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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
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| 1 And I turn back, and lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four chariots are coming forth from between two of the mountains, and the mountains [are] mountains of brass. |
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Four chariots – Chariots are symbolic of organizations. In this case we suggest the organizations are the Lord's order of things in which these are found, i.e.,
1. Jewish Age
2. Jewish Age Harvest
3. Gospel Age
4. Gospel Age Harvest (beginning the Millennial Age)
Two mountans of brass – Copper. These 2 mountains - kingdoms are indicated as being of copper - perfect human nature. This would seem to indicate the kingdom of the first Adam and the kingdom of the second Adam - our Lord. |
| 2 In the first chariot [are] red horses, and in the second chariot brown horses, |
Horses – Symbol of doctrines. C316
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First chariot – Jewish Age
Red horses – The doctrines which had the effect of producing the Ancient Worthy class, ashes of the red heifer.
Second chariot – Harvest of the Jewish Age (Beginning of Gospel Age).
Black horses – The Doctrines which produced the church. "I am black but comely" Cant. 1:5 |
| 3 and in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot strong grisled horses. |
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Third chariot – Gospel Age.
White horses – During the Gospel Age the original doctrines which produced the Little Flock were lost site of and replaced by watered down truths. This had the tendency to produce more Great Company and even tares than the truths of the beginning of the Age.
Fourth chariot – Harvest of the Gospel Age (beginning of the Millennial Age).
Grisled and bay horses – This is where the doctrines of the Kingdom of God on Earth came to the front. This not only restored the original truths of the Gospel Age but began also to bring the hope of human perfection.
It would seem that this description is not indicating that the horses have both characteristics (i.e., both grisled as well as bay), but rather two kinds of horses in this chariot. This seems to be supported by the fact that vs. 6 specifies the grisled horses as going to the South country, while vs. 7 speaks of the bay as going to and fro through the earth. |
| 4 And I answer and say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, 'What [are] these, my lord ' |
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| 5 And the messenger answereth and saith unto me, 'These [are] four spirits of the heavens coming forth from presenting themselves before the Lord of the whole earth. |
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Four spirits of the heavens – The Four Winds of Heaven. Compare with Rev. 7:1-3. |
| 6 The brown horses that [are] therein, are coming forth unto the land of the north; and the white have come forth unto their hinder part; and the grisled have come forth unto the land of the south; |
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Black horses – These are in the 2nd chariot.
The north country – Symbolic of the Divine Government.
The White – Those in the 3rd chariot.
After them – These follow the black horses (in the 2nd chariot), i.e., they also go into the north country.
Grisled – Those in the 4th Chariot.
South – Opposite of North. This could indicate either opposition to the Divine Government and authority (North) OR it could simply indicate the earth. |
| 7 and the strong ones have come forth, and they seek to go to walk up and down in the earth;' and he saith, 'Go, walk up and down in the earth;' and they walk up and down in the earth. |
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| 8 And he calleth me, and speaketh unto me, saying, 'See, those coming forth unto the land of the north have caused My Spirit to rest in the land of the north.' |
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These that go into the north – The Black horses (little flock) and the White horses (great company).
Quieted my spirit – Soothed my anger towards those who mistreated my servants.
In the north country – The divine seat or throne. (Isa. 14:13; Psa. 48:2) |
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| 9 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, |
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| 10 to take of the captivity (who came from Babylon) from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, 'and thou hast come in thou, in that day, yea, thou hast come into the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, |
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| 11 and thou hast taken silver and gold, and hast made a crown, and hast placed on the head of Joshua son of Josedech, the high priest, |
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| 12 and hast spoken unto him, saying: Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, saying: Lo, a man! A Shoot [is] his name, And from his place he doth shoot up, And he hath built the temple of Jehovah. |
Build the temple – The true Church. T70
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| 13 Yea, he doth build the temple of Jehovah, And he doth bear away honour, And he hath sat and ruled on His throne, And hath been a priest on His throne, And a counsel of peace is between both. |
Shall be a priest – Not a sacrificing priest, but a blessing priest. SM139:3
Upon his throne – A king and a priest at the same time. SM136:1, SM139:3
A king in the sense of governor. A priest in the sense of atoner, who, having redeemed, is the reconciler of the people and the dispenser of divine favor. D637
A royal priest. R1063:2*
"A priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psa. 110:4) T30; R531:1*
As such, Melchizedek's position in the type was higher than that of Aaron. F72
The royalty of the Aaronic priest being proclaimed by the golden crown in the garments of glory and beauty. T30
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| 14 And the crown is to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Jehovah. |
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| 15 And the far-off come in, and they have built in the temple of Jehovah, and ye have known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me unto you, yea, it hath come to pass, if ye do certainly hearken to the voice of Jehovah your God.' |
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