals. There is the suggestion that humans finally resort to the food being eaten by animals. The price of a measure is 1/8 of a penny, so prices have gone up 8 times. Wheat was priced at 1/8 of a penny normally, but now has gone up.

Discrimination in Distribution of Food Supply

Oil and wine are the rich man's food. Grain may cease, but vines and trees are hardier and go on living. The rich thus get their supply of food.