Zechariah 1:18-21 - The Four Horns & Four Craftsmen

The prophet looked and saw four horns
As nations rise to rule the world
He asked the angel who these were
"They scattered Jews throughout the earth."

The prophet Daniel saw the same
Four monstrous beasts rose from the sea
Babylon & Persia, Greece & Rome
Gentile powers til Christ's return.

A frightening sight at last appeared
A ten-horned monster looking weired
And from its head a little horn
The beast of Revelation born.

But then four craftsmen did arise
To terrify these national horns
They are the agents God had sent
Until all earthly rule is spent.

The first was Cyrus, Persia's king
Who conquered Babylon from within
Then Alexander ruled from Greece
Destroying Xerxes' ocean fleet.

The power of Rome where Caesar ruled
Crushed all the kings of Grecian fame
Yet from within corruption flowed
Until through time it did implode.

Then in the vision Daniel saw
Ten horns revived where Rome once stood
But to its feet of iron-clay
The "Rock" of Ages crushed its prey.

The final craftsman is that "Stone"
Where Christ will rule from Israel's throne
And all the kingdoms of this world
Will then confess that Christ is Lord.
--B. Pent

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. Whom do the "horns" in verses 19-20 represent and why is this symbol used?

2. "Horns" in Scripture represent "power" and "authority." What "power" is described in Daniel 7:8,11,20-21 and about whom is it speaking?

3. In Daniel 7:3, four "great beasts" are said to come out of the sea, each representing a different nation. Then in Daniel 8 he identifies two of them as a ram with two horns and a goat with one horn which later becomes 4 horns. Can you identify these Nations?

4. The "craftsmen" refer to divine agents used to destroy other nations. Daniel 2 describes the rise and fall of the four world empires. How and by whom were they destroyed?

5. During the time of the revived Roman Empire described by the feet of iron and clay, a final "agent" is seen toppling the last "horn." Who is it and how does that fit into our text?