The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 6, Part 1

The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 6, Part 1

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.

In these first few verses (1-8) of chapter 6, the visions (which all occurred in one night) are completed. It is interesting to note that a cycle is completed with this vision. In the first chapter we saw four horsemen. Here we see four chariots (with implied horses and horsemen). We have come full circle.

Some people say there are 8 visions, some 10. Either way, here s what we ve seen so far: Chapter 1: 4 Horsemen, 4 Horns, 4 Carpenters Chapter 2: Man with a measuring line Chapter 3: Joshua Accused, The Branch Chapter 4: The Unusual Menorah and 2 Olive Trees Chapter 5: The Flying Scroll, Woman in the Ephah Chapter 6: The 4 Chariots (with horses and drivers)

The remainder of this chapter (v 9-15) is not a vision, but an actual event which foreshadows the crowning of the Messiah in the Millennial Kingdom. We will cover that portion of this chapter in another lesson.

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.

It seems every time Zechariah turns he sees something else. This is the last of the night visions. In almost every vision, Zechariah or the angel use the word behold! This word is hinneh in Hebrew, and is used to get attention, or to show surprise. Whatever is being discussed with this word, is not the norm, but something to pay attention to. Zechariah has been overwhelmed with surprising visions, all in one night.

In most of our English versions we read that the chariots he sees were coming from between two mountains. This sounds as if they could be any mountains. However, in the original Hebrew, the definite article the is used, making this between THE two mountains.

The mountains are not identified, but most commentators believe it might refer to the two most important in Jerusalem, Mt. Zion and the Mount of Olives. Both play key roles in end times prophecies. This is speculation, but remember the principle that scripture is Jerusalem-centric. Everything revolves around Jerusalem (unless specifically told otherwise).

This makes sense considering what lies between these two mountains: The Valley of Jehoshaphat.

I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:2)

12 Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow For their wickedness is great.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. 16 The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:12-16)

This should sound very familiar to what we have studied in Revelation and Isaiah: And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:15)

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15) Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? (Isaiah 63:2) All these scriptures are coming together to reveal one event the return of Yeshua and judgment on the nations.

Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:3-4)

For millennia the Valley of Kidron has been associated with the Valley of Jehoshaphat (which means YHVH judges) Zechariah 6

The Kidron Valley (Nahal Qidron) is on the eastern side of the Old City of Jerusalem, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 6

Mountains of bronze Bronze (brass) is a Levitical symbol of judgment in scripture. The brass serpent (Numbers 21:9) In the Tabernacle in two pieces of furniture used symbolically for judgment of sin: The brazen altar and the laver of brass. These both stood in the outer court of the Tabernacle. It seems these mountains indicate God s judgment on the nations, which will come, possibly, through the Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat).

COMMENTARY: The two mountains, which in the Hebrew have the definite article, indicating that they are well known, and which, as we may gather from the 5th verse, are associated with the presence, or special dwellingplace, of the Lord of the whole earth, are very probably Mount Zion and Mount Olivet, viewed as ideal mountains, and as the place whence God s judgments go forth over the world. This is the more likely true explanation, since the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the meaning of which is Jehovah shall judge ), which lies between these two mountains, or hills, is associated in the prophetic Scriptures with God s judgments upon the nations (Joel 3:2). (Baron)

An interesting thought The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands (Psalm 68:17) Perhaps these 4 merely represent the 4 corners of the earth and the chariots of God are beyond number!

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?

In this final vision we seem to make a complete circle, back to the first vision where Zechariah saw those four recon angels. I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth. So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly. (1:8, 10, 11)

These horsemen have been patrolling the earth, walking to and fro but reported back that the earth was at peace. In other words, God s judgment of the nations had not yet begun. Here in the final vision that judgment is finally unleashed. However, we should note that these horses are a different set of colors from those in the first chapter. In the first vision they were red, sorrel and white. Here they are red, black, white and dappled.

Immediately we should be reminded of the obvious comparison to four other horses we have seen in scripture, what are commonly called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from Revelation 6. 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword

I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine. 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:selected)

Zechariah 6 Zechariah 1 Revelation 6 Revelation 19 1 st red 1 st red (Angel of the LORD) 1 st white (AC conquering) 2 nd black 2 nd red 2 nd : (fiery) red (warfare) 3 rd white 4 th dappled (speckled) spotted, as if with hail Given command from God to ride out with judgment 3 rd : sorrel (note, word for sorrel means bright red (as piercing to the sight), can also be speckled. May in fact be a more intense red ( fiery red Rev 6?) 4 th white Perhaps white may mean God s victory in judgments of Zechariah 6. (see Revelation 19) Recon forces patrolling earth at God s command, providing report all at peace (Judgment of nations has not commenced.) 3 rd black (economic collapse) 4 th pale (death, pestilence) Tribulation judgments White horses for Yeshua and the saints ultimate in judgment and conquering. Ultimate battle, destruction of sin, victory for God and saints

Perhaps the 4 th horse (speckled) is a mixture of judgments? Or it may refer to a similar pale color of death (the 4 th horse of Revelation 6). This fourth horse in this vision is grisled and bay (per KJV, others translate dappled ) which most have interpreted as spotted or speckled. The Hebrew word for grisled is barod, meaning spotted as if by hail (hail is a tool of judgment in scripture!). But the word for bay is amutsim (plural), strong, or strong in color. Some argue this word is not strong, but a strong red color! BIG war!

