Did God speak and foretell the condition of modern northern Europe to an ancient prophet over 2400 years ago? “Impossible!”, you say? But Zachariah was told by God that “the black horses …go forth to the north country” and that “These that go toward the north country have quieted My Spirit in the north country”. (Zachariah 6:6 & 8)
Admittedly this is pretty advanced, esoteric Scripture. But it doesn’t stand alone and some will recognize “the black horse” which is not seen again until Revelation 6. It says there, “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 you hurt not the oil and the wine.’” (Revelation 6:5 & 6)
Still with me? If so, hang on; it’ll be worth it. And you’re wondering “What in the world is he talking about?! What in the world is the Bible talking about?!” Some of the more debated, mysterious figures in the whole Bible are these “4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse” , seen first in Zachariah chapter 6 about 400 BC and seen again in Revelation chapter 6 around 90 AD.
I’ll add one more verse that may shed some light on this Black Horse. 
The only other place in the Bible which references someone with “a pair of balances in his hand” is Hosea 12:7 which says, “He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand, he loves to oppress.”
I and many others believe this glimpse into heaven in the Old and New Testament pictures four of the most vast, fundamental forces which work in our world, shown as four horses and horsemen. 
And this black horse encompasses the whole materialist, mercantile enterprise that has dominated such an immense portion of the lives of mankind for millennia.
Jesus said that “You cannot serve God and Mammon” (Matthew 6:24), Mammon being an ancient word for money and material wealth. Thus the Black Horse and rider symbolize the pursuit of wealth and material gain that dominates the heart of the substantial majority of people and has since the beginning.
What does this have to do with northern Europe? Those obscure, almost cryptic verses in Zachariah 6 have held my interest for many years. Because much of my adult life has been spent in Europe, mostly northern and eastern Europe as a missionary, or at least trying to be one. And I can say from firsthand experience that I’m even now seeing in my recent few weeks in northern Europe how “the Black horse” has “stilled” the Spirit of God in these northern countries.
It is said of Jesus, “He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58) And from my many travels almost all over the world in the last few years, I know of no place on earth comparable to modern northern, western Europe for the level and extent of unbelief.
And yet in many human ways it’s seen by so many as almost Utopian here. In Scandinavia, where I am now, unemployment is almost eliminated.
Crime by international standards is very low. Inequality of most kinds, by international standards is very low. Lawns are impeccably kept, everything runs on time, economies are humming and the whole Scandinavian neo-socialist model of society seems to continue to work as it has mostly since back in the 60’s and 70’s.
Of course some will vehemently debate me on this but that’s not what I’m focusing on here. It is that despite such material success in these countries, such tranquility and even a large degree of individual and national benevolence, the “Black Horse” has successfully stilled (for the most part) the Spirit of the Lord in these countries.
There are still some Christians around, there always will be. 
But they are few, far between and usually not bold about their faith, if they say anything at all. It’s extremely out of vogue. And if there’s anywhere in the world that the so-called “Progressive”, “identity politics” have fully taken the high ground and rule almost unopposed culturally as well as politically, it’s in places like here in Sweden.
If there was no God, no Jesus, no death and afterlife, if we didn’t have a soul and our whole existence was just in the affairs and pleasures of this earthly existence, then this would be one heck of a place. Sweden hasn’t gone to war in 200 years so they’ve had time to get their act together. And they have. But in the process the great majority has essentially abandoned their faith in God and any respect for the spirituality given us through the Word of God. It reminds me very much of what it says in Psalm 10:4, “God is not in all their thoughts.” I know and recognize it because this was totally the way I was from around 12 to nearly 21.
So as much as this is like a heaven on earth from one view, from another there’s an ominous sadness here for me as well. It’s like Jesus said about the man who’d gained much wealth and built bigger barns, “You fool. This night your soul will be required of you. Then whose shall those things be that you have stored up?” (Luke 12:20)
I think unbelief is one of the most difficult of all sins to overcome. Especially if you are also pretty much “a good person” as well. But conversely, “With God, nothing is impossible.” (Luke 1:37) The mindset so prevalent here is very similar to how I was and how so many people in the general northern and western part of the world are now.
Is there any way to end this on a happy note? I guess the thing is that, if the Lord can do it for me, He can do it for others. Zachariah 6:6 even amazingly says, after it says that the black horses go into the north countries, that “the white go forth after them”. And in history this part of the world has had centuries in the past where faith in God and Jesus was paramount. But it may take the fiercest rigors of the final days before the return of Jesus to shake some people here out of their atheist stupor. All we can do is pray, hope and continue to be a witness, as best we can.
The God of this world has blinded their eyes with materialism. Continued polarization of the servants of God and those of mammon.
Excellent insight! Thanks.
Oh yes — how can I relate to this living here in Germany! Even though they were broken and humiliated through both world wars, they chose the way of unbelief. But there is a deep yearning in their hearts, there are still christian values governing their actions, but in generla it is a cold spirit, and the spirit of the Lord is not present with some exceptions.
