The Great Paradox Of The Ages

Prayer Thought

Testimonies To Ministers pp. 106, 107
Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them. {TM 106.4}
No one should claim that he has all the light there is for God’s people. The Lord will not tolerate this. He has said,”I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message for this time. {TM 107.1}

Zechariah 6: 1-8

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.
2. In the first chariot [were] red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3. And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
4. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What [are] these, my lord?
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. 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.
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.
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.

What Do Mountains Represent?

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.”

God’s church, Jerusalem is symbolized as a “holy” mountain

Why Mountains of Brass?

• Brass is a metal that does not deteriorate. Thus it depicts the mountains as two churches with everlasting and eternal qualities.

• The feet of Jesus likened unto “fine brass as if they were burned in a furnace;” (Rev.1:15); locate these two churches in the New Testament era.

• The first of which is the early church at Pentecost filled with the Holy Spirit –

Acts 2:1-4

1.And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2.And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3.And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4.And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The second is 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.

Ephesians 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.

What is depicted by the Valley or Space between the Mountains?

2 Thess. 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 Valley depicts the falling away period. It portrays the church at work between the first and second Pentecost.

What is the meaning of the Horses and Chariots?

Zechariah 1: 8-11
8. 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.
9. 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].

10. 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.
11. 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.

Zechariah 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

4. The appearance of them [is] as the appearance of Horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5. 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.

Horses represent God’s people taking His message throughout the earth

Testimonies To Ministers pp. 489, 490

“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-borne messages carried by the church on earth during the time between the two Pentecosts.

Who Do the Red Horses Represent?

Early Writings pp. 18, 19
“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}

Red signifies blood shed. Since the horses came from the Lord, they symbolize martyred leaders from the early church up to 538 AD. No mention is made of where the red horses went. This indicates that they were martyred.

Who Do the Black and White Horses Represent?

• Black is a symbol of bondage and spiritual darkness. Thus the period of martyrdom was followed by the Dark Ages of of religion (538-1798 AD). The black horses preached in this prophetic period when God’s true church was subjected to papal bondage.

• White signifies liberty, showing a free church carrying its message after the Dark Ages (1798). This could only be the Millerites (1833-1844).

What is the meaning of the North Country

• Ezekiel 26:7 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

• Zechariah 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.

• Testimonies to Ministers p. 61
  “The fallen denominational churches are Babylon” {TM 61.3}

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

Great Controversy p. 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}

Early Writings p. 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}

The Lord’s Spirit was “quieted” in the North Country because the warning messages given by the Millerite Movement was rejected. In evidence of this the Second Angel announced “Babylon is fallen” Rev. 14:8

Who Do the Grissled and Bay Horses Represent?

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.

Testimonies To Ministers p. 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 (worldliness).

• Gen. 20:1 “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.”

Testimonies Vol. 5 p. 217
“The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt.” {5T 217.2}

Testimonies to Ministers p. 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.

Christ Object Lessons p. 316
“Daily the church is being converted to the world. {COL 315.3}

Testimonies Vol. 1 pp. 287, 288
“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: 4; 14: 1, 4, 5; though not in the forefront, they are seeking to lead the chariot to and fro through the earth – to finish the work.

Testimonies Vol. 5 p. 80 “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}

What Allows the Bay Horses to Take the Chariot to and fro Through the Earth?

The angel said, “Get you hence” – a separation.

Isaiah 66: 15, 16, 19, 20
15. For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
19. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, [to] Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, [to] Tubal, and Javan, [to] the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20. And they shall bring all your brethren [for] an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

• The rejection of the grisled horses and their subsequent separation from the chariot, purification of the church, judgment in the house of God – 1Pet. 4: 17 allows the bay horses to take the chariot to and fro through the earth.

• Testimonies Vol. 5 p. 82
  “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}

• Testimonies Vol. 1 p. 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}

• Testimonies Vol. 1 p. 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.