Introduction: The first six verses of Zechariah One are a "call to repentance" followed by a series of visions that run through chapter six. It is interesting to not that Zechariah's vision came on the 24th day (Zechariah 1:7) of the 11th month. two months before Haggai preached his last message (Haggai 2:10,20), and five months before the work on the Temple had begun (Haggai 1:15). All of this happened on the 24th day of the month.

Twenty-four, in the Bible, expresses in a higher form the same significance as the number twelve. It is the number associated with the heavenly government and worship, of which the earthly form in Israel was only a copy.

Twenty-four bullocks were offered as a peace offering at the dedication of the brazen altars of the tabernacle (Num. 7:88). Twenty-four thousand Levites were required to set forward the mark of the temple (1 Chron. 23:4).

I. IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONALITIES:

A. The Horses -

[1]. The Red Horse - (vs. 8) The obvious cross reference to this horse is (Rev. 6:4). This passage is representative of the war and bloodshed that follows the false peace of the rider on the white horse (Rev. 6:2). The red horses of (Zech. 6) are cloaked in more mystery than the rest of the horses in the chapter. "Mr. X" has always been a mystery man!
[2]. Speckled - (vs. 8) A speckled horse is known today as an Appaloosa. Most Appaloosa's are spotted only on the rear flanks. However, there is one particular kind that is spotted all over and is known as a "Leopard Appaloosa." The leopard appaloosa comes in a basic three colors - white, yellow, black! "Spots," whenever they are found in the Bible always indicate something bad; they never indicate anything good (Eph. 5:27; Jude 12,23; Jer. 13:23; 2 Pet. 2:13; Deut. 32:5).
[3]. White - (vs. 8) Jesus Christ will return on a white horse (Rev. 19), but the Anti-christ will precede Him on a white horse as an imitation in (Rev. 6:2).

B. The Rider -

It is difficult to arrive at any other conclusion when these three colors are together, but that the rider is the anti-christ.

Consider the following:

(1). There are many with him who "walk to and fro through the earth" (Job 1:6,7; 2:2).
(2). A false peace is established - (vs. 11, 15; Rev. 6:2; Dan. 9:27).
(3). The struggle represented is over Jerusalem which is the center of the Kingdom of Heaven (vs. 12).

C. The Angel of The Lord - (vs. 11,12)

The Angel of The Lord seems to be the same personality that is speaking to Zechariah in (vs. 9). In (vs.12) The Angel of The Lord has a conversation with the Lord of Hosts. In turn The Angel of The Lord talks with Zechariah in (vs.13).

"The Angel of The Lord," who appears to Hagar, is given Divine Titles (Ex. 3), Divine Authority (Acts 27), Divine Power (Judg. 13), Divine Commissions (Judg. 2,6), and is said to be Paul's Master, to whom "he belongs" (Acts 27). The Angel of The Lord , clearly then is the Lord Jesus Christ in an "extra-bodily appearance." this is called a "Theophany" by Theologians, and whether the article appears, or not, the context will show whether or not it is an Angel like (Rev. 14:6) [one of a number], or THE Angel (Rev. 10:1-3), the Lord Jesus Christ.