Zechariah: The Vision of Four Horses

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 6:1-8

From Zechariah's Journal

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My name is Zechariah. An angel of the Lord visited me in a vision. It happened at night when I was alone.  Actually the angel ended up showing me several visions. This is the eighth and last vision. You can scroll down to past posts to read the other visions.

The first vision happened while I was in Jerusalem. We were rebuilding the temple. Darius was in his second year of reign in Babylon. The rest followed, all in the same night. This is the eighth vision the angel showed me. 

I looked up, again. Four chariots came out from between two mountains. These mountains were made of bronze.

The first chariot had red horses, a symbol of war and blood.

The second chariot had black horses, a symbol of famine and death.

The third chariot had white horses, a symbol of victory and peace.

The fourth chariot had speckled horses that were powerful, a symbol of death through judgement.

I asked the angel, "What are these my lord?"

The angel answered, "These are the four spirits of the heavens which have presented themselves to the Lord of all the earth.

"The chariot with black horses is going to the north.

"The chariot with white horses will follow.

"The chariot with spotted horses will travel to the south."

The strong horses struggled as they went out, as if something was preventing them from leaving.

The angel said to the charioteers, "Go. Patrol the earth. Watch and protect it."

The chariots left to do their work. I watched them go about doing what they were told.

The angel said, "See, the chariots patrolling the north have done their work and have quieted my anger in the land of the north." 




Author's note: I searched several commentaries and translations for this passage. There seemed to be quite a variety of thought as to the meaning. The one note scholars seemed to agree on is this prophetic passage is difficult to interpret but clearly has links to Daniel's visions and passages in Revelation.

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sources: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000, the Pulpit Commentary, these versions: Amplified, Living, ESV, KJV, NKJV, American Standard, New International, International Children's Bible, The Message, The Oxford Jewish Bible, Biblestudiestools.com. 

1.  What did the red horse stand for?
2.  What did the black horse stand for?
3.  What did the white horse stand for?
4.  What did the speckled horse stand for?
5.  Where did the black horse go?
6.  Where did the white horse go?
7.  Where did the speckled horse go?
8.  What did the horses need to stop struggling?
9.  What happened when the horses did their work in the north?

Zechariah-The People Will Be Driven Far From Their Land

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 5

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

An angel of the Lord visited me in a vision. It happened at night when I was alone.  Actually the angel ended up showing me several visions. This is the sixth vision. You can scroll down to past posts to read the other visions.

The first vision happened while I was in Jerusalem. We were rebuilding the temple. Darius was in his second year of reign in Babylon. The second, third, fourth, and fifth followed, all in the same night. This is the sixth and seventh visions I saw:

I looked up and saw a large scroll flying in the air. The scroll was still rolled up which means it was not open yet.

The angel asked me, "What do you see?"

I answered after seeing the scroll unrolled, "I see a flying scroll, thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide."

The angel said, This scroll is the curse that is going out over all the land. According to what the scroll says on one side, every thief will be banished from the land. According to what it says on the other side, everyone who doesn't tell the truth will be banished from this land. 

"The Lord Almighty said, "I will send the scroll out and it will enter the thief's house and the liar's house. The scroll will remain in their house and destroy it, including the timbers and the stones.

This ended the sixth vision.

The seventh vision started right away.

The angel who stood nearby leaned closer to me. He pointed up. "Look."

Something appeared in the sky. It was far away. I rubbed my eyes and still couldn't tell what it was. I asked, "What is it?"

The angel said, It is a measuring basket. The kind used to take objects to market to sell and also used to carry things that must be gotten rid of. This represents the sins of the people throughout the land."

The lid of the basket raised up. Inside was a woman.

The angel said, "This woman is wickedness." He pushed the woman back in the basket and forced the lid to close." She and the basket must be sent away."

I looked up and saw two women. Wind blew in their wings. They had wings like those of a stork. They lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. For neither heave nor the men of earth want to be near these wicked Jews."

"Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel.

"To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in it's place.

Author's note: In time, scholars learned that the Romans would take over the land. Many Jews would escape to far away places never returning to their homeland. Not for a period of seventy years like their last punishment in Babylon, but they will never reunite. The Israelites will become blind to their sin. Fathers will not teach their sons the law. They will be a wicked people.

