The Four Chariots Go Out
6 1 I looked up again — four chariots coming out between two mountains, mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, 3 the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses — all of them strong. 4 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5 The angel answered, "These are heaven's four winds, going out from standing before the Sovereign of all the earth." 6 The chariot with black horses goes to the northern land, the white after them, and the dappled to the southern land. 7 When the strong horses went out, straining to patrol the earth, he said, "Go, patrol the earth!" So they patrolled the earth.
8 Then he called to me, saying, "Look, those going to the northland have set my Spirit at rest in the northland." a a v8 "Set my Spirit at rest" means God's purposes of judgment against the north — the direction from which Israel's oppressors came — have now been fulfilled.
The Branch Will Build His Temple
9 Then the word of our Father came to me:
10 Take an offering from the exiles — Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon — and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take silver and gold, make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Tell him: This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Here is the man named the Branch; he will branch out from his place and build the temple of our Father. 13 He will build our Father's temple, carry the majesty, and sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne, and peaceful harmony will join the two offices. b b v13 Here one man is both king on the throne and priest at once — something no ruler in Israel was ever allowed to be. It points ahead to Jesus, who alone joins kingship and priesthood, and in whom the peace between the two is perfectly held. 14 The crown will stay in our Father's temple as a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah. 15 Those far off will come and build the temple of our Father, and you will know the Father of heaven's armies sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey his voice.
