The Third Seal, the Third Horseman

John witnesses the Lamb's opening of the third seal. At that very moment, the third of the four living creatures raises its voice and proclaims: "Come". Immediately, a black horse appears, ridden by a rider holding a pair of scales in his hand.

This rider receives from God the specific mission of reducing the food produced by the earth. From then on, the rider sets out to carry out this task, thus marking the beginning of a period characterized by the restriction of food resources.

This analysis examines in detail the symbolic aspects of the third seal (Revelation 6.5-6). This passage presents a great wealth of images and meanings.

The symbolic elements of the third seal

1. The black horse

Black color: a symbol of mourning, deprivation, famine. In the Bible, black is associated with distress and the absence of light (cf.

Contrast with the other horses: after the white (conquest) and the red (war), the black announces the social and economic consequences: famine.

Pedagogical meaning: black is a color that immediately evokes lack and desolation.

2. The rider

Object held: a pair of scales in his hand.

Role: he carries no weapon of war but an instrument of measurement; famine is not a brutal destruction but an organized and controlled deprivation.

Symbolism: he embodies a distorted distributive justice, in which resources are counted down to the last detail, revealing the precariousness of human survival.

3. The scales

Instrument of measurement: used to weigh foodstuffs.

Symbol of rationing: provisions are so scarce that they must be weighed precisely.

Biblical link: Ezekiel 4.16-17 announces that the people will "eat their bread by weight and with anxiety", a sign of divine judgment.

Spiritual significance: the scales show that famine is a direct consequence of judgments, but also a revelation of economic injustice.

4. The voice in the midst of the four living creatures

Origin: it comes from the center, where God sits enthroned; this rationing is under divine control.

Message: “A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the wine or the oil.”

Meaning: an announcement of exorbitant prices for basic foodstuffs, but a preservation of luxury goods (oil, wine).

Symbolism: social injustice; the poor suffer from famine, while the rich keep their privileges.

5. The price of wheat and barley

A denarius: a laborer’s wage for one day.

A measure of wheat: an amount sufficient to feed only one person; a worker cannot feed his family.

Three measures of barley: food of lesser quality, more accessible, but still insufficient.

Meaning: severe famine, inflation, economic imbalance.

Pedagogical significance: shows the fragility of economic systems and human dependence on resources.

6. The wine and the oil spared

Preserved products: symbols of luxury, joy and comfort.

Contrast: essential goods are lacking, but secondary products remain available.

Spiritual meaning: injustice and imbalance; the rich keep their privileges, the poor suffer.

Theological reading: God limits the judgment; the famine is not total, but it reveals social injustice.

Theological and pedagogical significance

Progression of the seals: conquest → war → famine → death. The third seal is a logical step: war brings scarcity.

Divine sovereignty: even famine is permitted and limited by God (“do not harm the wine or the oil”).

Spiritual message: human dependence on material goods is brought to light; only divine providence ensures true security.

Pedagogical application: this seal illustrates the fragility of economic balances and the need to seek justice and peace in Christ.

The third seal reveals famine and economic injustice through:

The black horse (deprivation, mourning).

The rider with a pair of scales (rationing, control).

The divine voice (judgment under sovereignty).

The price of wheat and barley (inflation, insufficiency).

The wine and the oil spared (social injustice, limited judgment).

Together, these symbols teach that war and conflict give rise to famine, that social injustices grow worse, and that God remains sovereign even in judgments.

Summary of the paragraph:

The third seal is announced by the third living creature, the one with a face like a man, a symbol of reason, discernment and humanity. This messenger introduces the black horse, a sign of famine and rationing, and links the heavenly liturgy to earthly judgment.

The choice of this living creature is significant: famine strikes humanity in its most essential needs, and man, the one who measures and rations, perfectly reflects the scope of this judgment.

Full text:

In Revelation 6.5, it is the third living creature who announces the opening of the third seal and introduces the rider of the black horse.

A reminder of the four living creatures (Revelation 4.6-8) placed around the throne of God.