God showed Zechariah one more visions. Come back next time to see the rest of the story.

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source: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000.

1.  Who was Zachariah? 
2.  What did Zachariah see in these two vision?
3.  What did the scroll stand for?
4.  What did the basket stand for?
5.  What did the woman in the basket stand for?
6.  Where did the women with wings take the basket?
7.  Why was the basket taken there? 

Zechariah-The Temple WILL Be Built, Says God

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 4

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

An angel of the Lord visited me in a vision. It happened at night when I was alone.  Actually the angel ended up showing me several visions. This is the fifth vision. You can scroll down to past posts to read the other visions.

The first vision happened while I was in Jerusalem. We were rebuilding the temple. Darius was in his second year of reign in Babylon. The second, third, and fourth followed, all in the same night. This is the fifth vision I saw:

I had apparently fallen asleep. The information, seeing the angels, and everything else in the vision had overwhelmed me. I think the angel let me sleep a bit before waking me. When he woke me, I didn't understand where I was.

The angel said, "What do you see?"

That is when I really looked around and remembered I was seeing a vision. 

I blinked and let my eyes focus before answering. "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. On each side of the lampstand is an olive tree, one on the right and the other on its left.

I asked the angel, "What are these my lord?"

He answered, "Do you know what these are?"

I know, I had asked already, but I had just woken from a deep sleep and maybe missed something. I looked again and answered, "No, my lord."

The angel said, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel."

Yes, now I understand. This message is to be given to Zerubbabel, the one in charge of the rebuilding of the Temple. 

The angel continued with the Lord's message, "'The temple will not be finished by might, nor by power, but by My spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." The angel pointed to where the temple was being built. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!"

At that moment God explained the meaning to me. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple. His hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

"Don't be afraid of those who try to stop the work. Keep building. The men of Jerusalem will rejoice when they see the level in the hand of Zerubbabel.

The seven lights on top of the lamp stand are the seven eyes of the Lord. They see everywhere throughout the earth.

Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?"

He didn't answer me.

I asked again, "What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?

The angel said, "Don't you know?"

I really didn't. I lowered my head a bit and said, "No, my lord."

The angel said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."

Author's note: In time, scholars learned that the lampstand represented those who believed in Jesus. The Olive Branch was Christ who died for our sins, giving us life as the fire of the candle had life. The Holy Spirit was the second Olive tree, sent to be the comforter.

God showed Zechariah a few more visions. Come back next time to see the rest of the story.

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source: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000.

1.  Who was Zachariah? 
2.  What did Zachariah see in this vision?
3.  What did the lampstand refer to?
4.  What did the two olive trees refer to?
5.  Who was Zerubbabel?
6.  What message was to be given to Zerubbabel? 

Zechariah-4th Vision- How Our Sins Are Taken Away

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 3

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

An angel of the Lord visited me in a vision. It happened at night when I was alone.  Actually the angel ended up showing me several visions. This is the fourth vision. You can scroll down to past posts to read the first, second, and third visions.

The first vision happened while I was in Jerusalem. We were rebuilding the temple. Darius was in his second year of reign in Babylon. The second and third followed, all in the same night. This is the fourth vision I saw:

The angel pointed away from me. I saw Joshua, the high priest before the angel of the Lord. Satan stood to the right of Joshua. Satan accused Joshua of many sins. He yelled and pointed his finger at Joshua then faced the angel of the Lord and demanded the high priest be punished.

The Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. Is this man not like a burning stick snatched from the fire?"

Joshua stood there, dressed in filthy clothes. The angel turned to some men who stood close by and said, "Take off his filthy clothes."

The angel of the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."

I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So the men put a clean turban on Joshua's head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord watched.

The angel of the Lord neared Joshua then and said, "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these who are standing here."

The angel of the Lord then said, "Listen, O high priest, Joshua." He looked in another direction and said, "And your associates seated before you who are men symbolic of things to come." He turned back to Joshua and said, "I am going to bring my servant the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua? There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it. I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

"In that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree," declares the Lord Almighty.

Author's note: This vision foretells the coming of Jesus the Christ. He is the Branch, God's Son, the one who would have the power to remove sin and stand in our defense against Satan's accusations.

