BIG IDEA:
THE EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT (AGAINST ISRAEL’S WICKED ENEMIES) APPEASES THE WRATH OF GOD WHO WILL ULTIMATELY BE VICTORIOUS
INTRODUCTION:
The wrath of God is going to be satisfied one way or another. Christ’s propitiation upon the mercy seat via His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross can satisfy God’s wrath for those who repent and place their faith in the Savior. But for those wicked enemies who refuse to submit to God’s rule, God’s wrath will ultimately be appeased via the execution of judgment. Israel’s enemies found this to be the case. After having been used by God in a disciplinary fashion, they demonstrated their heart of unrighteousness and cruelty in excessively tyranizing God’s people. This final night vision in the book of Zechariah shows God’s judgment going forth against these nations.
I. (:1-3) THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE FINAL NIGHT VISION – GOD GOES FORTH IN POWER AND JUDGMENT
A. (:1a) Introduction
“Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold”
B. (:1b) The Four Chariots
“four chariots were coming forth”
Mackay: In the first vision the prophet had seen horses which had patrolled the earth. Now the time for reconnoitering was past. Action was called for, and it is chariots that are presented to his view. Although used for the conveyance of kings and other notable persons, these were principally military vehicles. They symbolize the Lord’s power (Isa. 66:15; Hab. 3:8). That there are four of them seems to refer to the worldwide scope of their mission (2:6; 6:7).
Holdeman: Not a racing vehicle here; Two-wheeled offensive weapon of war pulled by a couple of horses; pre-cursor of the tank
C. (:1c) The Two Bronze Mountains
“from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains”
Feinberg: The original employs the definite article, the two mountains; that is, Mount Moriah and the Mount of Olives. The chariots ran through the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
D. (:2-3) The Four Groups of Powerful Colored Horses (each group associated with a chariot) – “all of them powerful” (alternate reading – rather than just a reference to the dappled horses) – then vs. 7 would also refer to all 4 groups of horses
1. Red Horses
“With the first chariot were red horses”
War and bloodshed
2. Black Horses
“with the second chariot black horses”
Famine and death
Laetsch: Black symbolizes famine with all its horrors. (Cp. Rev. 6:5.)
3. White Horses
“with the third chariot white horses”
Lindsey: triumph and victory
4. Dappled Horses
“and with the fourth chariot dappled horses”
Not used elsewhere so it is hard to know what this signifies
II. (:4-6) THE BASIC EXPLANATION OF THE ELEMENTS – GOD ULTIMATELY WILL AVENGE EVERY WRONG AND ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH
A. (:4-5a) Introduction – Asking for an Explanation
1. The Question Introduced
“Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’”
2. The Response Introduced
“The angel replied to me”
B. (:5b) The Explanation of the Four Chariots
“These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth.”
Mackay: “the four winds of heaven” are used to represent powerful forces, especially of God’s judgment (Jer. 49:36; Dan. 7:2; Rev. 7:1). One symbol – the chariots and their horses – is being explained by another, more obvious symbol. These are the forces which shape events in the world. What is more they are forces that carry out the Lord’s purpose throughout the earth.
Lindsey: The divine title, the Lord of the whole world, is a millennial designation describing the universal rule of Messiah over the earth during the future Kingdom Age (cf. Micah 4:13).
C. (:6) The Explanation of the Four Groups of Colored Horses
1. Red Horses – skipped – must be self-explanatory – no need to mention
2. Black Horses
“with one of which the black horses are going forth to the north country”
3. White Horses
“and the white ones go forth after them”
4. Strong, Dappled Horses
“while the dappled ones go forth to the south country”
III. (:7-8) THE BASIC EXECUTION OF THEIR MISSION – GOD’S WRATH WILL BE SATISFIED
A. (:7) Mission Defined = Patrolling the Earth for Judgment
“When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth. And He said, ‘Go, patrol the earth.’ So they patrolled the earth.”
B. (:8) Mission Executed = Appeasing the Wrath of God
“Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, ‘See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.’”
MacArthur: As a result of God’s judgment of His enemies, His wrath can rest. God has been avenged by this action, particularly in regard to the power from the N being judged finally. This likely refers to the final Babylon (cf. Rev 17, 18). Until this judgment is done and God’s wrath rests, the kingdom can’t be established (Rev 19, 20) with the Messiah on His throne.