Four Chariots and a Crown

Zechariah 6:1-15 
 
Zechariah sees multiple visions at night, and then he gives a few messages to the people. We will read about one of those visions and one of those messages.
 
Zechariah Sees Four Chariots. 
 
In verses 1-8: 

• 1st chariot – red horses – bloodshed.
• Revelation 6:4. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
• 2nd chariot – black horses – famine & death – north – Babylon.
• Revelation 6:5, And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And l beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
• 3rd chariot – white horses – followed – victory.
• Revelation 6:2, And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering. and to conquer.
• 4th chariot – grizzled & bay – south – Egypt – plagues.
• Revelation 6:8, And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
• The four winds, the four horsemen of the apocalypse?
• Matthew 24:31, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
• Revelation 7:1. And after these things 1 saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
• The two mountains – Mount Olives, Mount Zion. They were mountains of brass, which represents divine judgment and between them is God's judgment of the world.
• Zechariah 14
• The chariots represent the vehicles of judgment, power & authority.
• Zechariah said the execution of judgment had calmed God’s indignation.
• God is irate with wrongdoing and with the underhanded (Psalm 7:11), and his outrage is communicated in judgment.
• Much as we like to focus on God’s adoration and kindness, outrage and judgment are likewise important for his upright character.
• On the off chance that we have unconfessed or constant sin in our lives, we are to admit it and get some distance from it.
• Admission delivers God’s leniency yet declining to repent welcomes his judgment.

 
 
The Symbolic Crowning of Joshua.
 
In verse 9-15:

• This vision of the coming Messiah, the King-Priest.
• During the days of exile and kings, Judah's government was ruled by two persons.
• The king who ruled the nation’s political life, and the priest, who ruled the religious life of the people.
• Often both were corrupt.
• God is telling Zechariah that one day one would come who would rule as both.
• The Messiah would rule over His people and in the hearts of those that believe Him.

• Isaiah 4:2, In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
• Isaiah 11: I, And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
• 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.
• Hebrews 3:1, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
• A portion of God’s promises are contingent, we should submit to him to receive them.
• The rebuilding of the Temple required cautious compliance. God would protect the Jewish people if they obeyed.
• Easygoing or intermittent obedience, the consequence of weak or separated commitment, would not bring about blessings.
• A considerable amount of God’s blessings come to us because of our continued obedience.
• Conflicting or inconsistency in our obedience cannot deliver blessings.

• Isaiah 56:6-8, Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
• Judgment comes to disobedience.
• Receiving blessings and rewards are a result of our obedience.