God showed Zechariah a few more visions. Come back next time to see the rest of the story.

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source: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000.

1.  Who was Zachariah? 
2.  Who did Satan accuse in this vision?
3.  Who did Satan take his case too?
4.  Who is the Branch?
5.  What would the Branch do for everyone who believed? 

Zechariah-And then I Saw Another Vision of What Was to Come

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 2

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

An angel of the Lord visited me in a vision. It happened at night when I was alone.  Actually the angel ended up showing me several visions. This is the third vision. Short, but full of good news.

The first vision happened while I was in Jerusalem. We were rebuilding the temple. Darius was in his second year of reign in Babylon. The second and third followed. This is the third vision I saw.

A man stood near me. He held a measuring line in his hand. 

I asked him, "Where are you going?"

"To measure Jerusalem," he said. "To find out how wide and long it is."  

As he turned to leave another angel came to him and said, "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. I, will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the Lord, 'and I will be its glory within.'

"Flee from the north. I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven. Come home to Jerusalem and I all be its glory within," said the Lord. 

"Hurry, Escape. Everyone who lives in Babylon!. The Lord Almighty says, 'I will punish all the nations who have attacked and plundered your city. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.

"Shout and celebrate. For I am coming and will live among you," says the Lord. "Many nations will join the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 

"The Lord will inherit Judah and will choose Jerusalem. Be still and know, the Lord has roused himself from his holy place."

Author's note, Bible scholars have studied these visions and the rest of the Bible for years. Many have dedicated their lives to this study to understand the truths God has left us. I went to their books to find insight to this vision. According to Bible scholars, one of the great points made in this vision is that no matter how many ask Jesus into their heart, there will be room in heaven for all who do. 

Second, this vision reminded young Zechariah that although he was not ready to understand the terrible things that will come, there is hope. Jerusalem will be both safe and great. (p.1109)

Third, the angel shouted to those in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. Sadly many had chosen to stay with their beautiful homes and businesses. They didn't want to leave all their riches to return to their homeland which had been destroyed where they could worship God with their brothers. What they didn't see was they were slaves in Babylon. They could be free in Jerusalem.

Fourth, this vision tells how Jesus will leave His place in heaven to be born and live with us, teaching God's ways and explaining truths. That the Jews will know who He is by the miracles and His teachings. And He did. We celebrate His birth with Christmas. This was the future for Zechariah but the past for us. "Yet there were those who died in ignorance and unbelief, for if they had known who He was, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (p.1111) 

God showed Zechariah a few more visions. Come back to see what God showed him.

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source: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000.

1.  Who was Zachariah? Was he young or old?
2.  What is a vision?
3.  Will there be room in heaven for everyone who asks Jesus into their heart?
4.  Why didn't some of the Jews want to go back to Jerusalem?
5.  Who was the one that will leave His throne above to live with us? 

Daniel- North and South

By Mary Vee
Daniel 11

From Daniel's Journal

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My name is Daniel. I am still living in Babylon and in service to Cyrus king of Persia.

Many of my Hebrew brothers and their families traveled back to Jerusalem a short time ago. King Cyrus gave them permission. Ezra led the people. 

An angel came to speak to me after I'd seen a vision. I don't know if I had such a difficult time because I am older or because of the vision that scared me, or maybe both.

I said to the angel, "How can I speak with you? My strength is gone. I can hardly breathe."

The angel touched me again and gave me strength. "Don't be afraid Daniel for you are highly esteemed. Peace to you. Have peace and be strong."

Just like that my strength returned. I was able to focus on his words. "Speak, my lord."

"Do you know why I came to you?" He looked up and away for a brief moment. "Soon I will go back to fight the evil prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come. Before I leave, I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. No one is helping me in this battle except Michael, your prince. Years ago I took my stand to protect him.

"I tell you the truth. Three more kings will appear in Persia. The one who comes after will be far richer than all the others. He will use his wealth to gain power and stir everyone up against the kingdom of Greece. At that time, a mighty king will appear. He will rule with great power and do as he pleases. Once he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and sent in all directions. His descendants will not take his thrown. His kingdom will not have the power he had. His kingdom will be given to others.

"The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will overtake his thrown and have great power. Some years later these two men will work together. The daughter of the king of the South will marry the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will lose her power.

