The last in a series. Check the archives under Bible people and Faith to see the others.
Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.” (Zech 6:1-8)
First of all, you can't miss the similarities in this passage and the ones in Ezek 14:21 and Rev 6:1-8. Yes, you can find small differences, but the overall picture is what matters in figurative language, not the tiny details, and the picture here is judgment.
In Revelation the white horse is conquest, the red is war, the black is famine, and the pale horse is death, and they were given authority… to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Rev 6:8) In Ezekiel the judgments are sword (war), famine, wild beasts, and pestilence. Obviously, then, the chariots and horses in Zechariah are also judgments sent from God. In this case, the judgment is over the heathen.
Notice the full circle these visions have taken. In the first vision, the horses had gone out to patrol the earth and had reported to God that the heathen nations were "at rest." The next six visions deal with God's people and the promised kingdom. God would protect them, and any who hurt them would be dealt with. He would cleanse them, He would help them accomplish the task of rebuilding and be with them while they waited for the Messiah. His Law was still in effect and wickedness would be removed. And now, here, in the final vision, we are back to the pagans again. Only this time the horses are not coming back with a report. This time the horses are going out in judgment.
And so for us today, judgments from God keep coming. Nations have fallen in wars, earthquakes have shaken and destroyed great cities, volcanoes have erupted and left vibrant cities in ruins, storms have swept in and blown away homes and families. Sometimes we are caught in those judgments, but God does not forget who we are and what is happening to us. (His faithful are marked in both Revelation and Ezekiel.) God is calling for repentance among the pagans. He is giving them another chance, and we may yet lie under the altar with the martyrs before it's over, asking Him, "How long?"
The message is clear. You may have to wait a long time, but the time will come. God will judge the unbelieving. He will avenge his slaughtered and persecuted people. He has brought them all together in a pure kingdom under a mighty Messiah—forever.
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ (Dan 7:18)
Dene Ward
Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.” (Zech 6:1-8)
First of all, you can't miss the similarities in this passage and the ones in Ezek 14:21 and Rev 6:1-8. Yes, you can find small differences, but the overall picture is what matters in figurative language, not the tiny details, and the picture here is judgment.
In Revelation the white horse is conquest, the red is war, the black is famine, and the pale horse is death, and they were given authority… to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Rev 6:8) In Ezekiel the judgments are sword (war), famine, wild beasts, and pestilence. Obviously, then, the chariots and horses in Zechariah are also judgments sent from God. In this case, the judgment is over the heathen.
Notice the full circle these visions have taken. In the first vision, the horses had gone out to patrol the earth and had reported to God that the heathen nations were "at rest." The next six visions deal with God's people and the promised kingdom. God would protect them, and any who hurt them would be dealt with. He would cleanse them, He would help them accomplish the task of rebuilding and be with them while they waited for the Messiah. His Law was still in effect and wickedness would be removed. And now, here, in the final vision, we are back to the pagans again. Only this time the horses are not coming back with a report. This time the horses are going out in judgment.
And so for us today, judgments from God keep coming. Nations have fallen in wars, earthquakes have shaken and destroyed great cities, volcanoes have erupted and left vibrant cities in ruins, storms have swept in and blown away homes and families. Sometimes we are caught in those judgments, but God does not forget who we are and what is happening to us. (His faithful are marked in both Revelation and Ezekiel.) God is calling for repentance among the pagans. He is giving them another chance, and we may yet lie under the altar with the martyrs before it's over, asking Him, "How long?"
The message is clear. You may have to wait a long time, but the time will come. God will judge the unbelieving. He will avenge his slaughtered and persecuted people. He has brought them all together in a pure kingdom under a mighty Messiah—forever.
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ (Dan 7:18)
Dene Ward
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