1 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country.” 7 Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. 8 And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.”
The final vision portrays the universal reign of Jehovah. This is the vision of the four chariots, which unveils the cosmic future of Israel.
6:1
Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold,
Zechariah now saw the eighth and final vision.
four chariots were coming from between two mountains,
The “four chariots” may parallel the four horses of Zechariah 1:8.
and the mountains were mountains of bronze.
The two mountains of bronze, which in the Old Testament was an alloy of copper and zinc, symbolize God’s judgment.
6:2
With the first chariot were red horses,
The different-colored horses may symbolize universal judgment, which will go in different directions. The “red horses” may represent the carnage of bloodshed.
with the second chariot black horses,
“Black horses” may indicate the sorrow of death.
6:3
with the third chariot white horses,
“White horses” may speak of victory.
and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds.
“Dappled” horses or horses with a variety of colors pulled the fourth chariot. This may symbolize plagues to come upon the earth.
6:4
Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
Zechariah asked the meaning of the horses and bronze mountains.
6:5
And the angel answered and said to me,
The interpreting angel answered Zechariah.
“These are four spirits [winds] of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
Four spirits or winds went in different directions. They were commissioned by the “Lord of all the earth.” This name may reference the Millennial rule of the Messiah over all the earth.
These “four spirits” may represent angels who carry divine judgment to the nations of the world. The judgment is universal, affecting the world as a whole.
6:6
The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them,
The “north country” was where idolatry originated. Babylon was located towards the north and east. Two chariots headed north. The “white” horses followed the black horses to Babylon.
and the dappled are going toward the south country.”
One chariot went south to Egypt, so enemies of Israel came mainly from the north and south.
6:7
Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He [the Lord] said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth.
The Lord commanded the steeds to patrol the earth then execute judgment on it.
6:8
And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying,
The Lord called to Zechariah and spoke to him.
“See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.”
“My Spirit” probably means God’s wrath upon Babylon that deemed itself unassailable (Zech 1:15). After God executes judgment on the nation, His Spirit will be at rest.
PRINCIPLE:
The battle of Armageddon will conclude God’s judgment on the earth.
APPLICATION:
The first eight verses of Zechariah 6 may refer to the fall of Babylon in the future (Re 18:2, 10, 21; 19:1-3). The nation will receive its just judgment (Re 19:2, 15-19). This judgment will take place at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon at the Second Coming of Christ.
The events of the eighth vision may refer to when Jesus will come the second time and split the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4-5).
In the fifth year of Darius, Babylon revolted against him. Egypt revolted against Darius but was reconquered by Xerxes in 485 B.C. Alexander confiscated it from the Persians in 332 B.C.