"A man from her family line will rise up to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his kingdom. His armies will take the gold and valuables to Egypt. The two countries will stop fighting for a time.

"But that is not the end. The king of the North will rise up. He and his sons will march like a roaring flood to the kingdom of the South. The northern army will fail and the kingdom of the South will become full of pride and go about killing thousands.

"Again this is not the end. After several years pass, the army of the North will be so angry they will raise up an even bigger army.

"At that time many will rise up against the kingdom of the South. The armies of the South will be powerless to resist the kingdom of the North. The king of the North will attempt to take over every country but fail. He will return to the north and not be heard from again.

There is more. Rest. Then I will tell you more.

This story continues next time.
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1.  Who is speaking to Daniel?
2.  Where is the information taken from?
3.  What kingdoms will battle?
4.  How will this affect the world?
5.  Why do you think the angel told Daniel something that would happen in the future?

Daniel-The Meaning of the Vision Scared Me

By Mary Vee
Daniel 8

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel.

Last time I wrote you about a vision I had in which the horn of a goat killed a ram.

While I watched the vision and tried to understand the meaning, a man stood close to me. 

I heard a man's voice calling from the canal where the animals fought, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."

I was terrified when I realized the one coming to speak to me was an angel serving God. I fell to the ground and lay flat. 

"Son of man," he said to me, "this vision is about the end times."

While he spoke to me, I was in a deep sleep. My face to the ground. The angel touched me and raised me until I stood.

He said, "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the end times. The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will grow out from his nation but will not have the same power.

"A master of lies with a stern face will arise when rebels have become completely wicked. This king will become very strong, but not by his own power. 

"He will cause astounding destruction and will succeed in whatever he does. 
"He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 
"He will cause lies to prosper and he will consider himself superior. 

"When the people feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed. But not by human power.

"The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given to you is true. Seal up the vision for it concerns a time in the future."

I was exhausted and lay sick for several days. Then I was able to get up and do the king's business. 

The vision scared me. It was beyond my understanding even after hearing the meaning from the angel.

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1. Who had the vision?
2. Who told Gabriel to give Daniel the meaning of the vision?
3. What was the vision about?
4. After the angel finished speaking, what happened to Daniel?

Daniel- The Vision About Evil Days to Come

By Mary Vee
Daniel 8

From Daniel's Journal

This is a citadel in Jerusalem
Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel.

Recently I had a vision about four beasts. Four horrible beasts. The sight upset me so much I couldn't think. Even after I was told the meaning of the vision. I kept the whole thing a secret.

Two years later, during the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, another vision came to me. This vision took me to the citadel of Susa. A citadel is a fortress on a high ground overlooking a village and Susa is a city southeast of where I have been a slave in Babylon.

In my vision, I stood by the Ulai Canal. Above me a ram with two horns also stood by the canal. Its horns were really long. And, oddly enough, one of the horns was longer than the other. 

The ram charged to the north, south, and west. No animal could stand against him. This ram did as he pleased and became great.

Photo Courtesy

The vision amazed me. As I thought about what the ram did, a goat with a horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth. The goat never touched the ground. He flew towards the ram and charged with a rage.

The goat attacked, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless and couldn't stand up against the goat's attack. The goat knocked the ram to the ground and trampled on him. No one even tried to rescue the ram.

The goat was like a super power, but at the end of this battle, his horn had broken. Four horns grew up in place of the one. They were facing the four winds of heaven.

A small horn grew out of one of the horns. It grew in power to the south and east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew until it touched the host of the heavens. The horn threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 

The horn said it was as great as the Prince of the host. It took away the daily sacrifices intended for the Prince and the place of the Prince's sanctuary was brought low.

Because of the rebellion, many of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given to the horn. It was successful in everything it did and truth was thrown to the ground.

I heard a holy one speaking, and a second holy one said, "How long will it take for all of these things to happen?"

The holy one said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be rebuilt.

The next time I write you, I will tell what this vision meant, according to God.

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1. Who had the vision?
2. What animal came first?
3. What was most amazing and scary about the first animal?
4. What animal came second?
5. What did the second animal do to the first one?
6. What power did the newest horn want?
7. So many terrible things will happen, according to this vision to Daniel. How long will it be before it happens?