In Zechariah 6:1-8, Zechariah is given a vision of four chariots, where each chariot has different color horses.

 

 

The translation of verse 3 is greatly debated, so let us look at it in the Hebrew.

 

 

The horses of the fourth chariot are “b’rudim” (בְּרֻדִּים), which is translated in various ways. The King James Version renders this as ‘grizzled’, but Strong’s Hebrew Concordance renders it as ‘spotted’, as if by hail (i.e., dappled).

 

 

When we look up the reference at OT:1258, we see that it is also a reference to hail, which makes ‘spotted’ or ‘dappled’ seem accurate.

 

 

The other word that is translated in different ways is ‘amutzim’ (אֲמֻצִּים). Technically the word means simply ‘strong’, but the KJV renders this as ‘bay’ (i.e., a strong reddish-brown color).

 

 

That ‘amutzim’ means strong is not contested. What is an issue is that this word is used in reference to the horses. Literally, סוּסִים בְּרֻדִּים אֲמֻצִּים translates to ‘horses dappled strong.’ We will talk more about this later, when we see similar horses again in the Book of the Revelation, except that the fourth horse is either ‘pale’ (as opposed to strong), or ‘green’.

 

 

Verse Five tells us that the horses represent “spirits of heaven” that have gone out from their normal stations. In other words, these spirits have a rightful place in YHWH’s Kingdom, but they have to be rightly placed.  This can be hard to understand because some of these spirits seem like the antithesis of the others. As we will see, these spirits are:

 

1. Red: Communism and (Democratic) Socialism.

2. Black: Capitalism and Free Market Economics.

3. White: Catholicism, Protestantism and ‘the Church.’

4. Dappled/Strong/Green: associated with Islam.

 

One might have difficulty imagining how some of these spirits can be of YHWH, but let us consider that when one has the right balance of sun, rain, heat and light, a garden can grow and also flourish. However, when any one of these things is out of balance, nothing good will grow. Too much sun, or rain at the wrong time and crops will be ruined: likewise when these spirits are set free to roam in disorderly ways, disorder is the result. Therefore let us look at how YHWH wants these spirits used, so there can be order in Millennial Israel.

 

In the Post-Millennial Return study we showed how the Lost Ten Tribes went to the literal and spiritual ‘north.’ Among others, one proof is that YHWH will have words proclaimed ‘towards the north’ when He calls Ephraim back to His land.

 

 

First the black horses (Capitalism) went to the “north country”; and then the white horses (which represent the Church) followed after the capitalists, much as the missions followed the pioneers, and the churches came soon after the settlers. No matter what one might think of ‘the Church’, YHWH says that these spirits (of capitalism and the church system) ‘gave rest to His Spirit in the north country’ (where Ephraim went).

 

In verse 6, we also see the dappled horses (which represent Islam) go toward the south country. We might note that Islam originally spread southward into the Arabian Peninsula, and only later spread to the east and the west of the Land of Israel (and in general Islam’s spread has been mostly ‘southerly’).

 

Verse 7 also describes the dappled horses of Islam as ‘strong steeds’, which walk to and fro throughout the earth (rather than staying at their station). We are not told that these strong steeds gave YHWH’s Spirit rest.

 

Considering all of the destruction and death associated with Islam, some might find it difficult to understand how Islam is a spirit of heaven. The Muslims do not receive YHWH’s blessing because they worship the wrong elohim (‘All-h’). Their concept of justice is also incorrect because they do not have His Spirit (seeing as they reject His Son Yeshua). However, Muslims do seem to understand the importance of emulating their prophet. They understand that faith is not something to be played at, or ‘put on’ one day a week. They seem to get the concept that genuine faith demands the faithful to lead a devoted lifestyle (even if they have the wrong idea of what that ought to be).

 

In nations where Islamic Sharia Law is in place, the ‘faithful’ of Islam enforce their understanding of divine will. Muslims also seem comparatively eager to fight for their way of life, even if it means their death. These kinds of values are all clearly spelled out in the Torah; yet they seem to have fallen by the wayside in most mainstream Jewish and Christian societies. Yet if this spirit is of YHWH, then how much better if Yeshua’s followers were eager to take hold, and embrace it?

 

The red horses represent communism and democratic socialism (also called ‘progressivism’). In Communist China or in the former Soviet Union the color red is used to represent the worker, or the collective. 

 

Collectivism is historically scorned by the capitalists in the West (i.e., the ‘north country’), because collectivism tends to destroy profit. Further, secular collectivism if often shunned by the Church precisely because of its secularity. Yet while anything not rooted and grounded in Yeshua ends up being co-opted by Satan, let us realize that the apostles (i.e. the Melchizedekian Order) clearly held to the believing collectivist model.

 

 

Another witness that the Melchizedekian Order held to the believing collectivist model is found in Acts 4:32-35. [In later chapters we will show how such believing collectivism must be ordered and structured. Just as the Levitical Order had to have structure, the Apostle Ya’akov was recognized as the servant-leader of the Melchizedekian Order on earth until his death.]

 

 

No priesthood, Levitical or Melchizedekian, can do its job properly unless it holds to the believing collectivist model. The Torah us to bring our tithes and offerings up to one central point (i.e., the Temple or Tabernacle), and then the monies are to be distributed fairly to all of the priests and the Levites from there. Without such a fair distribution, all of the jobs of the priesthood cannot properly be provided for.

