THE FOUR CHARIOTS

            Zechariah 6:1-8

          In Zechariah 6, the prophet sees his last two visions: the four chariots (v.1-8) and the crowning of Joshua (v.9-15). The first vision is interpreted in verses 5 and 6. It speaks of apocalyptic agents pouring judgment upon world powers. Coleman Luke makes an interesting observation between the four horsemen in chapter 1:7-17 and four charioteers: “at the beginning of this unforgettable night the prophet saw angel riders, led by the pre-incarnate Christ, appearing to give their reports to Jehovah after riding to and from through the earth. Their report that wicked nations were at rest while God's people were sorely distressed greatly displeased the Lord. Now in the present vision, shown to Zechariah just before the break of dawn, the angels are seen going forth...to execute God's judgment upon the nations. This judgment falls on them especially because of their treatment of His ancient people, whom God has not cast away in spite of their failures” (Zechariah, p.62).

          Verses 1-3: Now I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses.”

          The first thing that captures our attention in this vision are “the four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze”. These chariots are drawn by horses of various colors: Red, black, white, and dappled. Though we are not told what these colors represent, Scripture often symbolizes the red as war, the black as famine or death, the white as victory or conquest, and the dappled or speckled as pestilence (Revelation 6:1-8). The drivers of these chariots are not mentioned until the prophet asks for their explanation: “these are the four spirits of heaven” (v.4-5). The context seems to link them with the four angels of Revelation 7:3, “the four angels that have been given power to harm the land and the sea” and, therefore, could not be the four world empires of Daniel 2 or 7 as some contend. Most likely these charioteers are the same as the ones in Zechariah 1:8, symbolizing God’s angelic agents swiftly carrying out His judgments on the nations prior to the establishment of his messianic kingdom. As Dr. McComiskey explains: “The chariot-winds are under the supervision of God, for according to Zechariah, they present themselves to God before going into the world. They comprise a complex symbol representing forces active in the world that God uses to his own ends” (The Minor Prophets, p.1107). Angels are in charge of the judgments which will be coming upon the gentile nations described in the Revelation 6-18.

          These four chariots are said to come from between “two bronze mountains”. Brass/bronze is often used in Scripture to symbolize “judgment”. John MacArthur states that these two bronze mountains: “Represent the reality of God’s judgment on the nations who attack Israel, the two mountains are probably Mt. Zion and the Mt. Of Olives, where the Lord will return and judge (Joel 3:2,12,14; Zach.14:4). This valley, called Jehoshaphat (Jehovah judges) could refer to the Kidron Valley between these two mountains. Jews, Christians, and even Muslims have long taught that the last judgment will be there. The bronze has a symbolic relationship to judgment as in the case of the bronze serpent (Num.21: 9) and/or the bronze altar (Ex.27: 2) where sin was dealt with by God” (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1345).

          Verses 4-8: Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel answered and said to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth, the one with the black horses is going forth to the North Country; and the white ones go forth after them, while the dappled ones go forth to the south country. “When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth” And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.” (New American Standard Bible)

          As the chariots and their riders “go out from standing in the presence of the Lord”, we see the black and white horses going toward the north country while the dapple or speckled horses toward the south. Only the red horse remains unaccounted for and no further explanation is given. Those to the north represent BABYLON and those toward the south represent EGYPT, the two principle nations that oppressed Israel. As mentioned before, Zechariah’s visions were to comfort and encourage the rebuilding of the Temple since there was a time of peace throughout the Persian kingdom. However, the distant future is also implied as Revelation 17 and 18 seems to indicate.

