Zechariah 6

[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.

·         The 8^th and final vision

·         The four horsemen from chapter 1 now re-appear to book-end the vision. The idea is that

·         The mountains of brass represent strength and power. Some commentators think that since this is Jerusalem the two mountains are Olives and Temple mount.

[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.

·         We should resist the urge to import a later meaning from Rev 6 to this and assert the red is war, black is pestilence, white is victory, and bay is death.

·         I’m not sure what that leaves us with however, I don’t want to over sell the significance of the colors.

[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.

·         There are four spirits because four is the number of the earth (four compass directions)

[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.

·         There were really only the north and south to go from Jerusalem to encounter a world power. East and West didn’t make sense, therefore God sends His eyes, or angels, into the world powers to punish them, or stir them up

[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.

·         Because of their work to the north the Persian culture has become quiet.

·         The meaning is likely that God is going to stir up judgment against the Persians and deliver the Jews from the northern empire

·         This might be the wrath that went out from God and brought quiet to the world. The space between the mountains would be the garden of Gethsemane.

[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;

·         The prophet was to take the gift of some of the recent returnees, allowing their participation

[11] Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

·         Here the crown’s plural means multiple crowns done together into a single, elaborate crown. This is the same thought in Rev 19:12 where Jesus is crowned with many crowns.

·         It was unthinkable to crown the high priest as a king, this was to point toward Jesus, who would be the priest/king

[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:

·         The same reference is given here to BRANCH as in 3:8.

·         The priest king would build the temple. This was fulfilled in Christ who built His body, the temple

[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.

·         Jesus would be the one who has the Glory, the throne, the priesthood. He will bring all the offices across all time together in Himself.

·         And He will be called, Prince of Peace. The justified have their peace in Him.

[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.

·         The crown was to be shown to Joshua, it was not to be given to him. Christ was the one who would wear the many circlets together as a crown

·         This was the crown of thorns, twisted together, that the soldiers placed upon Him

[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.

·         Another reference to Christ’s work coming to the Gentiles