The third Seal – Black Horse – Famine.
As the lamb broke the third seal, the mighty voice announced the coming of the Third Horse which is black in colour. The black colour is associated with famine (Lam. 5:10). Jesus also predicted this future famine (Matt. 24:7). God used famine as a means of judgement in the past, but this will the most devastating famine in all of human history. The rider carrying a pair of scales portrays the rationing of food.
Black Horse
Following this, the voice from the centre of 4-living creatures (God), says: A quarter of wheat is barely enough to sustain one person for one day, while a denarius represents one day’s wages for an average worker. The average worker’s salary will barely provide enough food for himself for each day and not enough to feed his family. Those with families will be able to purchase 3-quarts of barley for a denarius. That will provide food for their families, but barley was low in nutritional value and often fed to livestock. God cautions people not to waste the oil and the wine. Basic food would become priceless luxuries. Olive oil used for cooking food and the purification of water should be carefully protected (Hag. 1:11).
The fourth Seal – Pale – Death
The lamb broke the seal and the four living creatures summoned the fourth horse and its rider. This final horse is ashen or pale colour which is yellow green colour. It portrays death characteristic of the decomposition of a corpse. The rider who sat on it had the name Death. Death on a massive scale is the inevitable consequence of a widespread war and famine. In this terrifying scene, John saw hades following with Death. The extent of death and destruction brought by war and famine is given. Authority was given to Death and Hades to destroy one-fourth ( ¼ ) of the world’s population. Presently the world’s population stands at 6-billions (600 crores). The number of deaths would range to 1.5 Billion people. The first 3-elements of sword, famine and pestilence are often linked together in Scripture (1 Chro.21:12).
Pale Horse:
The sword (war) and famine are given in second and third seals. The fourth seal expands to ‘pestilence.’ The mass death predicted would be the result of super earthquake, floods or volcanic eruption or even the effects of biological and chemical weapons or nuclear destruction. Even the common creature rat thrives in all populated areas. Rats have been responsible for uncounted millions of death throughout history by spreading plague. In 14th century there was an outbreak of plague which wiped away 1/3rd of Europe’s population. In a world ravaged by war, famine and disease, the rat population may run wild.
The fifth seal – Prayers of the tribulation martyrs. (6:9-11)
The fifth seal marks the midpoint of the tribulation, bridging the gap between the beginning of God’s wrath in the first half of the tribulation. John saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain. These are martyrs, killed during the time of the judgements. In addition to divine judgement, there will be widespread persecution of believers led by Satan and his followers and Antichrist. Actually the persecution of believers would start in the 1st half of the tribulation which will intensify. Antichrist even call the believers as blasphemers for opposing him. The victims of antichrist would no doubt the believers who would be killed during mob violence. The believers would be martyred mainly because of the testimony and bold preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and opposing the rule of Antichrist. In the 5th seal, we find the martyred believers praying “How long will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” It looks like an imprecatory prayer, but it is more of protesting against all that is sinful and dishonouring to God. It is just like in the case of murdered Abel, the very ground cries out for their blood.
Martyrs
God gives a promise to the martyred saints. He gifts them a white robe as reward of grace. Along with the gift God told them to wait little longer until the number of fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed would be complete. These include those who are still alive and willing to die like the martyrs and those who are already martyred.
The fifth seal is nothing but the prayers of martyrs asking for God’s judgement.