AR 312, 313, 314 - The Third Seal: A Black Horse

AR 312

So I looked, and behold, a black horse.

(Revelation 6:5)

This symbolizes (signifies) an understanding of the Word

among them extinguished as to truth,

thus extinguished as regards their doctrine.

. . . a horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word.

Blackness symbolizes a lack of truth, thus falsity,

because blackness is the opposite of whiteness,

and whiteness is predicated of truth.

Whiteness is also the result of light,

while blackness results from darkness,

thus from the absence of light,

and light means truth.

AR 313

And he who sat on it had a scale in his hand.

(Revelation 6:5)

This symbolizes (signifies) their valuation

of goodness and truth . . ..

AR 314

And I heard a voice

in the midst of the four living creatures saying.

(Revelation 6:5)

This symbolizes (signifies) the Divine protection

of the Word of the Lord.

That the symbolism is one of protection

is apparent from what the voice (next) said,

"A quart of wheat for a denarius,

and three quarts of barley for a denarius;

and do not harm the oil and the wine,"

which symbolically means

that because the value these people placed

on goodness and truth

was so little as to be scarcely anything,

provision had to be made

to keep them from violating and profaning

the sacred goods and truths

that lie hidden interiorly in the Word.

And the Lord provided this

by their at last knowing not any good and so not any truth,

but only evil and falsity.

For people who know goods and truths can violate them,

indeed profane them,

but not people who are ignorant of them.