Zechariah 6 - Introduction

The vision of the four chariots. By the crowns of Joshua are shewed the temple and kingdom of Christ, the Branch.

Before Christ 519.

THE main design and purport of the eighth and last vision, contained in the first part of this chapter, was to confirm the Jews in their faith and dependence upon God, by shewing them that, weak and defenceless as they seemed to be, they had nothing to fear from the greatest earthly powers, while they remained under the divine protection; since all those powers were the instruments of his providence, and could not subsist nor act but under his permission. After this the prophet is favoured with another revelation respecting a kingdom different from all the preceding, mentioned in the former part of the chapter. By God's command, in the presence of witnesses, and for a memorial to them, he places a crown, or crowns, upon the head of Joshua the high-priest, thereby constituting him a type of Christ the Branch, whom he proclaims as about to come to build the spiritual temple of Jehovah, and to preside over it, both as king and priest, for the great purpose of peace. The accession of strangers to assist in building the temple is foretold, and given as a proof of the prophet's divine mission.