And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it ~ Zechariah 1:20-21.

Introduction:

The Bible clearly informs us that the whole world yet lies in wickedness (1 John 5:19). The political wrangling and the insecurity situations in many nations today, the incessant misunderstandings in many homes and the prevalent upturns of failure in many business concerns may as well be tell-tale signs of hidden tokens of wickedness planted somewhere in the unseen realm.

Satan hunts like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may isolate and devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). His game-plan is to scatter the fabrics of our faith in God, our families, our visions, the glories of our assignments and the hopes of our better tomorrow. We must feel impelled, therefore, to learn how to decisively counter-blast him and his wicked powers everywhere and every time.

Zechariah had prophetically declared that the Lord always wishes for His people to prosper and to spread abroad (Zechariah 1:17; 3 John 2). Hence, he wondered why Jerusalem was not prospering at that time, and he began to seek the face of God.

While praying he saw a vision of four horns, and the Lord told him that those horns were the powers stalling the covenant progress of Jerusalem, Judah and Israel. Meanwhile, the vision leaves us with the stark fact that the cause of truth on the earth certainly has both strong antagonists and overwhelming divine defenders.

What Do Horns Symbolize?

Basically, “horns” are symbols of authority, strength and great power (Amos 6:13). In its commonest usage in the Bible, especially in relation to the horn of the righteous, it symbolizes the power of the believer, and also represents the dignity of divinity (Psalm 92:9-12).

Again, horns are well known as an animal's weapon. It follows, therefore, that they also represent brute force and aggressiveness. Thus, the horn of wickedness symbolizes the power of the wicked, and horned gods usually depict warrior spirits and lords of animals.

The Four Horns And The Four Carpenters

Most Bible scholars agree that the four horns in the scriptural passage above represent those worldly kingdoms which were opposed to the Jewish people at that time, namely, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

They were the four mighty Gentile powers, which were then in dead hostility to the covenant people, to scatter and to isolate them from progress and supernatural elevation. God’s resistance against these powers had to do with His characteristic abhorrence of satanic globalism, which clearly opposes the divine dominion (Daniel 7:24).

Today, the four horns are symbols of magical persecutors, oppressors, terrorists and destroyers of the people and nations. They are the four horned beastly spirits, charging like mad bulls, attacking and ferociously working to scatter the Church of God and the purpose of God for the individual believers.

Happily, the Lord also showed Zechariah four carpenters, and the interpreting angel said the carpenters were God’s agents positioned to frighten or terrify and cast down the hostile powers represented by the horns, and to destroy and to crush them until they totally fade away.

The four carpenters, were the nations used then as instruments of divine power to destroy the enemies of Israel. Undoubtedly, they also symbolize those agencies by which the Almighty God, the moral Governor of the Universe overcomes all the enemies of truth and light today.

The word “carpenters” is from the Hebrew word “charash”, which refers to a skilled carver in wood or skilled engraver in stone. It also casts the imagery of craftsmen, generally considered as smiths who are able to master the four iron horns.

Today, these four carpenters are the kingdom repairers, the restorers, the ambassadors and the rebuilders skillfully empowered and endowed by the Spirit of God to neutralize the enemies with the hammer of God’s Word, and to enforce victory and progress for God’s people.

Brethren, the purpose and the plan of the enemy is the same today as it was in the days of Zechariah. Jesus Christ told Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). This clearly sounds a timely call to arms and spiritual induction.

Believers today must practically take their stand and wrestle against the enemies of the truth, the principalities and powers of darkness, in the interest of God’s kingdom in our age (Ephesians 6:10-13; 1 Timothy 6:12). Attrition is the name of the battle, and King David became well known for it (Psalms 18:43-45).

It would have been heart-breaking if there were nothing we can do against these satanic onslaughts, or if we were left only to see all our troubles and bemoan ourselves in them. Alleluia! The Lord has provided the solution to the diabolical spiritual horns and the scattering power of the enemy: the four super carpenters!

Not four army generals, not four billionaires, not four separate degrees, not four earthly kings, but four spiritual carpenters and altar builders! Builders like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Elijah, Elisha, Esther, Deborah, Paul, Peter, Phillips etc.

Please keep in mind that altars signify the places of sacrifice, consecration and worship (Romans 12:1-3). Those who cooperate with God to build His altar have handy solutions against the spirits that scatter (Jude 20-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:11). Alleluia!

Wonderfully, these craftsmen-builders still exist today as God’s kingdom agents on earth, but they must be ready to act as counterpoises and means of counter influence, with divine intentions, in the interest of the gospel and concerning them that are heirs of salvation. These agents are born-again believers, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (Isaiah 60:8-15).

As we can clearly see from the prophetic insight of Zechariah, there was a matching of the four horns with the super four carpenters! All evil meets its match in every part when God comes forth to work, and no matter how terrible the evil becomes, God always operates to work out His will on the behalf of His people. If there are bad influences against you or any of your interests, God can counter-blast them, and break the spell of evil already done.

Never despair, the Restorer Himself is here (1 John 3:8). His ambassadors are also here, to bring the evil horns to ruin whenever they plan to cast their wicked plans, and to build up the blessed kingdom of truth and righteousness. Friends, it is your day, and you won’t be a disappointment, in Jesus Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!

• Bishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

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