Each has a different appearance:

First: like a lion.

Second: like a calf.

Third: having a face like that of a man.

Fourth: like a flying eagle.

All are full of eyes and have six wings, ceaselessly proclaiming the holiness of God.

The third living creature

Appearance: it has a face like that of a man (Revelation 4.7).

Symbolism: man is a symbol of reason, intelligence and discernment. He represents the human dimension in creation, in contrast with the other animal figures.

In tradition, it is sometimes associated with the Gospel of Luke, which emphasizes the humanity of Christ.

Role in Revelation 6.5 :

It says to John: “Come.”

It introduces the vision of the black horse and the rider with the scales.

Its voice links the heavenly liturgy to earthly judgment.

Spiritual significance

The fact that it is the living creature with the face of a man who announces the famine is significant: famine strikes humanity directly in its most fragile dimension: food, survival.

Man is the one who measures, calculates, rations, consistent with the scales of the black rider. This underscores that divine judgments concern human life in its essential needs.

Synthesis

The living creature who announces the third horseman is the third living creature, having a face like that of a man. It symbolizes reason and humanity. It introduces the black horse, a sign of famine and rationing.

Its intervention underscores that this judgment directly affects the human condition and its vital needs.

To whom is the command “come” addressed — show the definition INF253
Link between the third living creature and the third horseman — show definition INF254

1. Identity

He is the rider of the black horse.

He is described as holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Unlike the first two riders (bow and sword), he carries not a weapon of war but an economic instrument.

2. Function

His mission is linked to famine and rationing.

He embodies the deprivation of essential goods, the fragility of human subsistence.

He acts under divine authority: he goes out only after the Lamb has opened the seal and the living creature has called.

Scales: a symbol of meticulous calculation, of rationing, of distorted distributive justice.

Role of the rider: he personifies famine as an impersonal force that dominates societies.

Impersonal character: he is not named, which underscores that he represents a universal reality rather than a historical individual.

The black rider reveals that famine is a power at work in history, permitted by God.

He shows that humanity is vulnerable: a single rider is enough to upset the economic and social balance.

He reminds us that material survival is precarious and that only divine providence ensures true security.

The third horseman is the personification of famine and rationing.

He holds a pair of scales, a sign of calculation and deprivation.

He acts as an impersonal, universal force that reveals human frailty.

His appearance marks a logical step in the progression of the judgments: after conquest and war comes famine.

• Red: evokes shed blood, war, fire and wrath.
• Fire-red: intensifies the idea of conflagration, like a land set ablaze by conflicts.
• Visual impact: the color immediately announces a climate of widespread violence.

2. Its symbolic function

• The horse is a vehicle of power, of movement and of sudden eruption.
• Here, it becomes the bearer of war, the animal that carries and manifests the dynamic of conflict.
• It represents the rapid spread of violence: war does not stay static, it spreads.

3. Its contrast with the first horse

• The white of the first horse evoked the initial conquest.
• The fire-red marks a turning point: conquest is transformed into open war.
• This visual contrast structures the progression of the judgments.

4. Its symbolic significance

• The fire-red horse is not mere decoration: it embodies the very nature of the judgment.
• It represents a world set ablaze by conflicts, where peace is taken away.
• It is the animal symbol of collective violence unleashed.

The fire-red horse symbolizes the war that sets the earth ablaze: its color evokes blood, fire and violence, while its nature as a horse expresses the power and rapid spread of the conflict. By its contrast with the white horse, it marks the passage from conquest to open war and becomes the very image of a world from which peace has been removed.

Spiritually, it reveals human frailty, the illusion of mastering resources and the limited but real judgment permitted by God.

The scales of the third horseman: meaning and significance

1. An economic instrument, not a military one

The fire-red horse of the second seal (Revelation 6.3-4) is an image extremely rich in symbols. Here is a detailed analysis:

1. Its color: fire-red

The scales are not a weapon: they signal that the judgment of the third seal is not a violent destruction, but a measured deprivation, controlled, administered.

