Introduction

• Zechariah whose name means “he whom the Lord remembers”, worked with Haggai in the restoration period.
• The reconstruction of the temple started soon after the arrival of the captives under Zerubbabel in 538 BC.
• However 16 years later, the temple had still not been completed. Therefore Haggai started prophesying (preaching) to resume the work and Zechariah joined him.
• As a result of their work, the temple was completed in 516 BC (Ezra 6:15).

• This vision’s basic message is that God’s angels had surveyed the world and could offer assurance that God was going to indeed succeed in having the temple rebuilt.
• God was in control of all nations. The colour of horses here may show something like war(red), famine(brown) and victory(white).

• Horns stands for powers (other nations) who had scattered God’s nation
• Four is the world (cosmic) number.
• The craftsmen (blacksmiths) were God’s instruments of destruction against the hostile powers which had hurt the Israelites.
• The basic message from the vision is that the people can complete the temple without opposition from their enemies. No power can stop God from accomplishing His plan!

• The people of Jerusalem were concerned about their immediate future and their physical conditions.
• The message is God will totally take care of there needs and protect them.
• God also shows the Messianic age (v.10-13). God is going to bless the world through Christ.
• We also see God’s strong appeal to return from captivity to their homeland (v.6-7).