Verse 1

CONTENTS

The Prophet is still favored with visions. Here are the vision of the four chariots; silver and gold crowns; and Christ represented under the well known character of the Branch.

Verses 1-8

"And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. (2) In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; (3) And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. (4) Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? (5) And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. (6) The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. (7) And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. (8) Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country."

It is worthy observation, that in all these visions, as they arise in succession, the Prophet doth not behold them in one view, but he is turned from one to the other. Some have concluded, that those four chariots with different coloured horses, represent the four monarchies, which were to succeed one another, until Christ should come. But, however ingenious this may seem, I am inclined rather to believe the vision hath a full respect to the Church. Indeed, I do not hesitate to consider all monarchies, and all empires, together with their rise, progress, and fall, as designed for no other purpose, but to minister to the Church of Jesus. And we need not go further for the explanation of this vision, than to scripture, to discover, in a spiritual sense, the scope and meaning of it. Angels are spoken of as God's chariots; and as the vision is explained to the Prophet, the four spirits seem to express the services of angels as ministering spirits, to minister unto them, that are heirs of salvation. See Hebrews 1:14; Psalms 68:17. And by their passing between two mountains of brass, perhaps this may be intended to signify, that what they execute are the decrees and purposes of God, which are more sure and certain than the immoveable mountains. Psalms 36:6. And yet more especially with an eye to the covenant righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, these mountains may have respect, inasmuch as the Lord's spirit is said thereby to have quiet. Isaiah 54:10.

Verses 9-15

"And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (10) Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; (11) Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; (12) And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: (13) Even he shall build the temple of the LORD and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (14) And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. (15) And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

Here is a ceremony appointed, by way of prefiguring the coronation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those persons mentioned, were of them that returned from the captivity. Those two crowns, one of silver, denoting perhaps the priestly office, and the other of gold, meaning the kingly office of the Lord Jesus Christ, Joshua, as high priest, was to be crowned with, typical of Christ. And to point more emphatically, and personally to Christ, in the moment that Joshua, his type, was thus crowned, the declaration was to be made as from Jehovah, saying, Behold the man whose name is the Branch. Then follows the description of his person, and glory, and character, all which we know fully belong to Christ, and to no other; and have had their accomplishment in him. Reader! I beg of you to mark them down, one by one, and compare the whole with the Lord Jesus, as you pass over them. First, his name, the Man. Oh! sweet thought ! Yes, the man truly, and properly man, as well as truly and properly God. Else would he never have suited for the purposes of salvation, God and man, forming one Christ, could only be suited for a Mediator, and to accomplish redemption by his blood. Next, the Branch, a well known title of the Redeemer, and applicable to no other. He, and He alone, was the Neizer, the Nazarite devoted to God from the womb; yea, before he was conceived in the womb, his name was called Jesus. Yea, from the womb of eternity, mention was made of him. Isaiah 49:1-2; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:21. Thirdly, his growth, and place is also mentioned, which may imply Bethlehem, the land of bread, as Christ is the bread of life. But, I rather think by growing up out of his place, is meant the miraculous nature of his birth, being without the intervention of a human father, and as such, out of his own place, whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting. Micah 5:2. The next point refers to his office, work, and character. He shall build the temple of the Lord. And this is repeated a second time, to shew the vast importance of the work, and the dignity of his person, by whom it is done. Christ is not only the foundation stone of this spiritual temple, which are his redeemed, but the builder. So Paul speaks of him. Hebrews 3:1-6. And how blessedly both the Apostles, Peter and Paul, speak on this subject. 1혻Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20-22. And yet further; He that builds the temple of the Lord, shall bear the glory of the Lord, and have all the glory of the temple. Yea, they shall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's house. Isa 22. And here, Reader, we must include in this view, the whole glory of redemption. There is, and ever will be, glory in his cross, glory in his crown; yea, on his head were seen many crowns. Revelation 19:12. Precious Jesus! doth not every poor sinner put a new crown upon thy glorious, sacred head, when ascribing to thee all the glory of his own personal salvation? And if so, have I not crowned thee, yea, do I not every day crown thee, my only rightful Lord, my God and Saviour? And are not all these ascriptions of praise to the glory of God the Father? Philippians 2:11. Moreover, it is said, that, he shall sit and rule upon his throne. Sweet thought to every poor believer! The Lamb is still in the midst of the throne. Revelation 7:17. And he hath said, that to him that overcometh will he give to sit upon his throne, even as he overcame, and is set down with his Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21. On this spiritual throne Jesus sits, to feed, to comfort, to help, to strengthen all his redeemed upon earth, as well as to give glory and happiness to all his redeemed in heaven. He shall both rule as a King, and intercede as a Priest, upon his throne. Blessed thought! the throne we go to is a throne of power, as well as a throne of grace; and Jesus rules and reigns in both, for the counsel of peace is between them both. In every sense this is blessed. For whether this counsel of peace refers to the everlasting covenant, between the Father and the Son, or between Christ's kingly office and his priestly, yet in this way, and in every way, peace with God is secured through the glorious undertaking and accomplishment of redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ. And to these great events shall Helem, and Tobijah, and Jedaiah, and Hen, yea, all and everyone shall become as memorials, and as instruments to minister in building in the temple of the Lord. For such shall be the blessed end of those blessed things, referring to the gospel Church, that all the redeemed shall know that Christ is the sent of God. 1혻John 4:14. Such among a thousand other precious things contained in this vision, are read to us in this sweet scripture, for which may both Writer and Reader bless God the Holy Ghost forever. Amen.

Verse 15

REFLECTIONS

O Lord! help thy servants now with open face, as in a glass, to behold thy glory, and while reading these accounts of thy grace, manifested to the Prophet, give to us a right understanding in all things. Chariots, and horses, and mountains, and hills, all minister to the promotion of thy glory; and all go forth to execute the sacred purposes of thy will, when going forth before the Lord of all the earth.

And do thou no less Almighty Lord Jesus, give us to see thee, is thy type Joshua, crowned with silver and with golden crowns. Yea, Lord, since redemption now is finished, and thou art returned to thy glory, and thy kingdom, cause all hearts to bend to the sceptre of thy grace. Oh, thou wonderful man, whose name is the Branch! carry on thy blessed purposes in building the temple of Jehovah; for thou alone art capable of building it, and of bearing all the glory. And, oh! Lord, while thou sittest and rulest on thy throne, do thou, Lord, in both thy priestly and thy kingly glories, bless and govern all thy redeemed below, as thou art glorifying thy Church above. Give us by faith to behold thee, in those sweet exercises of manifesting grace to thy family upon earth, as thou art blessing thy redeemed in heaven. Amen.