Professional bull riders who compete for a prize fear a bull with horns most. The possibility of being gored is greater on bulls with large horns. Horns represent strength and power. A horn, in scripture, represents two things: strength and a strong king or kingdom.
In Zechariah 1:21 we see the horn representing both kingdoms and strength or power over another. As in most things physical, there are two sides to everything; a positive and a negative. In Zachariah 1:18 a set of horns are depicted as evil; negative. Zechariah 1:18-19. 18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. But, in Zechariah 1:21 we see good horns; positive righteous horns. 21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
The powers or kingdoms which scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem were evil but the carpenters were God’s horns (good, righteous) to ‘fray’ the powers of the Gentiles which scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. To ‘fray’ is to tear apart and destroy the strength of the whole. (evil kingdoms)
In Revelation 17:12, we read what horns represent. Rev. 17:12, 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. In our reading, we see the horn representing kings or kingdoms whose power to overcome nations can rule and scatter people all over the earth.
What is our scripture passage telling us today? Let us read it again in context. Zechariah 1:18-21. 18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20 And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. 21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
At the time of Zachariah, as we learned before, Zechariah received this prophecy in the second year of King Darius. (Zech. 1:7) The four kings or kingdoms which scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem included Assyria and Babylon. It is not certain who were the other two; perhaps a subordinate government of one or both. However, God desired to collect all Israel to return to Jerusalem and Zion. Therefore, he sent four carpenters to disperse the Gentiles from Judah. (vs. 21)
Perhaps these carpenters are to build Jerusalem and Zion once again increasing the presence of God in His chosen land to strike the fear of God in the hearts of the Gentiles. Zechariah now sees a man with a measuring line. Zech. 2:1-2. 2 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
A measuring line was an indication of the parameter of God’s chosen territory; Jerusalem, both old and new. Jeremiah 31:38-40.38 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
In Revelation 21 we read of an angel using a reed to measure. He was to measure the Holy city, the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21:15-17. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
When a person is released from his captor, they desire to know where and how safe is the place they will go. Apparently God desired to still or silence the fear developed within man of where He will take them to reside; how big, how safe, etc. The holy city will be large enough for fellow captors to dwell. It will be safe by the protection of God and a wall. And, it will be forever; never thrown down. God’s people will be safe and dwell with Him for ever.
Let us return to Zechariah 2:3-5. 3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: 5 For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
We see two angels fulfilling their duty for God in delivering a message to Zechariah. One speaks unto the other saying to speak to the young man, Zechariah. His message is that God will fulfill his prophecy of bringing Zion back with prosperity; ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle’ (vs. 4). God will be her protection ‘round about’, and will be her ‘glory’. (vs. 5). This message was delivered by the angel unto Zechariah.
What is the message sent by God through the angel unto Zechariah for him to proclaim unto the lost children of Israel?
Zech. 2:6-13. 6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord. 7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Zechariah was to proclaim, “Come home! Come from the lands which God hath scattered you.” The Israelites were to pack themselves up and return to Israel.
It appears the angel is speaking to Zechariah in first person for he says, “After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you:” The angel seems to be speaking of his duty God ordained; first scattering the nation of Israel and Judah over all the earth. He inserts how God feels about them, “for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” God holds His children in great regard; ‘the apple of his eye.’ God truly loves His own and desires to do for them everything which He desires; if only they love him and fulfill His commandments as He commands. John 14:15. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And, John 14:21. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
The angel now tells Zechariah the message. God shall make them, the evil captors, ‘a spoil’ unto Judah. The children of God will leave the land of their adversaries with the ‘spoils of war’; they will leave with riches like when they left Egypt. Then shall Judah know the Lord sent Zechariah to proclaim this message.
When we read the history of Israel after this time, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in 52 days; the temple was restored and Judah lived in peace and prosperity for many years.
God gives them great news; He will live with them.
Here it appears to be a prophecy, not only of the immediate future for Israel at that time, but a prophecy about the future–a time in our future. Vss. 11-12. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
‘Many nations joined together’ represents both Jew and Gentile nations. The future brought both Jew and Gentile together in the love of God. They both shall be brought unto ‘Jerusalem’; the ‘New Jerusalem’. Rev. 21:1-3. 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Much spiritual language is written in this passage. To understand it, we must look with eyes into a spiritual nature being described of God’s spiritual plans for His children. Only with physical identifiers can we comprehend fully, and understand the nature of God and His plan for mankind.
God desires us to be wise unto His love and desires so we can be ready to meet the Lord in the air when Jesus comes to redeem the new Israel.
As we begin to transform our minds to see the evidence of the Spirit world influencing the physical, we grow our faith to be more pleasing unto God. Heb. 11:6. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. We believe in God. Do we diligently seek Him? Are we increasing our faith to be pleasing unto God? Remember, [F]aith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1. As we see the evidence of the Spirit World influencing our physical world, we grow our faith becoming more pleasing unto God.
Let us continue learning about God in the Spirit realm so we can worship Him in Spirit and Truth as he asks. Shall we be prepared when Jesus returns so we shall be one of the ‘chosen’.
