The four horns

The second vision that Zechariah saw is “the four horns and the four craftsmen.” An explanation is given concerning the four horns: “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem” (v 19). The word “horn” is a symbol of power. Judah is the southern kingdom, Israel is the northern kingdom, and Jerusalem is the capital. The horns that attacked and scattered them refer to the following four Gentile kingdoms (ref. Dan. Ch. 2 and 7): (1) Babylon, (2) Medo-Persia, (3) Greece, and (4) the imperialistic kingdoms beginning with Rome. The final stage of the fourth kingdom will be ruled by the Antichrist.

The four craftsmen

Next, an explanation is given concerning the four craftsmen. “These are the horns that have scattered Judah so that no one lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it” (v 21). These four craftsmen are four individuals raised up by God to judge the four horns (the four Gentile kingdoms) that oppressed the people of Israel beyond their limits. (1) King Cyrus destroyed Babylon. (2) Alexander the Great destroyed Medo-Persia. (3) Pompey destroyed Greece and laid the foundation for Rome as a dominant power. (4) Jesus Christ will destroy the fourth kingdom ruled by the Antichrist. Let us learn lessons from this passage. (1) God rules over history and over the Gentile kingdoms. “But I am very angry with the nations who are carefree; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster” (v 15). God’s wrath will come upon those who oppose the people of Israel. (2) God knows the spiritual and physical condition of His people. On that basis, He judges the Gentile kingdoms. (3) We must not overlook the stipulation of the Abrahamic Covenant. “And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. The vision of the four horns and the four craftsmen is also a prophecy that the stipulation of the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled. No matter how much God’s enemies may triumph, when the appointed time comes, they will decline and God’s plan will be accomplished. Let us take comfort in that and continue to seek God’s will.