Basic understanding is that white represents conquering (other nations or God Himself conquering sin), red stands for warfare, black indicates economic woes, and the pale horse is sickness, plagues and death. God works His judgment in many different ways, including conquering nations, warfare, plagues, disease, economic crashes, etc. The colors may simply give us hints as to the type of judgment God will use at any given time.

Some say the 4 chariots represent the 4 nations that conquer one another (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) that we saw in Daniel 2 and 7. We ve already seen these as the four carpenters in Chapter 1 that destroy the powers before them. Even if this is true, these horsemen and chariots are judgments from God.

COMMENTARY: I am inclined to identify these four chariots with the vision which John saw in the Apocalypse, speaking of that which is yet future. In fact, Revelation 6 opens with John s vision of the Great Tribulation period by presenting to us four horsemen, and there is a striking correspondence between them and Zechariah s vision of the four chariots. We have seen in chapter 5 the visions of judgment primarily with reference to the people of Israel, but here in chapter 6 God s judgment is upon the gentile nations which have oppressed God s people. It reveals not only a past judgment but a future judgment which is to come during the Great Tribulation period. (McGee)

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.

Once again Zechariah has to ask about what he sees. His visions are somewhat recognizable in form and shape, but different from anything he has ever seen before. Since this is the final vision of the Zechariah is most likely exhausted! These are the four spirits of heaven The Hebrew literally says the four ruach Shamayim which means spirits of the heavens (plural)..

The book of Zechariah is full of fours as we have already seen. Four is the number of the ordinal directions of the earth, and in these applications is used to indicate the ENTIRE earth is involved in these judgments. These spirits have a permanent station. They stand before the Lord of all the earth. They are the ones we most likely saw in chapter 1, who go throughout the earth, watching, and doing Elohim s will at His command.

the Lord = Hebrew adon, not the name of YHVH. This word means the sovereign, the Master. The Ruler of all things. THE BOSS!! Lord of all the earth also may indicate a reference to the Millennium when Yeshua, the Almighty Himself, will rule the whole earth. In chapter 1 these spirits were watching and reporting. Here they are moving out at the command of the Master of the Universe.

This reminds us of the command given by the living creatures in Revelation 6 to each of the four horsemen. It likely, in fact, relates to exactly the same event: worldwide judgment at the end of time. In Revelation the first horse s command reads like this in the NKJV: Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1)

These words in Greek can also mean Go! It is clear there is a command to go forth and execute God s judgment. That is precisely what is happening in this last vision of Zechariah. These charioteers are angelic beings sent on a mission by the Most High God. These are always 4- fold when it comes to the earthly creation, and implyies judgment that covers the entire 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.

We must remember always that all scripture is Israel-centric. North is the direction of most of Israel s enemies. It is the direction of those powers that overcame and scattered Israel. It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for north is tsaphon, which is literally hidden or dark, gloomy and unknown. The word for south is teyman, which literally means on the right hand (of a person facing east).

We have only two of 4 ordinal directions provided here, north and south. That is because from Israel you can t go west by land without landing in the Mediterranean Sea! And east are the barren deserts of Arabia. Zechariah 6

So, here we have the black horses, followed by the white horses, going north. Perhaps this might mean judgment comes in the form of economic disasters, and conquest by other nations or powers. The dappled (or strong red!) horses are going south. If we interpret the speckled horses as plagues and pestilence, they would bring judgment in the form of disease and death and other plagues. If we interpret them as strong red horses, perhaps they bring war.

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.

There is discussion about the word strong used here. It either means literal strength (as these horses have more strength and power than the others) or it means strong red color. If red represents war as a tool of judgment, and if these horses are going to and fro throughout the earth, then they are bringing world wide war. This is likely from what we know of other apocalyptic scriptures.

May also mean that after black, white and dappled horses have executed their judgments in the north and the south, then all of them (all strong) release God s judgments on the entire earth at that time. Go, walk to and fro Hebrew for walk to and fro here is not the stroll we are thinking. The word is halak and has a number of close meanings including, spread out speedily, travel, journey, etc. This is not a walk in the park. This is the command to spread God s judgment throughout the entire earth.

This may point to what we know of the 3 sets of judgments in the Tribulation. They get progressively worse until they cover the earth and are so bad few will survive. The last set, the bowl judgments, seem to be poured out one after the other to compound the disasters and judgments of the final days.

We see here also that these horses are eager (chomping at the bit so to speak!) to go out and bring God s judgment throughout the earth. They know what that means. The era of man s dominion is coming to a fast close and God will take the reins and rule instead of man!

7 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.

Again, traditionally Israel s enemies have come from the north. The initial rebellions against God were in the north, and Babylon is famed for its rebellion both as a type in scripture and as an actual power. Many believe this statement that His Spirit has been given rest by the horses that dispensed judgment in the north is all about not only Israel s greatest enemies getting their due, but more about the final destruction of Babylon. (representing everything in opposition to God)

Still others believe this is a reference to current powers in the north, including Russia, who is named as the ringleader of the Gog and Magog battle of Ezekiel 38-39, still in the future. However we look at this, God is commanding the execution of His judgments on the nations, north and south and worldwide, and we know this happens at the end of the Tribulation.

This final vision concludes the history of Israel in a nutshell of Zechariah s visions. These visions cover a huge span of time, from Israel s then current place of struggle returning from captivity, to the end of this age through the Tribulation described in Revelation. God is withholding His judgments until the precise time He has already determined. This vision coincides with that time of Revelation.

What happens next in this chapter is NOT a vision, but an actual incident that foreshadows what happens AFTER the Tribulation, after God s judgment has been poured out, and our Priest and King Yeshua takes His Throne in the Millennial Kingdom.