In antiquity, foodstuffs were weighed when resources were extremely scarce. The scales therefore evoke:

• Scarcity,
• Distribution in tiny amounts,
• Calculated survival.

They refer directly to the prophetic announcements in which bread is “eaten by weight” (Ezekiel 4.16‑17).

3. An image of distorted distributive justice

The scales are normally a symbol of justice. Here, they become the sign of an economic injustice:

• Resources are weighed,
• But they are not equitably accessible.

The scales show that famine is not only a lack, but a social imbalance.

4. An impersonal instrument

The scales express neither anger nor violence: they represent a cold force, almost administrative. They embody famine as a process, not as a one-time act.

The scales reveal:

• The fragility of human subsistence,
• The vanity of believing that man controls his resources,
• The limitation imposed by God: famine is permitted, but bounded.

The scales of the third horseman symbolize a strict rationing, an economic injustice and human precariousness, showing that famine is a judgment that is measured but relentless.

The voice in the midst of the four living creatures comes from the center of the throne, a sign of God’s direct authority. It does not provoke the judgment, but sets its limits, showing that even the crisis is measured and bounded.

This voice links heaven and earth, affirming that events are neither arbitrary nor left to chance: God remains at the center, sovereign, even in the midst of disorder.

1. A voice that comes from the center

The expression “in the midst of the four living creatures” indicates a central origin, that is, from the very place where God sits enthroned (Revelation 4). This voice does not come from one of the living creatures, but from the heart of the throne, from the center of divine authority.

2. A sign of sovereign authority

Because it emanates from the center of the throne, this voice carries:

• The authority of God,
• The legitimacy of the judgment,
• The guarantee that what is announced is not arbitrary, but willed and limited by God.

It is not a voice of chaos, but a voice of order.

3. A voice that regulates and bounds

This voice does not trigger the action: it defines the limits of the judgment. It sets the prices, it determines what is struck and what must not be. It shows that even in apparent disorder there is a measure, a boundary, a divine mastery.

4. A link between heaven and earth

The voice plays a role of mediation:

• It starts from the throne,
• It passes through the circle of the living creatures,
• It reaches the earthly scene.

It links the heavenly liturgy (praise, holiness, order) to the earthly judgment (scarcity, imbalance).

This voice reveals that:

• Events are not left to chance,
• God remains at the center, even in times of crisis,
• The judgment is bounded, not unlimited,
• Divine sovereignty remains intact.

The voice in the midst of the four living creatures is the voice of the throne, a direct expression of the divine authority that bounds and limits the judgment, reminding us that God remains at the center even when the earth goes through crisis.

This dramatic inflation signals a severe scarcity, an economic collapse and a social injustice in which the poorest are immediately affected.

The voice announces:

• A measure of wheat for a denarius
• Three measures of barley for a denarius

Now, in antiquity, a denarius = a laborer’s wage for one day. This means that an entire day of work buys only an individual ration, not enough to feed a family.

The price is therefore not simply high: it is unbearable.

2. Wheat and barley: two levels of quality

• Wheat: quality food, more nutritious, more expensive.
• Barley: a coarser grain, often reserved for the poor or for animals.

The fact that barley is three times more abundant for the same price shows that even food of lesser quality becomes hard to obtain.

3. A sign of severe famine

In a normal context:

• A denarius could buy 10 to 12 times more wheat. Here, the quantity is reduced to the extreme.

This price reveals:

• A massive inflation,
• A breakdown of supply chains,
• A widespread scarcity.

4. A deep economic imbalance

The text does not merely describe a lack of food, but a collapse of the economic system:

• Essential foodstuffs become inaccessible,
• Work no longer suffices to live,
• Survival becomes a daily calculation.

The price of wheat and barley thus becomes a symbol of social injustice: the poorest are immediately struck.

These exorbitant prices show:

• The fragility of human resources,
• The vanity of economic security,
• Humanity’s dependence on divine providence.

They remind us that famine is not only a natural phenomenon, but a measured judgment, revealing the precariousness of the human condition.

