Zec 6:1-8 | KingComments | STEP | After the seven previous night visions, follows the eighth and last night vision. Zechariah sees four chariots. They represent the four world empires, while we see that God is completely in control of them. In Daniel 2 the empires are also represented, but then Nebuchadnezzar sees them, namely as a great statue ( ). In Daniel 7 they appear again, but then Daniel sees them, namely as senseless beasts ( ). Zechariah also sees them in as senseless beasts. Kingdoms are nothing in themselves and can only do what pleases God. We see this in the two mountains, probably Mount Moria (or Zion) and Mount of Olives. Both mountains play an important role in the history of Jerusalem and in prophecy. Between the two mountains is the valley of Jehoshaphat – meaning “ Yahweh judges” – where the nations will be judged ( ). The mountains are said to be made of bronze (cf. ). Bronze is a picture of the righteousness of God connected to the judgment ( ). God upholds His right when He judges hostile nations and protects His people, the believing remnant, from judgment. God always reaches His goal and does so in a perfectly righteous way. The empires believe that they can do what they want. But here we see these empires with the eyes of the prophet, with the eyes of faith. We see how God directs the empires in their way. The chariots symbolize the government of God, Who is on His way to carry out His judgment on the four empires. The chariots of history go the way God wants. They accomplish the will of God without knowing it themselves. God directs history in such a way that His purpose is achieved. The fact that there are four chariots indicates the universal of God’s directing. We see this in expressions like “four winds of the heavens” ( ; ), “the four ends of heaven” ( ) and “the four corners of the earth” ( ).

‏ Zechariah 6:1-8

Four Chariots and Two Bronze Mountains

After the seven previous night visions, follows the eighth and last night vision. Zechariah sees four chariots. They represent the four world empires, while we see that God is completely in control of them. In Daniel 2 the empires are also represented, but then Nebuchadnezzar sees them, namely as a great statue (Dan 2:31-33). In Daniel 7 they appear again, but then Daniel sees them, namely as senseless beasts (Dan 7:1-7). Zechariah also sees them in Zec 6:2-3 as senseless beasts.

Kingdoms are nothing in themselves and can only do what pleases God. We see this in the two mountains, probably Mount Moria (or Zion) and Mount of Olives. Both mountains play an important role in the history of Jerusalem and in prophecy. Between the two mountains is the valley of Jehoshaphat – meaning “Yahweh judges” – where the nations will be judged (Joel 3:12). The mountains are said to be made of bronze (cf. Psa 36:7). Bronze is a picture of the righteousness of God connected to the judgment (Num 16:37-40). God upholds His right when He judges hostile nations and protects His people, the believing remnant, from judgment.

God always reaches His goal and does so in a perfectly righteous way. The empires believe that they can do what they want. But here we see these empires with the eyes of the prophet, with the eyes of faith. We see how God directs the empires in their way. The chariots symbolize the government of God, Who is on His way to carry out His judgment on the four empires. The chariots of history go the way God wants. They accomplish the will of God without knowing it themselves. God directs history in such a way that His purpose is achieved.

The fact that there are four chariots indicates the universal of God’s directing. We see this in expressions like “four winds of the heavens” (Zec 2:6; Eze 37:9), “the four ends of heaven” (Jer 49:36) and “the four corners of the earth” (Rev 7:1).

The Four Chariots and the Horses

The description of the horses is somewhat similar to that in Zechariah 1 (Zec 1:8; cf. Rev 6:3-8). The similarity is that in both visions there are different colored horses. Apart from that, there are only differences. In Zechariah 1 we see only horses, with riders on them. They go over the earth to record the state of affairs and report about it (Zec 1:8-11). Here they are war chariots with horses to carry out God’s judgments (Psa 68:17). Each chariot has its own area (Zec 6:6).

The Four Spirits of Heaven

Zechariah wants to know the meaning of the chariots (Zec 6:4). He asks “the angel”, which is the Angel of the LORD, whom he addresses with “Lord”, Adonai. The Angel answers that the chariots are “the four spirits of heaven” (cf. 7:1; Dan 7:2). They are powers that are sent out from heaven. It means that the four empires going forth are called up from heaven. In Psalm 104 winds – wind and spirit is the same word in Hebrew – are the messengers of God who carry out His will (Psa 104:4).

All these powers have as their point of departure “the Lord of all the earth” (cf. Zec 4:14). The name of God has been “the God of heaven” since the exile. But God never gives up His claims to the earth. In order to maintain His claims He uses the ruling powers. They are under the providence of God Himself. He determines where they go, without them being able to deviate from the path He wants them to go. We see that in the two mountains of bronze they walk between. They are controlled by demonic powers, which are completely under God’s control.

Nations fight each other, but the demonic powers in the heavenly places that govern them do not fight each other, but God and His people. The main reason for the existence of the realm of Babylon is that through them God wanted to discipline the Assyrians for their attitude towards Israel. He also wanted to use the Babylonians as a means of discipline for His people because of their unfaithfulness. But when they violate His people, they are in turn given into the power of the next empire.

Where the Horses Are Going Forth to

About the red horses, where we can think of Babylon, nothing more is said because this empire is already over. The black horses represent the Medes and Persians. They go to the north where the Babylonian world empire is and subdue it. Then come the white horses, representing the Greek-Macedonian empire, and they conquer the Medo-Persian empire. Then come the horses representing the Roman world empire which also conquer the land of the south, which is Egypt, making Egypt a province of the Roman empire.

The strong horses, the Romans, want to subdue the whole earth and not just the country in the north and the country in the south. They can only fulfill their desire under God’s permission. They are not aware of this. We don’t read that in the history books either. But for faith this is reality.

God’s Wrath Appeased

God cries out to Zechariah and then speaks to him. The fact that the crying out of God precedes His speaking means that it is an urgent call to pay attention for what He is about to say. He tells Zechariah that He wanted the judgment of Babylon to appease His wrath. Literally it says “caused My spirit to rest in”. This is a thing of the past in Zechariah’s time.

God’s Spirit had no rest when His people stayed in Babylon. He worked in Cyrus to call His people to return to their land (Ezra 1:1-3). Cyrus carried out the judgments of God on the Chaldeans. He helped, favored and redeemed God’s people. All this is very pleasing to God. It has calmed His Spirit.