Introduction

The purpose of this study is to present an unrevealed symbolic prophecy depicting the history of the New Testament church from Pentecost to Pentecost.

Prayer thought: EW 270

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans.

This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people. {EW 270.2}

1. Read Zech. 6:1-8 - observe the Paradox of the fourth chariot

6:1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains [were] mountains of brass.

6:2 In the first chariot [were] red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

6:3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.

6:4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What [are] these, my lord?

6:5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These [are] the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

6:6 The black horses which [are] therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

6:7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

6:8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

2. What do the mountains of brass and the space between them represent?

Mountains represent God’s church or people

Isa. 56:7 “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” 2

Zech. 8:3 “Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Micah 4:1, 2 “But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Brass has everlasting qualities; it does not deteriorate.

The location of the two churches whose strength is likened to mountains of brass

Rev. 1: 15 “And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.”

The feet of Jesus being of brass, locate these two churches in the NT era.

The early church at Pentecost filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1- 4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The church triumphant under the second Pentecost

Joel 2:28, 29 “And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Eph. 5:27 “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”- the church triumphant under the second Pentecost

The valley or space between the mountains

2Thess. 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The space (valley) depict the falling away period, thus portraying the church at work during this period, between the two Pentecost.

3. What is the meaning of the horses and chariots?

The horses represent God’s people

Zech. 1:8-11 “I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these [be]. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among

the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all

the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.”

Zech 10:3 “Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for

the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his

goodly horse in the battle.”

Joel 2: 4, 5 “The appearance of them [is] as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen,

so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like

the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle

array.”

TM 489.4 – “The spasmodic, fitful movements of some who claim to be Christians is

well represented by the work of strong but untrained horses. When one pulls forward,

another pulls back; and at the voice of their master, one plunges ahead, and the other

stands immovable…” {TM 489.4}

Thus the horses pulling the chariots symbolize leaders and followers (lay members).

Hence the four spirits (verse 5) represent Heaven-born messages carried by the church on

earth during the time between the two Pentecost.

4. What do the various colors of the horses represent?

Red signifies blood shed. Since the horses came from the Lord, they symbolize martyred

leaders from the early church up to 538 AD.

EW 18. 2 “As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the

glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were

brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were.

He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him…” {EW 18.2}

GC 40.1, 2 “…When the Life-giver shall awaken those who have fought the good fight,

many a martyr for Christ's sake will come forth from those gloomy caverns.” {GC 40.2}4

Read verses 6 and 7. No destination was given for the red horses showing that they were

martyred and went nowhere.

Read verse 2. – Black is a symbol of bondage and spiritual darkness. Thus the period of

martyrdom was followed by the Dark Ages of religion (538-1798 AD). The black horses

preached in this prophetic period when God’s true church was subjected to papal

bondage.

Read verse 3 -White signifies liberty, showing a free church carrying its message after

the Dark Ages (1798). This could only be the Millerites (1833-1844).

5. What is the meaning of the North Country?

Ez.26:7 “For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar

king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with

horsemen, and companies, and much people.

Zech. 2:6 “Ho, ho, [come forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for

I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD”

The north-country is the location for ancient Babylon. In the NT era it is modern Babylon

– Catholics and Protestants

TM 61 “…The fallen denominational churches are Babylon…”{TM 61.3}.

GC 59, 60 “…"Babylon the great" was "drunken with the blood of the saints." The

mangled forms of millions of martyrs cried to God for vengeance upon that apostate

power. {GC 59.3}

GC 382, 383 “Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome's example of

iniquitous connection with "the kings of the earth"--the state churches, by their relation to

secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And

the term "Babylon"--confusion--may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all

professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable

sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories.” {GC 383.1}

The Lord’s Spirit was “quieted” in the North Country because the warning message give

by the Millerite Movement was rejected. In evidence of this the Second Angel announced

“Babylon is fallen” – Rev. 14: 8,

EW 240 “A glorious light then rested down upon these companies, to enlighten all who

would receive it. Some of those who were in darkness received the light and rejoiced.

Others resisted the light from heaven, saying that it was sent to lead them astray. The

light passed away from them, and they were left in darkness…” {EW 240.2}

6. Who are the Double Team of Horses?5

A double set of leaders unlike in character and purpose pulling the last chariot, Laodicea,

the SDA church which emerged after the Millerite movement ended in 1844.-

TM 46 – “While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan at

the same time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is

sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences

continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the

purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God. {TM

46.1}

Gristle, a faint grayish color, denotes hypocrisy -leaders that are “neither cold nor hot.”

Rev. 3: 14-17; they are in the forefront, leading the chariot into the south country, a term

for Egypt

Gen. 20:1 “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled

between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.”

5T 217 “The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily

retreating toward Egypt.” {5T 217.2}

COL 316 “Daily the church is being converted to the world. {COL 315.3}

TM 86 “The conviction is gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are

giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, that they are following in the path of worldlings.

1T 287. 2 “…Like ancient Israel, how soon we forget God and His wondrous works, and

rebel against Him. Some look to the world and desire to follow its fashions and

participate in its pleasure, just as the children of Israel looked back to Egypt and lusted

for the good things which they had enjoyed there, and which God chose to withhold from

them to prove them and thereby test their fidelity to Him. {1T 287.2}

Bay denotes strength – a second class of leaders chosen by God to finish His work – Rev.

7: 2, 3; 14: 5; though not in the forefront, they are seeking to lead the chariot to and fro

through the earth – to finish the work –

5T 80, 82 “In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self

sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants,

who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.” {5T 80.1}

“The call to this great and solemn work was presented to men of learning and position;

had these been little in their own eyes and trusted fully in the Lord, He would have

honored them with bearing His standard in triumph to the victory. But they separated

from God, yielded to the influence of the world, and the Lord rejected them.” {5T 82.2}

7. What allows the Bay horses to take the chariot to and fro through 6

the earth?

Read verse 7 – “Get you hence…” A separation directed by an angel.

Isaiah 52:1 “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments,

O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the

uncircumcised and the unclean.”

Nah. 1: 15 “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that

publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked

shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.”

1T 190 “…Many, I saw, were flattering themselves that they were good Christians, who

have not a single ray of light from Jesus. They know not what it is to be renewed by the

grace of God. They have no living experience for themselves in the things of God. And I

saw that the Lord was whetting His sword in heaven to cut them down. Oh, that every

lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among His

professed people!..” {1T 189.2}

1T 198 “…Angels keep a faithful record of every man's work, and as judgment passes

upon the house of God, the sentence of each is recorded by his name, and the angel is

commissioned to spare not the unfaithful servants, but to cut them down at the time of

slaughter.” {1T 197.1}

Soon the tares are to be no longer a part of the church.

Conclusion: This prophecy reveals God’s church in the NT era, starting from its early

state of purity, followed by its falling away into darkness and apostasy during the Dark

Ages and finally its restoration as a purified church in the latter days.