Introduction: We noted earlier in our study of Zechariah that the prophet received eight visions on a single night. Those eight visions were given to ENCOURAGE the people of God as they were exhorted to finish the work of rebuilding the temple. Finish your work knowing that God is not finished with Israel. Yes, Israel has sinned grievously. Yes, Israel has suffered grievously for her sins. But God still has a plan and a purpose for this people. God — even while He has judged His people — has also taken account of the mistreatment of His people by those nations He has used to judge her. This was the message of the first vision Zechariah received. ESV Zechariah 1:8 "I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, 'What are these, my lord?' The angel who talked with me said to me, 'I will show you what they are.' 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, 'These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.' 11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, 'We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.' 12 Then the angel of the LORD said, 'O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?' 13 And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, 'Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'" Well, now, in this eighth vision, the message has come full circle. Now, we are given brief vision that depicts God’s judgment on the nations. A judgment that precedes the kingdom of Israel’s Messiah. A righteous judgment that represents justice as the kingdom of righteousness is ushered in. The vision is brief. The details are few. But the general message is clear. THERE IS HOPE IN JUDGMENT. GOD DOES NOT FORGET HIS PEOPLE, NOR DOES HE OVERLOOK THE MISTREATMENT OF HIS PEOPLE. HIS WRATH IS SINLESS, AND THEREFORE IT SATISFIES HOLY DESIRES. I. THE SYMBOLS OF JUDGMENT (vs.1-3) As we already noted, this 8th vision is communicating its message in much the same way that the first vision did. But there are also differences. The first vision had the horses in the land of Israel after surveying the earth. This vision has the horses leading chariots and they came out from between two mountains of bronze (vs.1). The chariots were the “storm troops” of battles — as one commentator puts it. Andrew Hill — “Chariots were the ‘storm troops’ of the ancient world. They symbolize both the swiftness and the decisive power of God in his intervention in human affairs.” ESV Study Bible — “Chariots were the ancient equivalent of tanks, the key symbol of military power.” The mountains of bronze likely stand as the gates of heaven. The pillars of Solomon’s temple were made of bronze. ESV 1 Kings 7:13 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work. 15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same. 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital. 18 Likewise he made pomegranates in two rows around the one latticework to cover the capital that was on the top of the pillar, and he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection which was beside the latticework. There were two hundred pomegranates in two rows all around, and so with the other capital.