Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

6 Finally, I looked up and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. ^2 (A) The first chariot was pulled by red horses, and the second by black horses; ^3 (B) the third chariot was pulled by white horses, and the fourth by spotted gray^[a] horses.

⁴ “Sir,” I asked the angel. “What do these stand for?”

^5 (C) Then he explained, “These are the four winds^[b] of heaven, and now they are going out, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth. ⁶ The chariot with black horses goes toward the north, the chariot with white horses goes toward the west,^[c] and the one with spotted horses goes toward the south.”

⁷ The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, “Start patrolling the earth.”

When they had gone on their way, ⁸ he shouted to me, “Those that have gone to the country in the north will do what the Lord's Spirit^[d] wants them to do there.”^[e]

The Chosen Leader

⁹ The Lord said to me:

^10-11 Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown.^[f] Then go with them to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah and put the crown on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.^{[g] 12-13 (D)} Tell him that I, the Lord All-Powerful, say, “Someone will reach out from here like a branch and build a temple for me. I will name him ‘Branch,’ and he will rule with royal honors. A priest will stand beside his throne,^[h] and the two of them will be good friends. ¹⁴ This crown will be kept in my temple as a reminder and will be taken care of by Heldai,^[i] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah.”^[j]

¹⁵ When people from distant lands come and help build the temple of the Lord All-Powerful, you will know that the Lord is the one who sent me. And this will happen, if you truly obey the Lord your God.