Zechariah's Vision: Four Horsemen Patrol the Earth

In the first of eight night visions, Zechariah sees a man riding a red horse in a ravine among myrtle trees. Behind him are red, brown, and white horses. An angel explains: 'These are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.' They report back: 'We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.' The Lord is displeased — his cities are still ruined. He promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy and rebuild the Temple. The vision anticipates the Four Horsemen of Revelation — the same image, same horses, same patrol of the earth. The Apocalypse is a book that knows Zechariah by heart.