The world, failed to recognize God’s first warning about the impending doom that is about to come upon Mankind. I’m talking about the fulfillment of Zechariah’s first vision - in which he saw a Horseman, who was soon surrounded by other horsemen who are sent by God to walk to and fro on the earth - after which they reported one simple statement: ‘ALL THE EARTH IS RESTING QUIETLY.’
The Worldwide shutdown of all non-essential businesses, along with Global Government Shelter-in-place orders in the Spring of 2020 - was an unprecedented event in Human History! The decibel level generated by Mankind during that shutdown probaably dropped by 80% of normal - causing the whole earth to rest quietly. Never before have nations around the world engaged in such a simultaneous lock-down of their populations!
The great, merciful God has given us a ‘Calm before the Storm’ of catastrophic events to come. When Zechariah’s 2nd vision is fulfilled and all peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues begin living under the tyrannical reign of the Beast - people will long nostalgically for the quiet restful period ushered in by Zechariah’s 1st vision, fulfilled by the Covid-19 Shutdowns!
So what is Zechariah’s 2nd Vision all about? “Then I (Zechariah) looked and saw 4 animal Horns. ‘What are these?’ I asked the Angel. He replied, ‘They represent the 4 world powers that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.’ Then the Lord showed me 4 Blacksmiths. ‘What are these men come to do?’ I asked. The Angel replied, ‘They have come to take hold of the 4 Horns that scattered Judah so terribly, and to pound them on the anvil and throw them away.” (ZECHARIAH 1:18-21 TLV) This text, full of prophetic imagery raises some questions: ‘Who or what do the 4 Horns & the 4 Blacksmiths symbolize? When will this scattering of the Holy people occur? Where else in Scripture do we find groupings of four that might be connected to these characters?
Your Bible speaks of horns as symbols of nations and their military power: “The Horn of Moab is cut off and his arm is broken.” (JEREMIAH 48:25) “Concerning the tribe of Joesph HE said… ‘He is a young bull in strength and splendor, with the strong horns of a wild Ox to push against the nations everywhere…” (DEUTER.33:13,17)
The only other place in Scripture where we find a grouping of 4 Horns is in the 7th chapter of Daniel: “After this I (Daniel) saw in the night visions and behold, a 4th Beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the Beasts that were before it and it had 10 Horns. I was considering the Horns and there was another Horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom 3 of the first Horns were plucked up by the roots (3 + 1 = 4). And there in this Horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking pompous words.” So important is this grouping of 4 Horns, that God has Daniel repeat this mantra of 1 Horn plucking up, felling (7:19,20) and subduing 3 Kings (7:23-27) - three times in a row!
In the subsequent chapter, Daniel sees new symbols - but with the ‘Little Horn’ once again prominent: “Therefore the male goat (Greece 8:21) grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn (History says: Alexander the Great) was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven (History says Alexander’s empire was divided between 4 of his Generals). And out of one of them came a Little Horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land (Israel).”
Since this ‘Little Horn’ expands his power to the south, east, and Israel (Southwest) - He is obviously coming out of the northern division of Alexander’s empire - equating him with the ‘King of the North’ in the eyes of many Theologians. This ‘King of the North’ built his capital in Antioch which is now in modern day Turkey. If you google a map of his Seleucid Kingdom you’ll see that it includes territory that is now modern day Syria, Iran and Iraq. Intriguingly, that means that modern day Turkey (the King of the North & Little Horn) would have to pluck up and subdue these 3 kingdoms in order to restore the King of the North territory! Turkey is poised to do just that with tanks and infantry already across the Iraqi and Syrian borders fighting terrorism. When the war prophesied to come against Elam (Modern day Iran - Jeremiah 49:35-) occurs - Turkey will be able to roll right in and subdue Syria, Iran, and Iraq. This will be the next great prophetic event, when God will bring the 4 winds (Sunni Islam) against Iran (Center of Shia Islam).
Following this religious civil war in the Middle East will be the fulfillment of Zechariah’s 2nd vision as the 4 Horns (Turkey + the subdued kings of Syria, Iraq and Iran) take over the Middle East and scatter Israel: “At the time of the End, the King of the South (Egypt) shall attack him; and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall enter the Glorious Land (Israel - just as the Little Horn DAN.8) and many countries shall be overthrown…” (DANIEL 11:40,41)
When this happens, the deadly wound administered to the Ottoman (Islamic) Empire by the English & French in World War I will be healed, and Turkey will reign over 400 million people (population of the E.U.) control 2/3 of the world’s oil through OPEC, control the strategic Suez Canal, and confiscate all the weaponry of the Middle East, including Israel’s nukes.
Who will finally stop this Beastial empire? Christ and the 4 Blacksmiths He commands! We’ve just looked at the powerful foursome pictured by the 4 Horns that will invade and scatter Israel - so where do we find a powerful foursome that work for Christ? Study Ezekiel 1 with Revelation 4 and you’ll learn about the 4 living creatures stationed at God’s throne. Ezekiel 10 calls them Cherubim. Under Christ’s direction this foursome take turns telling John about the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Likely the 4 Horns REV.6); Seal the Saints (REV.7); Battle and kill the 200 million man army (Armageddon REV.9); and give the 7 bowls of God’s final wrath against the Beast to 7 angels to pour out REV.15).
Islam proudly proclaims that their god gave Mankind IRON (Surah 57:25), and that since 57 FE is one isotope of 4 that make up IRON - the IRON chapter proves the validity of the Quran.
In a prophecy against Israel God says: “Can anyone break iron, THE NORTHERN IRON and the BRONZE? Your (Israel’s) wealth and your treasures I (God) will give as plunder without price, because of your sins, throughout your territories.” (JEREMIAH 15:12,13)
Remember that the Little Horn (King of the North) comes out of one of the 4 divisions of the Greek empire. Greece is symbolized by the color BRONZE in the great image king Nebuchadnezzar sees (DANIEL 2:32).
The prophet Zechariah is told in his 2nd Vision that the 4 Blacksmiths (4 Living Creatures stationed at God’s throne) will pound the 4 Horns (symbolized by IRON & BRONZE) on the Anvil and throw them away.
According to the book of Revelation - that’s exactly what the 4 Living Creatures do to the Beast in the latter days! If you want more details - watch our ORIGINAL CHRISITIANITY T.V. program at Youtube entitled: ‘Horns VS. Blacksmiths.’