Zachariah Vision 2
Terrified Opponents
Zachariah sees 4 horns that fray & scatter the work of God and then 4 workmen (carpenters) that destroy the horns. The horns become terrified opponents.
This is the link to watch the video: http://youtu.be/s9oKwtLEiZw
Zec 1:18-21 KJV
(18) Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
(19) And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
(20) And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
(21) Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
Zachariah sees four horns which symbolise the powers that scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem.
Four stands for the four points of the compass. The Assyrians, Chaldeans and Samaritans on the North, Egyptians, Arabians on the south and the old enemies the Philistine’s on the West were all united in purpose to crush God’s people.
However, after the intercession of the man among the myrtles (intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ) we see four destroying workmen get on-the-job of counteracting these powers and striking terror into their hearts.
Thus, the restored people were made to realise that God would look after their enemies, but they were to go on with their job – the building up of the house of God and Jerusalem. In fact God’s carpenters would strike such terror into the hearts of their former foes that they would be too occupied with their own fate to worry about the people of God’s plans and endeavors.
Doubtless, there is a wider prophetic message to the church today. Four mighty gentile powers were to arise as empires and the fourth is still in existence (all be it greatly weakened) in the form of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
The four horns were original world powers – Assyria – Medes and Persians – Greece – Rome – were afraid and destroyed by forces which later became horns themselves to some extent. Medes and Persians destroyed Assyria. Greece destroyed the Medes and Persians. Rome destroyed Greece. Later, pagan Rome failed but ecclesiastical Rome replaced Pagan Rome.
The lesson we need to grasp is that God it is concerned about building up of his cause. As each new horn rises threatening to scatter the work of God, new opposing forces will scatter them, striking terror in their hearts, and so, leave the people of God free to get on with the work of the LORD
The last horn has scattered and persecuted church but God is working and an opposing power (the rise of Muslim faith) is striking terror into the hearts of Catholic leadership. Where ever the light of the gospel penetrates the darkness recedes. Communism rose up full of hate and was full of the ability to fray and destroy.
There are other horns that have delayed and opposed the spread of the gospel.
Mohammedism, Nationalism and Imperialism (for instance the release of India has not contributed to the release of the gospel) Catholicism and Communism all seemed to be engaged in a deadly work of scattering.
The forces which disrupt, which have scattered, have been destroyed. It is in God’s counsel that these horns are overcome by counteracting powers. We must, hence, realise that our opponents are being terrified and that we can proceed boldly with our God appointed task of restoring worship, building the walls of spiritual unity and planning for increase and the intake and growth of souls.
Although we always seem to be surrounded by dark horns, scattering forces, never lose sight of the fact that God has his workmen already in the sidelines, ready to bring those opposing, scattering forces to nought so that we can concentrate on doing the work of God and see his plan for the salvation of souls and the preparation of the body of Christ for the Lord’s return to proceed unhindered and unfettered by the works of darkness. Praise God we are on the winning side.
This is the link to watch the video: http://youtu.be/s9oKwtLEiZw
Cheers Danny