Four Chariots
In verses one - eight:
Zechariah sees four chariots. The first chariot had red horses which represents the 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.”
The second chariot had black horses which represented famine and death and then they went north. This represents that of Babylon.
Revelation 6:5, “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.”
The third chariot had white horses which followed and represented 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.”
The fourth chariot had grizzled and bay-colored horses. They went to the south. This represents Egypt and 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.”
We notice that none of the horses go toward the west or toward the east, which would have placed them in the Mediterranean Sea or the Arabian desert. They go toward the north and toward the south, which is the direction one would leave from Israel to arrive at some other place of the of the known world at that time. These directions that were given basically imply that they head out from Israel unto all the entire earth.
Four winds and 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 I 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, and Mount Zion were mountains of brass, which represents divine judgment. Between them is God’s judgment of the world. The chariots represent the vehicles of judgment, power & authority. Over in Zechariah 14, Zechariah tells us that the Lord will rule.
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 would like to focus on God's adoration and kindness, outrage and judgment are likewise as 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 turn our backs some distance away from it. Confession delivers God's leniency and mercy yet declining to repent welcomes his judgment.
The Crown
In verse nine - fifteen:
The symbolic crowning of Joshua. This vision is of the coming Messiah, the King-Priest. In the times of the kings and during the exile, Judah's administration was to be controlled by two particular people, the king, who was administering the country's political life, and the High Priest, who was administering the strict religious life. The kings and priests had both been frequently corrupt. God was let Zechariah know that somebody would come who would govern as both priest and king (“a priest upon his throne”), which was a far-fetched mix for that day. This King-Priest, the Messiah, would rule both over his people and in the hearts of the people who have faith in 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 11:1, “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 guarantees are contingent in that we should comply with him to get them. The modifying and rebuilding of the Temple required cautious compliance. God would safeguard the Jewish people as long as they complied. Relaxed or incidental compliance, which is the consequence of a weak or separated commitment, would not bring about the receiving of a blessing. A considerable amount of God's gifts come to us because of tenacious and continued dutifulness. Conflicting or inconsistency in our obedience cannot deliver reliable 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.”
The four horses are a depiction of judgment to come. Are we truly ready to face God’s judgment? Have we done what we can to warn others? The crowning of Joshua is a depiction of the peace that will be ushered in when Christ returns. Have we done what is necessary to prepare others of the Lord’s coming?
Right obedience results in our receiving of blessings and rewards. Judgment comes to those who are guilty of disobedience. The first half of the chapter speaks on judgment while the last half of the chapter speaks on hope, deliverance, and blessings.