          No nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated with it than Babylon. The names used in the Bible for this north country is Babylon, the land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means “between two rivers” which is the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq means country with deep roots and that is what Babylon has been. Consider some of the significant events of this region:

1. The Garden of Eden (Gen.2:10-14)

2. Adam and Eve were created (Gen.2:7-8)

3. Satan made his first recorded appearance here (Gen.3:1-6)

4. Nimrod established Babylon where the Tower of Babel was built (Gen.10_8-9; 11:1-4)

5. The confusion of languages (Gen.11:5-11)

6. Abraham came from a city in Iraq (Gen.11:31; Acts 7:2-4)

7. Isaac’s bride came from Iraq (Gen.24:3-4,10)

8. Jacob spent over 20 years in Iraq (Gen.27: 42-45; 31:38)

9. The first world empire was in Iraq (Dan.1:1-2; 2:36-38)

10. Jonah was sent to Nineveh, which is in Iraq (Jonah 3)

11. The events of Esther took place in Iraq (The Book of Esther)

12. Nahum prophesied against Nineveh, a city in Iraq (the Book of Nahum)

13. Revelation 17 and 18 are prophecies against Babylon

          God introduced monotheism in the Garden of Eden where He intended to continually walk with man. But sin ended that relationship when Adam and Eve obeyed the Serpent instead of the Lord. Since that time there has been continual enmity between God and Satan. Not too long into the Genesis account, we read of a large Tower being erected. It was this Tower where polytheism was introduced and from Babylon it proliferated throughout the world introducing a religious system that ultimately ends in the worship of Satan (Revelation 13). That is why Babylon stands so prominently throughout Scripture as God’s ultimate target for judgment and complete annihilation. Only when religious Babylon (Rev.17) and commercial Babylon (Rev.18) are destroyed will His word be fulfilled: “Look, those going toward the North Country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north” (v.8).

          David Baron explains this end-time drama: “We may, therefore, say with confidence that we are on the eve of the most solemn events in the world’s history, and are very fast approaching ‘the day’ not only of our own final and complete ‘redemption’ as believers at the manifestation of Christ, but the ‘set time.’ When God shall again arise and have mercy upon Zion, and when, through the restoration and blessing of Israel, ‘the nations shall fear the Name of Jehovah, and all kings of the earth His glory.” (Visions of Zechariah p183).

         THE FOUR CHARIOTEERS

              THE FINAL ACT UPON LIFE’S STAGE

              THAT SATISFIED GOD’S HOLY RAGE

              DESCRIBE FOUR CHARIOTS ON THEIR WAY

              DISPLAYING VENGEANCE ON THEIR PREY.

              WHO ARE THESE MIGHTY-SPIRIT BEINGS

              BEHIND THESE COLOR-PAINTED STEEDS?

              THEY ARE MESSIAH’S MESSENGERS

              DESTROYING JUDAH’S PREDATORS.

              THE PLAN OF YAHWEH ON DISPLAY

              WAS VIEWED IN PERSIA’S MIGHT THAT DAY

              DESTROYING BABYLON’S WILLFUL PRIDE

              WITH SOVEREIGN JUSTICE SATISFIED.

              YET STRETCHED BEYOND THIS PRESENT SCENE

              ARE VISIONS THAT FOUR HORSEMEN BRING

              AS TRIBULATION WRATH TAKES PLACE

              POURED OUT UPON THE HUMAN RACE.

              THESE REVELATION COLORED STEEDS

              PORTRAY GOD’S WRATH ON EVIL DEEDS

              AS ARMAGEDDON FORCES MEET

              GOD’S GLORIOUS PLAN WILL BE COMPLETE.

                                    Thought questions

1. THE PROPHET SEES FOUR CHARIOTS COMING FROM BETWEEN TWO BRONZE MOUNTAINS. WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT INDICATE?

2. WHAT DO THESE FOUR CHARIOTS REPRESENT (V.5)? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHAT DIRECTION ARE THEY HEADING AND WHY?

3. SINCE THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THESE COLORED STEED/CHARIOTS, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE COLORED HORSES OF REVELATION 6:1-8? WHY DO YOU THINK THERE MAY BE A POSSIBLE CONNECTION OR PARALLEL?

4. VERSE 8 INDICATES THAT HIS “SPIRIT IS AT REST IN THE LAND OF THE NORTH.” WHAT PRESENT AND FUTURE FULFILLMENT MIGHT HE BE SPEAKING ABOUT? CAN YOU SEE WHERE THIS DRAMA IS HEADING AND HOW GOD IS PREPARING ISRAEL FOR ARMAGEDDON AND MESSIAH’S FUTURE REIGN?