 

 

There are many duties within a Temple. A priest or a Levite might be assigned to duties where they either interact with people, or do not interact with people. Either way, they must be able to devote their complete attentions to their duties, and rest assured that they will still receive a fair share of the tithes (so they can provide for their families). Without such a fair and equitable distribution, the entire system breaks down.

 

The Levitical Order only works when all of the tithes are brought up to one central location, and then are distributed fairly from there. Not surprisingly, this is also the only way for the Melchizedekian Order to properly perform its job (and this is probably why the apostles kept to it).

 

How ironic and grievous that the Ephraimite Movement has no desire to establish believing collectivism among the priesthood. Several of the mainstream churches (including the Catholic Church) understand the need for spiritual collectivism. All funds come up to one central point; and this allows them to distribute the monies as needed in order to fund missions, schools, universities, seminaries, shelters for the homeless and the needy, soup kitchens, outreach activities, and all of the myriad activities that can never be properly funded as long as there is no centralization of funds.

 

Centralization of funds is a prerequisite for both the kingship and the priesthood (whether Melchizedekian or Levitical). Notice that the duties of the kingship (i.e., the army) and the priesthood are analogous to the kinds of civil service functions that most governments perform.  Centralization of funds is the right approach for these kinds of civil service work, because there is no way to put a price tag on these kinds of activities: they cannot be sold for a profit. Therefore, they must be backed by public spending. However, notice how the exact opposite is true for the private sector. 

 

When centralization of funds is at its station in kingship and in the priesthood, it is productive of good. Further, when believing collectivism is at its station, the Orders of Melchizedek and Levi can perform their jobs much better.

 

Believing collectivism is appropriate for any and all ‘government sector’ type work in which the existence of a profit motive would be counter-productive. In later chapters we will explain how the priesthood should be responsible not just for Temple services, but also for the schools and the courts. [Because all available priests are needed at the Temple during the festivals, school and courts could be held away from the regular festival times.]

 

Because the concept of communalism is so attractive, socialists, communists and so-called ‘progressives’ attempt to apply it outside of the station YHWH has appointed for it in the kingship and the priesthood. While believing collectivism is necessary in government and civil service work precisely because it takes away the profit motive, when applied to the private sector it invariably causes damage. 

 

The private sector depends on the profit motive for efficiency, and collectivization takes that profit motive away. In fact it gives no incentive to take risk or to work hard. Thus by trying to station the red horses (collectivism) where the black horses (capitalism) should be stationed, ‘progressive’ leadership can easily destroy the economy, and the government (which also depends on the economy for its taxes).

 

Revelation 6:1-8 also speaks of colored horses. First we see a white horse (the Church).

 

In the Nazarene Israel study we explain how the belief in Yeshua was debased from its Hebraic roots, and was tied to the Roman Empire. After that it became tied to the British Empire, and the various European empires, and also to the American (economic) Empire. Thus did the white horse go forth and conquer.

 

Because the red horses are not at their station, the communist governments have killed millions of people in their revolutions and wars. Millions died in Soviet Russia, in the Chinese Revolution, in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, and in other places.

He who rides the black horse of capitalism holds a pair of money-scales in his hand, to measure out the price of goods in gold and silver. The black horse has a station in the free market, but when it becomes all consuming (as it has done in America) the main concern of the people stops being how to love YHWH our Elohim with all of our might, but what we can buy.

 

The fourth horse is symbolic of Islam (or ‘submission’). This horse is far from his station.

 

The King James translators used the word ‘pale’ for the fourth horse. However, the word is ‘chloros’ (χλωρός). 

 

 

 

‘Chloros’ (χλωρός) is the same word as in chlorophyll, and it is what makes plants green. However, since the translators were not able to visualize a green horse, they used the word ‘pale’ instead.

 

While the Peshitta uses the word ‘pale’ (יורקא), it is a cognate of the Hebrew word for green, which is ‘yir-oq’ (ירוק). The consonants are very similar, implying relatedness.

 

 

Green is the color of Islam since ancient times. If one looks at the flag of any predominantly Muslim nation, it incorporates some green into the flag, and many of the Islamic terror movements have flags which are all green. For example, the flags, headbands and arm bands for Hamas and Hezbollah are predominantly green, with lettering. Roughly one-fourth of the world is under the influence of Islam, and the sword, hunger, disease and death prevail wherever this horse goes.

 

How did the ‘dappled and strong (colored) horses of the fourth chariot turn pale, or green? Scripture does not say, but that is also not the focus of our article. Our purpose here is simply to identify the four spirits of heaven that YHWH has allowed to go forth from their station in front of the Adon of all the earth, and the damage that has been caused on earth because all things are not in their proper places.

 

Capitalism is not well applied to the government, and collectivism is not well applied to business. Rather, civil service should use collectivism, and commerce should use capitalism; and if we try to depart from that model, grave problems will result.

 

The priesthood needs to function as one unit in order to be effective, and this requires that all the funds be brought to one central point. Further, the people need to live the Torah as a genuine lifestyle, and submit to what it says, rather than just ‘playing Church’ one day a week.

Israel stands at the center of the world, and all of the nations surround it. Israel is ideally positioned to show the world how righteous government and society should be run. For the balance of this study, let us talk about these matters so that if YHWH wills, we can be used to re-establish it in our day.

 

In Yeshua’s name,

 

Amein.