It should be emphasized that, although these events are foreseen for the future, John describes them using his own temporal reference points. In reality, God maintains the references corresponding to John’s era for their explanation.

1. An exorbitant price

The price of wheat and barley expresses an extreme famine, where a day’s work is no longer enough to feed oneself, revealing an economic collapse, a social injustice and the fragility of human subsistence.

The wine and the oil are deliberately spared, unlike the essential grains. Secondary products associated with comfort and sometimes with luxury, they remain available and unrationed while wheat and barley become inaccessible.

The wine and the oil in Revelation 6.6, a major theological and economic contrast

1. Preserved products

The voice commands: “Do not harm the wine or the oil.” Unlike wheat and barley, these two products must not be touched.

This preservation is intentional, deliberate, bounded.

2. Non-essential goods

In antiquity:

• Oil was used for anointing, for care, for refined cooking,
• Wine was a symbol of joy, of feasting, of comfort.

These are not staple foods: they are secondary products, sometimes associated with luxury.

3. A striking economic contrast

While essential foodstuffs become unaffordable:

• The wine and the oil remain abundant,
• They do not undergo the same inflation,
• They are not rationed.

This contrast highlights a social injustice: comfort goods remain, while vital goods are lacking.

4. A limited judgment

The preservation of the wine and the oil shows that:

• The famine is real, but not total,
• God limits the scope of the judgment,
• Not everything is destroyed, not everything is struck.

There is a measure, a boundary, a divine control.

The preservation of the wine and the oil reveals:

• The disproportion between human needs and social priorities,
• The vanity of riches that remain while daily life collapses,
• The sovereignty of God, who decides what is struck and what is spared.

This reminds us that man may keep his pleasures, yet lose what is essential.

The wine and the oil, deliberately spared, underscore a social injustice and a limited judgment, showing that God bounds the famine while revealing the disproportion between comfort goods and vital needs.

Comparison Wheat Barley Wine Oil — show definition INF255

In Jesus’ discourse (Matthieu 24 — afficher la définition INF170, Marc 13 — afficher la définition INF173, Luke 21), Jesus describes the “beginning of sorrows”:

• Wars,
• Conflicts between nations,
• Famines,
• Earthquakes.

Famines are explicitly mentioned as a sign of the times.

This is exactly the theme of the third horseman: famine.

2. The order of events in the Olivet Discourse corresponds to that of the seals

One source emphasizes that the order of the seals in Revelation 6 follows the order of the discourse on the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305.

In both cases, we observe:

a_ False christs / deception → first seal (white horse)

b_ Wars and conflicts → second seal (red horse)

c_ Famines → third seal (black horse)

d_ Mass deaths / plagues → fourth seal (pale green horse)

The third element in both sequences is famine.

3. The third horseman = the famine announced by the Messiah Jesus

The third horseman represents a severe famine, measured, rationed, with extreme inflation. Jesus, in the discourse on the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305, announces famines as a major sign of the times of crisis before the end.

In Matthieu 24 — afficher la définition INF170, Marc 13 — afficher la définition INF173 and Luke 21, Jesus describes a series of events: deceptions, wars, famines, then deaths and plagues, exactly the order of the first four seals of Revelation 6.

Yes, there is a clear and recognized link between the third horseman (the black horse = famine), the third plague in the logic of the judgments, and the discourse on the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305. The sources we have confirm this parallelism.

1. The discourse on the Mount of Olives announces famines

The two texts describe the same type of judgment, in the same progression.

4. The third plague (in the logic of the judgments) fits into this same dynamic

Even if the “plagues” of Revelation 16 do not follow the seals exactly, the general structure of the judgments (seals → trumpets → bowls) takes up the themes of Jesus’ discourse:

• Wars,
• Famines,
• Plagues,
• Cosmic upheavals.

The famine of the third horseman therefore corresponds to the third stage in the escalation of the judgments, as in Jesus’ discourse.

Yes: the third horseman (famine) corresponds directly to the famines announced by Jesus in the discourse on the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305, and the two follow the same progression: deception → war → famine → death.

