### **Third Seal (Revelation 6:5-6) – The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire (800 CE)**
**Revelation 6:5-6 (KJV)**
*"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 Meaning of the Black Horse**
The **black horse** in the third seal represents a period of economic oppression, corruption, and control over the people through religious and political power. The **rider holds a pair of balances**, symbolizing economic manipulation, taxation, and the control of resources. This period aligns with the establishment of the **Holy Roman Empire in 800 CE**, when **Charlemagne** was crowned Emperor by **Pope Leo III**, marking the fusion of Church and State power.
The reference to **wheat and barley being sold for a penny** indicates a time of economic burden on the common people. The rise of feudalism under the Holy Roman Empire led to strict social and economic control, where the Church and nobility held immense power over the land and its resources.
However, the passage also states, **"Hurt not the oil and the wine."** Oil and wine symbolize spiritual blessings and divine protection. This may indicate that despite the corruption and economic hardship, true spiritual understanding was still preserved in small remnants of faithful believers.
#### **The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire (800 CE)**
Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, the Papacy steadily gained power. During the **Second Seal**, as the Papacy increased in influence, the **Bishop of Rome** solidified his authority over Western Christendom. This culminated in the events of **800 CE**, when Pope Leo III crowned **Charlemagne** as Emperor of the **Holy Roman Empire**, an event that had lasting consequences for European history.
The Holy Roman Empire can be directly connected to the **prophecies in Daniel** regarding the **little horn** (Daniel 7:8), which arises from the fourth beast (Rome) and uproots **three other horns**. These three uprooted horns represent the destruction of the **Exarchate of Ravenna, the Kingdom of the Lombards, and the State of Rome**—lands that were absorbed into the Papal States, giving the Pope **temporal power**.
Charlemagne's coronation reinforced the Papacy’s dominance. The Pope now had **a powerful ruler to enforce his decrees**, solidifying the **fusion of religious and secular authority**. This ushered in an era of **feudalism**, where kings and nobles ruled by the Pope’s blessing, and the common people were burdened with **taxes and Church-imposed tithes**.
#### **The Day-for-a-Year Prophecy and the Holy Roman Empire**
The **1260-day prophecy**, interpreted as **1260 years**, is a key timeframe found in both **Daniel** (Daniel 7:25; 12:7) and **Revelation** (Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). This period marks the rule of the Papal system, beginning with its rise and ending with its decline.
- **800 CE + 1260 years = 2060 CE**
- Sir **Isaac Newton**, the famous scientist and Bible scholar, calculated that **2060 CE** would mark the **final downfall of the Papacy and the destruction of Rome**, which he identified as **spiritual Babylon** (Revelation 17-18).
Throughout this 1260-year period, the **Papacy exercised control over European rulers**, enforced doctrines such as indulgences, and launched crusades and inquisitions to maintain power. The Holy Roman Empire was central to this, serving as the **political and military arm of the Papal system**.
#### **Economic Oppression and Religious Corruption**
The reference to **balances** in the rider’s hand points to the **economic system of feudalism**, where landowners controlled agriculture and the **Church collected taxes from the poor**.
- **"A measure of wheat for a penny"** – Symbolizes economic hardship and high taxation.
- **"Three measures of barley for a penny"** – Reflects the burden on the common people, who struggled under feudal lords and Papal decrees.
- **"Hurt not the oil and the wine"** – Implies that, despite economic oppression, spiritual truth was not entirely lost. Small groups like the **Waldensians** and **Cathars** preserved a purer form of Christianity.
#### **The Papal System and the Feudal Order**
The Pope held not only religious authority but also vast **territorial and economic control**. The Papacy commanded armies, crowned and deposed emperors, and dictated religious practices.
- **Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303)** declared that salvation depended on obedience to the Pope.
- **The Inquisition** and **Crusades** were launched to enforce Papal rule.
- **Church taxes and indulgences** burdened the common people.
By the time of the **Protestant Reformation (16th century)**, the corruption of the Church had reached its peak, leading many to break away from Papal authority.
#### **Conclusion: The Third Seal and the Holy Roman Empire**
The **Third Seal** represents the **rise of the Holy Roman Empire**, the **economic oppression of the feudal system**, and the **corruption of the Church** as it gained **absolute power** over Western Europe. The **black horse** symbolizes the **darkness of this period**, where the Papacy and the Holy Roman Emperors controlled both spiritual and political life.
This period lasted for **1260 years**, beginning with the Papacy’s rise and culminating in its predicted **fall in 2060 CE**, according to Sir Isaac Newton’s interpretation. As prophesied in **Revelation 17-18**, the final destruction of **Rome, the spiritual Babylon**, will mark the end of Papal supremacy.
The **Third Seal** prepares the way for the **Fourth Seal**, where the consequences of Papal rule—famine, death, and spiritual desolation—will follow.
