The Great Paradox of the Ages

Where in scripture is the great paradox of the ages revealed?

• Zechariah 6:1-8: "And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country."

• The paradox is with the fourth chariot. It is hitched to two teams of horses, one trying to take it in one direction (South), and the other in another direction (throughout the earth)! What is to become of the chariot and which of the teams is likely to take it? That is the paradox, for they cannot both have it unless they walk together. Let us decipher the meaning of the symbols to resolve the paradox and get the message God wants us to have.

What do the mountains of brass represent?

• In Isaiah 56:7 we are told: "Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Here we see God's church, His "house of prayer" is symbolized as a "holy mountain."

• The same thought is conveyed in Zechariah 8:3, where Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah is called "a city of truth" and "a holy mountain."

• Also, in Micah 4:1, 2 we see the term "the mountain of the house of the Lord," being used for "the house of the Lord" and "the house of the God of Jacob."

• Thus, mountains are used in Scripture to symbolize God's church.

• Brass is a metal alloy, primarily made up of copper and zinc. It does not easily deteriorate and thus, fitly represents God's church with eternal qualities.

• Therefore, the two brass mountains represent two strong churches in the Christian era, the period in which the feet of Jesus is seen as "like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Revelation 1:15.

• The first of such church is found in Acts 2:1-4, the church at the Apostolic Pentecost. The second is the church at the latter-day Pentecost just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus, as represented in Joel 2:28, 29, and Ephesians 5:27.

What is the meaning of the horses and chariots?

• Zechariah 1:8-11: "I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest."

• Observe that these are speaking horses. They could only represent gospel workers taking messages throughout the earth. We see the same representation in Zechariah 10:3, where the house of Judah is called "goodly horses in the battle."

• Also, in Joel 2:2, 4, 5, we see God's people described as great and strong with appearances as horses and making noise of chariots.

• Further, in Testimonies to Ministers 489.4 "The spasmodic, fitful movements of some who claim to be Christians is well represented by the work of strong but untrained horses." Hence, the horses pulling the four chariots (the four spirits of the heavens, Zechariah 6:5), symbolize church leaders and followers, carrying heaven-born messages during the time between the Apostolic Pentecost and the latter-day Pentecost.

• This period is represented by the valley or space between the mountains. It is the "falling away" period spoken of in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 3.

Who do the red horses represent?

• Red signifies bloodshed. In Early Writings 18.2 a company of believers were seen having garments with red borders. They were pointed out as "martyrs that had been slain for" Jesus.

• The Red horses preached during the period of the early church up to 538 AD. No mention is made of where these horses went, indicating that they represented those who were martyred for their faith.

Who do the black and white horses represent?

• Black is a symbol of bondage and spiritual darkness. Hence, the period of martyrdom was followed by the Dark Ages of religion (538-1798 AD). The black horses preached in this prophetic period when God's true church was subjected to papal bondage.

• White signifies liberty, showing a free church carrying its message after the Dark Ages, after 1798. This could only be the Millerites or First Day Adventists who preached from 1833-1844.

What is the meaning of the north country?

• In Ezekiel 26:7, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, is referred to as "a king of kings, from the north," the location for ancient Babylon.

• In Zechariah 2:6 the Lord called His people to "flee from the land of the north" at the conclusion of their captivity in Babylon.

• In the New Testament era, the North Country represents modern Babylon, the domain of Catholics and Protestants.

• Testimonies to Ministers page 61.3 says, "The fallen denominational churches are Babylon." See also Great Controversy page 381.1.

Why was the Lord's Spirit quieted in the north country?

• We are told in Great Controversy page 380.1, "the churches generally did not accept the warning… Multitudes, trusting implicitly to their pastors, refused to listen to the warning; and others, though convinced of the truth, dared not confess it, lest they should be 'put out of the synagogue."

