Zechariah’s second of ten visions in the night contained a familiar topic – four horns representing the four great human empires, from the times of the prophets until the end times. Just as in Daniel’s earlier prophecies, these four horns represent leaders of these four world empires from Babylon, Medo-Persia, Ancient Greece, and Rome. Leaders from these empires would oppress and scatter Jerusalem in their respective times. Zechariah describes this next vision:
1 Then I lifted up my eyes and behold, I saw four horns! 2 I said to the angel speaking with me, ‘What are these?’
He said to me, ‘These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.’
3 Then Adonai showed me four craftsmen. 4 I asked, ‘What are these coming to do?’
He answered, ‘These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to frighten them, to cast down the horns of the nations that have lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.’ Zechariah 2:1-4 (TLV)
The first three empires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece, were each defeated by and incorporated into the next empire that followed them. These were some of the four victorious “craftsmen” sent by the Lord to punish the previous empire, because of what they had done to His people, Judah.
In the case of the fourth empire, Rome, it never was completely conquered by an outside entity, but collapsed from within and broke into multiple pieces. Its remnants survive to this day, in the form of countries descended from the Roman Empire, and their subsequent colonies. Scripture tells us that, one day, there will be another attempt to reunify that empire of iron in the end times, ten nations to be led by the Antichrist, corresponding to the ten iron and clay toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, as found in Daniel 2. But this final world government will be defeated by the fourth “craftsman”, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will return to earth to bring in the kingdom of Heaven and to reign over it, forever.
As God told Abraham at the beginning, when the Lord first called out a chosen people to Himself:
2 My heart’s desire is to make you into a great nation, to bless you,
to make your name great so that you may be a blessing.
3 My desire is to bless those who bless you,
but whoever curses you I will curse,
and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. Genesis 12:2-3 (TLV)
This promised blessing to all the families on earth came to be through the fruit of Abraham’s seed, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. By His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead, all believers around the globe now have direct access to the throne of God through faith, having been purified and cleansed by the blood of Christ, completely forgiven, and justified to live in God’s holy presence forever.
God’s promise of a curse against those who curse and attack God’s people, even if, for a time, the Lord permits it as a chastisement, is just as certain to come. Theirs is not the side of history that we should wish to be on. We want to stay as far away as possible from attacking God’s chosen people, avoiding the future wrath of Zechariah’s visioned “craftsmen”.
Israel is, and has been, the apple of God’s eye, even when going through times of His punishment to correct wayward behavior and unbelief. Today, God is calling out to all humankind through their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Like them, we too, may be walking far away from the path of God when His call comes to us, but either way, His call is irrevocable. As the apostle Paul wrote regarding his own people, Israel:
25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer shall come out of Zion.
He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27 And this is My covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”
28 Concerning the Good News, they are hostile for your sake; but concerning chosenness, they are loved on account of the fathers— 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 in like manner these also have now been disobedient with the result that, because of the mercy shown to you, they also may receive mercy. Romans 11:25-31 (TLV)
Reflection
What is my attitude towards the chosen people of God?
Lord, show us Your mercy for all the times we have been disobedient to You, or have acted as a curse towards Your people. Draw us closer to You so that we may abide under the shadow of Your wing and enjoy Your many great blessings and protection. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a beautiful day walking under the blessing and protection of the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 