CHAPTER 6

There are two parts to the vision in chapter 6. The first part continues the thought of judgment from the last chapter. The second part prophesies of the Messiah.

1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

Chariots and horses are symbolic of war. God is sending these chariots drawn by different colored horses into the world to accomplish His judgments. The red horses represent war, the black horses represent calamities, the white horses represent victory and joy, and the grisled and bay horses represent disease. Through these things God is fulfilling His purpose in all men: to draw them to a decision. They will either trust in God or not!

Make no mistake, the wars, calamities and diseases of this world have come about by man's sin. However, though we do not understand it, God uses these things to bring man to a DECISION about Him.

These are the "four spirits of the heavens" dispensed to earth. And they are under the CONTROL of God as we see in verse 5, because they "go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth."

The "black" AND "white" went into the north country. Calamity went but also victory and joy! And the result was that God's "spirit" is "quieted" in the north country. Through calamities, God had brought victory and joy because the aggressive nature of the Babylonians had been quieted by the Medes and Persians. Cyrus had conquered the Babylonian empire. Later, in Darius' 5th year, Babylon rebelled. But Darius squashed their rebellion and scattered their citizenry. God used these circumstances to bring "victory and joy" to His people.

As a result of these actions, along with the diseases and pestilences of the "south," Israel was afforded an opportunity to build the temple again, and to rebuild their country. This rebuilding provided favor in the sight of all world powers until God brought Messiah from the nation. And that is what the rest of this vision reveals.

9 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Immediately following this final vision in the series of 7, Zechariah receives a direct "word" from God for action. He is to build a crown for Joshua, the high priest. Now, we all understand that a crown represents rulership. However, Joshua of that day only had the priesthood. Zerubbabel had the governorship or ruling authority over the people.

This particular crown is one with at least two circlets. The high priest of that day did not wear a crown. He wore a mitre made of linen which had a gold piece tied to it.

Ezekiel had said, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." (Ezek 21:26-27)

The governorship had been defiled and the priesthood had been defiled. Therefore God had removed BOTH! And this prophecy is to foretell of the Messiah Who will have BOTH authorities.

That's why this crown is to be a "memorial" to those seeing the coronation of Joshua. The One to come and fulfill this prophecy will be both King and Priest! He is named "the Branch" (see Zechariah 3:8). Messiah will be a "branch" "out of the stock of Jessie" (Isaiah 11:1). He will be a "righteous branch" (Jeremiah 23:5). In Zechariah 3:8, He is the servant of God and named "BRANCH." This "branch" fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 43:11 which says, "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." He is God incarnate! Compare Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

In the New Testament, Jesus is proclaimed "King of kings, Lord of lords" (1Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16). JESUS is "the BRANCH;" the One whom Zechariah prophesied that would have authority over all the people and authority of the eternal priesthood!

Yes, my friends, Jesus is THE BRANCH! He is from the root and stock of Jessie, coming from the descendents of David. He is also the only "Righteous Branch," becuase He is God incarnate!

It is therefore the right of JESUS to rule and reign over all men's destiny! It is the right of JESUS to determine and decide the eternal existence of all men's souls!

Have you surrendered your life to Him?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.