Daniel describes wars and desolations that bring about privations, while Revelation shows the same dynamic: war leads to famine. The scales, a central symbol in both books, express a divine judgment and reveal the injustice of human systems.

Points of convergence between Daniel and Revelation

There are clear points of convergence between Daniel and Revelation 6.5-7. Both texts announce times of crisis in which kingdoms and men are struck by famine, economic injustice and the fragility of resources. Daniel speaks of it within the framework of the visions of the kingdoms and of the judgments, while Revelation takes up these themes by placing them within the sequence of the seals.

1. Famine and rationing

Revelation 6.5-6: the black horse, the rider with a pair of scales, rationing of wheat and barley, exorbitant prices.

Daniel 7.25; Daniel 9.26-27: announcement of wars and desolations that bring about privations and sufferings.

Convergence: the conflicts described by Daniel lead to famine, exactly as in Revelation, where the war of the red horse precedes the famine of the black horse.

2. Distorted justice and the scales

Revelation 6.5-6: the scales symbolize an economy in which everything is weighed, but unjustly (disproportionate prices).

Daniel 5.27: “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting”, an image of divine judgment by the scales.

Convergence: the scales are a common symbol of judgment and measure, revealing the injustice of human systems.

3. The consequences of human kingdoms

Daniel 2 and 7: succession of earthly kingdoms, each bringing oppression and suffering.

Revelation 6.5-7: famine is a direct consequence of wars and human ambitions.

Convergence: both texts show that human kingdoms produce desolation and deprivation, and that they are subject to divine judgment.

4. Divine sovereignty

Daniel 2.44: God will establish an éternel — afficher la définition INF038 kingdom that will break in pieces the human kingdoms.

Revelation 6.5-7: it is the Lamb who opens the seal, showing that even famine is under divine control.

Convergence: God remains sovereign in the midst of crises, and the judgments are permitted within the framework of his plan.

The black horse of Revelation and the visions of Daniel converge on several points: famine and rationing as a consequence of wars. The scales as a symbol of judgment and injustice. Human kingdoms that produce desolation.

The sovereignty of God, who directs history toward his éternel — afficher la définition INF038 kingdom. Together, Daniel and Revelation offer a coherent reading: economic and food crises are not accidents, but revelations of human frailty and of divine judgments.

Summary of the paragraph:

The horsemen show a rise of human darkness: war leads to famine, then to death. God lets humanity bear the consequences of its choices, like the hardened Pharaoh.

During this period of judgment, there is no more relief, yet some still turn to God, often at the cost of their lives, showing that hope remains even in the midst of trials.

Full text:

Through the action of the horsemen, we observe a phenomenon of intensification of the darkest tendencies of humanity. Scourges such as seduction or war are already very much present in human history, but here famine appears as a direct consequence of the conflicts brought about by men.

In this context, God brings to light man’s natural inclinations, compelling him to face the repercussions of his choices. These lead only to disillusionment, suffering and, finally, death.

However, this is no longer a time when repentance or absolution are possible. The process of judgment continues its course and must reach its fulfillment. One might even think that God, although having permitted these events from heaven, no longer intervenes directly on earth. There is no more help possible for humanity.

The second half of Daniel’s seventieth week stands out for a terrifying intensity, bringing to the fore man’s most brutal instincts. This principle recalls that of Pharaoh, whose heart hardened until the moment God himself reinforced that hardening (Exodus 4.21, Exodus 7.3, Exodus 9.12, Exodus 10.1 ). Since men have rejected divine salvation and chosen to follow their inclinations, God confirms them in this path, letting their nature express itself fully.

Despite the gravity of this period, it is important to note that some individuals will find the courage to turn to God. Their conversion, carried out in the midst of trials and judgments, will not be without consequence: they will often have to pay for their faithfulness with their lives. These people, animated by a deep faith, will choose to follow God despite the dangers and sufferings awaiting them. Their commitment bears witness to the possibility of transformation even in the darkest times, underscoring that hope remains where everything seems lost.