A CAVALRY OF ANGELIC FORCES

6. (a) How does Zechariah’s eighth vision begin? (See opening image.) (b) Why are the horses of different colors?

⁶ The last of Zechariah’s eight visions may perhaps be the most faith-strengthening. (Read Zechariah 6:1-3.) Picture the scene: Charging forward “from between two mountains . . . of copper” come four chariots, likely fitted for battle. The horses pulling the chariots are of different colors. This would help to distinguish one rider from the next. “What are these?” asked Zechariah. (Zech. 6:4) We too want to know, as this vision directly affects us.

9. Who are the riders of the chariots, and what is their assignment?

⁹ Now back to the chariots. What do they and their riders represent? The riders of the chariots are angels, likely groups or divisions of angels. (Read Zechariah 6:5-8.) They are going out from “before the Lord of the whole earth” with a special mission to fulfill. What assignment are they given? The chariots and their riders are sent out to care for specific territories. Their responsibility is to protect Jehovah’s people, particularly from “the land of the north,” Babylon. Jehovah would make sure that Babylon would not enslave his people again. What comfort this must have brought to the temple builders in Zechariah’s day! They did not have to worry about interference from their enemies.

10. What assurance can God’s people today draw from Zechariah’s prophecy about the chariots and their riders?

¹⁰ As in Zechariah’s day, Jehovah of armies still uses his angels to protect and strengthen his people. (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 1:7, 14) Ever since spiritual Israel was released from symbolic captivity to Babylon the Great in 1919, the expansion of true worship has been unstoppable despite relentless opposition. (Rev. 18:4) Because we have angelic protection, we need not fear that Jehovah’s organization might go through another time of spiritual oppression. (Ps. 34:7) Instead, we can be sure that God’s servants worldwide will continue to flourish spiritually. As we reflect on Zechariah’s vision, we do not doubt that we are safe in the shadow of the two mountains.

11. Why do we not need to fear the coming attack on God’s people?

¹¹ Very soon the political powers of Satan’s world will form a coalition that is bent on the destruction of God’s people. (Ezek. 38:2, 10-12; Dan. 11:40, 44, 45; Rev. 19:19) Ezekiel’s prophecy describes these forces as covering the land like the clouds and coming up against us in a fury, riding on horses. (Ezek. 38:15, 16)a Do we have anything to fear? Not at all! We have a cavalry on our side. At that critical moment during the great tribulation, the angelic soldiers of Jehovah of armies will come together to protect God’s people and destroy those who oppose his sovereignty. (2 Thess. 1:7, 8) What a day that will be!