Scripture Reading : Zechariah 6
Theme : Chariots of Judgment and Fulfillment
Chariots of Judgment (1-8). Chariots are like the tanks of ancient warfare. It represents God’s power and judgment. This vision is similar to the first vision. It depicts how God will judge the nations and restore Israel. Red horses represent bloodshed and judgment. Black represents famine and death. White represents victory. Dappled represents a mixture of them (cf. Rev. 6:1-8). The two bronze mountains most likely represent the split Mount of Olives when Christ returns (14:4) to judge the world. Bronze is associated with judgment of sin (Ex. 27:2). The chariots are angelic beings that will go out to conquer Israel’s enemies in the north and south. The north is where the antichrist is prophesied to come (2:6; Joel 2:20). When God conquers the northerner, His Spirit will be at rest.
Crowning of High Priest (9-15). At the end of the eighth vision, God speaks about the future Messiah who will be both king and priest. The reference to the Messiah indicates that all eight visions will be completely fulfilled in the Messiah who will cleanse His people of sin on Calvary in ONE day (3:9) and remove evil from Israel and the nations, and then bless the whole world. Zerubbabel will build the restored temple but the Messiah will build the messianic temple (12, Eze. 40-48). Amazingly, the second temple was financed by the Persian government (Ezra 6:4), which was a common policy by the government through God’s providence. The gentile financing of the second temple is a typological prophesy of the future financing of the millennial temple by gentiles (15-17; cf Hag. 2:7). OT prophesies in minor prophets are often in typological from, i.e. pattern form (e.g. Matt. 2:15, out of Egypt I called my Son).
Praying the Scripture
- The number of prophesies in the Bible that have been fulfilled is astonishing. Some estimate that there are about 2,500 prophecies in the Bible. About 2,000 have been fulfilled in detail. Just as God has fulfilled many prophecies regarding Jesus’ first coming, so He will faithfully fulfill prophecies about His second coming. It is as sure as the rising of the sun. Let us always desire His return and prepare for it by cleansing ourselves of every known defilement (1 John 3:3).
- The person and work of Jesus is the centrality of the Christianity faith. The OT believers, in faith, were looking forward to His salvific work on the cross and His transformational work of the messianic kingdom. Church era believers, in faith, look back to the cross and also look forward to His kingdom. Christ is the perfect revelation of God’s character and work (Heb. 1:2). Most major doctrines in the Bible find their culmination and apex in the person and work of Christ. Let us adore Him, praise Him and live for Him for He is worthy of honor, glory and praise. Blessed be His name!
经文：撒迦利亚书6
主题：审判与成就之车
审判之车（1-8）。车犹如古代战场上的坦克。它代表神的大能和审判。这个异象与第一个异象相似，描绘的是神将如何审判列国并复兴以色列。红马代表血流和审判；黑马代表饥荒和死亡；白马代表胜利；有斑点的马代表前三者的混合（参启6:1-8）。那两座铜山大有可能指的是基督再来（14:4）审判世界时橄榄山分裂的画面。铜与审判罪孽有关（出27:2）。车辆是将到北部和南部占领以色列之敌的天使。北部是敌基督出现的地方（2:6；珥2:20）。当神占领北部后，祂的灵将安宁。
为大祭司加冕（9-15）。在第八个异象的结尾，神述说有关未来要作王和祭司的弥赛亚。这里提到弥赛亚的用意是要表示这八个异象将由弥赛亚应验，因为祂将用一日在各各他山上洗涤祂子民的众罪（3:9），从以色列和列国清除罪恶，接着祝福全世界。所罗巴伯将建造圣殿，但弥赛亚将建造弥赛亚的殿（12，结40-48）。奇妙的是，第二个殿是波斯政府资助的（拉6:4）；这是政府在神的供应下的一个普遍的政策。由外邦人资助的殿预表将来千禧年的殿也是外邦人资助的（15-17；参哈2:7）。小先知书的旧约预言经常是以这种预表的形式出现，也就是一种模式（如：太2:15，我从埃及召出我的儿子来）。
用经文祷告
- 在圣经中已经应验的预言是很奇妙的。有些人估计圣经中有大约2500个预言，而约有2000已经很详尽地应验了。神已经应验了有关耶稣第一次到来的所有预言，所以祂也会信实地应验有关耶稣第二次到来的预言。这如太阳从东边升起一样确实。让我们渴望基督的到来，并为此做预备，洗净我们能看到的污秽（约一3:3）。
- 耶稣的人格和工作是基督教信仰的核心。旧约信徒凭着信心向往耶稣在十字架上的救恩以及弥赛亚国度的转变性工作。教会时代的信徒则凭信心回看十架，同时向往基督的国度。基督是神的属性与工作的完美启示（来1:2）。圣经的主要教义都是在基督的人格与工作中极致巅峰。让我们爱慕祂，赞美祂，并为祂而活，因为祂是配得荣耀、尊贵和赞美的。让我们尊祂的名为大！