I just read an interesting book ”Gott und Deutschland” (God and Germany) — the first part explains how this big change from a Christian nation to a nearly atheist one took place in history (through unbelief!). Then the second part are prophecies — all very inspiring and promising a reviwal, not only in Germany, but Austria, Switzerland and even the Norther and Eastern nations of Europe. But yes, in some of these prophecies it says that there will be first a very tough time coming….and through it all the nations will be purged.
The new God of Europe and elsewhere is “tolerance”. Accepting others as they are and being nice to each other, trying in the flesh to establish peace and order and freedom-what I see as the Antichrist’s NWO politic. An attitude of “we can make it” and “we don’t need God for it and to help us”, looking at their scientists for solutions about the poluted destroyed world.
But there are sheep still, it’s tough gleaning, but it is worth it. The other day I gave out books about heaven, asking people first if they believe in life after death, and many young people said no. I answered with the question if life is worth living, if there is nothing afterwards, explaining that they may have it fairly good here but that they should think of all the many people in the world that are suffering. Is it worth for them to go through all of this if there would be nothing afterwards? They could just as well end their misery now. Such deep thinking made many quiet, some even took then the book assuring me to read it. To one girl I talked longer telling her of God’s love. She looked sad and troubled, I don’t remember all I told her and her answeres but all of a sudden she cheered up laughed happily and thanked me profusely, telling me I had helped her a lot. I then realized she was a Christian but had somehow lost faith and trust in God.
It is important to look on that and not the general unbelief and make through our own believe prophecies come to pass. A few years ago I came upon a website of young people that explained how God speaks to them and gave then also prophecies for Germany. I commented that we need to believe such prophecies and act on it to make them happen. If we don’t believe it, they cannot come true. They answered, thanking me for the encouragement and that my comment was a real leading light. – Who knows what God will do in the coming days? Let’s look with excitement and expectation forward! Love still never faileth.
Amen, lots of good thoughts and ideas there. God bless you for continueing to witness and to feed His sheep.
When its getting this dark spiritually the light is seen more brighter. The darkness thats spreading is testing how far it can go but it cant power get power over the true light which will follow, its like the testimonies and stories about the first missionaries that came, all the miracles of fighting the dragons and demons that had grown big and powerful but just a few men with God could defeat them, its the same situation again. Especially in Sweden its falling apart because of all the greed and corruption that is spreading fast from the top, its like many governments, not only here but all over the world, but it seems to be moving very quick here, people have not developed a resistance, no faith or Godly fear. But there is witnesses rising up in the big cities, pray for them as they are not seen in the media but on the streets and at the gates of the cities.
I remember witnessing in Gothenburg in 74 and it was so hard to get through the tough hard soul of the Swedes: I went aside for a moment of prayer as I was having a severe battle when I felt a hand on my shoulder; I turned to find this older woman with a very kind understanding face asking me what was the matter? Explained my frustration and she smiled and told me not to fret, but just do what u can each day and all will be well . I felt much better right away. She told me she had been a nurse in New York most her life and had come back home to Sweden to retire: I had the feeling she was an angelic type being who’d already passed away some decades ago. She had this totally different demeanor that was not consistent with our times. Almost like she’d come from the 1940s….
In a way it’s very understandable how people get blinded from the wealth of this world. After going through tough times as wars and poverty and finally being able to “have” things…that was not possible before.. it’s easy to forget and remember where you came from. I can just see in my own life…all the changes through the years. Thank God for all the faith and Christian beliefs that the Lord’s been teaching me (us)💞 We have to pray always and be in tune with the Lord’s spirit to take all the opportunities to let people know that it’s Not so hard to stop up and acknowledge the Lord in your daily walk. Bring God’s word and spirit down to a level where people can see and understand enough times and they will…at least in many cases get the hang of it. Happy witnessing 💞💞💞🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍🌷🌷🌷
Well, we live by christian values even do we not go to church and say prayers. We pay a large amount of money in taxes every month to the state in order to be able to help the poor, the sick and people in need of help. And has not gone to war for hundred of years. So, no we do not use His name for an excuse to go to war, make yourself a better person or ask for forgiveness in the name of… when we break the law or do something unmoral. Maybe you should step outside the box to be able to see under the surface. Just a thouht from nothern europe.
Hi and thanks for your comment. While I am American, my former wife is Norwegian and all my kids live in Scandinavia. I’m certainly no American apologist and my article was not meant in any way to be anti-Scandinavian. And I acknowledge that all you say there is true. The only thing is, from my experience and from reading what the people of the Bible said, our relationship with God involves more than being moral and paying taxes to the government for Christian matters. There is a spiritual world. We do have a soul that will leave our body after death. Jesus talked repeatedly about eternal life and how He came to give us that. So if we are moral people but also are unmoved and uninterested in the truths of God that He spoke through the prophets and His Son, then we have really missed the essence of God’s message and communication to us. That’s what I have experienced the hard way and what I was trying to communicate in my article. What people everywhere need is the love and truth of God and it’s up to us who know the Lord to continue to let our light shine before men. God bless you!
Mark, you explained the Black horse as a fundamental force that works in our world. Are you also inferring that the other 3 horses are other forces? If so can you please explain – I have not heard this “teaching” before.