1Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. 4Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5And the angel answered and said to me, “These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country.” 7Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. 8And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.” (Zechariah 6:1-8)
The eighth and last vision of Zechariah is about the four chariots of Apocalypse with diverse coloured horses for each chariot.
The exact interpretation of the vision of the four chariots is not exactly known. There are a few who say that they represent the four monarchies. Others still suggest that it also refers to the four winds (verse 5). This is referenced from Daniel 7:2 when in a vision Daniel viewed four winds from the heavens ‘striving upon the great sea’ that are also thought to correspond with the four monarchies.
1.The First Chariot with Red Horses
It is considered that the Babylonian monarchy is symbolized by the chariot with red horses (which is why it was not written of afterwards since that monarchy died out).
2.The Second Chariot with Black Horses
The second chariot (the black horses) represents the Persian monarchy that went out northward against the Babylonians. This ‘quieted God‘s Spirit in the north country’ after his judgments came down towards the people of Babylon, and the Jews received their freedom.
3.The Third Chariot with White Horses
The Grecians were the white horses who went after those in the north to take over the Persians.
4.The Fourth Chariot with Dappled Horses
In the fourth chariot were the dappled horses of the Romans who took over the Grecian monarchy that went ‘forth towards the south county’ towards Egypt. This was the last branch of the Grecians that was taken by the Romans.
"And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” (Zechariah 6:15)
Prophecy is conditional. If one reads Jonah 3:1–10, Jonah prophesied that God would destroy Nineveh in 3 days. But because the people of Nineveh repented, the prophecy did not come to pass. Our free will plays a major role in the fulfilment or non-fulfilment of prophecies.
12 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honour and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’ (Zechariah 6:12-13)
In the Old Testament, you could either be a priest or a king - not both. Uzziah tried to be both and was struck with leprosy. In this case, the man Branch refers to Lord Jesus and is a Messianic prophecy. He will fulfil the role of both; the king and the priest.