• We are further told in Early Writings page 240.2, "A glorious light then rested down upon these companies, to enlighten all who would receive it. Some of those who were in darkness received the light and rejoiced. Others resisted the light from heaven, saying that it was sent to lead them astray. The light passed away from them, and they were left in darkness…"

• Thus, The Lord's Spirit was "quieted" in the North Country because the warning message given by the Millerite Movement was rejected. In evidence of this the Second Angel announced, "Babylon is fallen" Revelation 14:8

Who do the grisled and bay horses represent?

• A double set of leaders unlike in character and purpose pulling the last chariot, Laodicea, the Seventh Day Adventist church which emerged after the Millerite movement ended in 1844.

• We are told in Testimonies to Ministers page 46.1, "There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God."

• Grisled, a speckled, dappled or spotted, faint grayish color, denotes hypocrisy. It points to a class of leaders that are "neither cold nor hot." Revelation 3:14-17. These horses or leaders are in the forefront of the chariot, leading it into the south country.

• The south country is a term used to represent Egypt. Egypt is geographically south of Palestine. In Genesis chapter 20, verse 1, we read: "And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country."

• Egypt is also used to represent worldliness. In Testimonies for the Church Volume 1, page 287.2 we read: "Some look to the world and desire to follow its fashions and participate in its pleasure, just as the children of Israel looked back to Egypt and lusted for the good things which they had enjoyed there, and which God chose to withhold from them to prove them and thereby test their fidelity to Him."

• The same thought is also conveyed in Volume 5 of the Testimonies for the Church page 217.2, which says, "The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt."

• Christ Object Lessons page 315.3 echo the same sentiments: "Daily the church is being converted to the world."

• Also, in Testimonies to Ministers page 86.2: "The conviction is gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, that they are following in the path of worldlings."

• Bay, a color of reddish-brown to brown with black "points" on the mane, tail, ear tips, and lower legs, denotes strength, a second class of leaders chosen by God to finish His work.

• They must be the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 7:2, 3, and Revelation 14:1-5, whose sealing time is the closing work for the church, as mentioned in Testimonies for the Church Volume 3 page 266. Though not in the forefront of the chariot, they are seeking to lead it to and fro throughout the earth, to finish the work.

• This leadership is brought to view in Testimonies for the Church Volume 5, page 80.1: "In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view."

What is indicated in the command to the bay horses to walk to and fro through the earth?

• The command to the Bay Horses to "Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth," Zechariah 6:7, and their execution of this command, indicates that the Grisled Horses are separated from the chariot and the paradox is resolved.

• This separation is the purification of the church, judgment of the living in the house of God, 1 Peter 4:17; the time when the "uncircumcised and the unclean" shall "no more come into" the church, Isaiah 52:1; when "the wicked shall no more pass through" the church because they are "utterly cut off." Nahum 1:15.

• In Testimonies for the Church Volume 5, page 82.2 we read: "The call to this great and solemn work was presented to men of learning and position; had these been little in their own eyes and trusted fully in the Lord, He would have honored them with bearing His standard in triumph to the victory. But they separated from God, yielded to the influence of the world, and the Lord rejected them."

• We are further told in Testimonies Volume 1, page 197.1, "Angels keep a faithful record of every man's work, and as judgment passes upon the house of God, the sentence of each is recorded by his name, and the angel is commissioned to spare not the unfaithful servants, but to cut them down at the time of slaughter."

• Also, in page 189.2 of the same book: "Many, I saw, were flattering themselves that they were good Christians, who have not a single ray of light from Jesus. They know not what it is to be renewed by the grace of God. They have no living experience for themselves in the things of God. And I saw that the Lord was whetting His sword in heaven to cut them down. Oh, that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among His professed people!"

• "Those that escape" this judgement in the house of God, the 144,000, are sent to "the nations" to "bring all" their "brethren." Isaiah 66:19, 20. Thus, a purified church emerges after the judgment, to take the gospel throughout the world, "conquering and to conquer." Prophets and Kings page 725.2.