Zech 1:1-21 
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 

When is the "eighth month"? 
It runs approximately October 21st/22nd through November 20th/21st. 

The word "Darius" is actually a title rather than a proper name, 
and, was the 'lord'/king' of the Persian kingdom which succeeded the Babylonian kingdom. 

Darius 
[duh RYE us] (meaning unknown)-- the name of several kings of ancient Persia: 
1. Darius I, the Great, who reigned from about 522 to 485 B. C. He was one of the most able Persian kings, and is also known as Darius Hystaspis, or Darius, son of Hystaspis. 
Darius spent the first three years of his reign putting down rebellions in the far-flung regions of his empire. After he had secured his power, he divided the empire into 29 satrapies, or provinces, each ruled by Persian or Median nobles. He made SHUSHAN, or Susa, his new capital and created a code of laws similar to the Code of HAMMURABI; this code of Darius was in effect throughout the Persian Empire. 
An effective organizer and administrator, Darius developed trade, built a network of roads, established a postal system, standardized a system of coinage, weights, and measures, and initiated fabulous building projects at Persepolis, Ecbatana, and Babylon. 
Darius continued Cyrus the Great's policy of restoring the Jewish people to their homeland. In 520 B. C., Darius' second year as king, the Jews resumed work on the still unfinished Temple in Jerusalem. Darius assisted with the project by ordering it to continue and even sending a generous subsidy to help restore worship in the Temple <Ezra 6:1-12>. The Temple was completed in 515 B. C., in the sixth year of Darius' reign. 
The final years of Darius' reign were marked by clashes with the rising Greek Empire in the western part of his domain. He led two major military campaigns against the Greeks, both of which were unsuccessful. 
2. Darius II Ochus, the son of Artaxerxes I, who ruled over Persia from about 424 to 405 B. C. He was not popular or successful, and he spent much time putting down revolts among his subjects. His rule was marked by incompetence and misgovernment. Darius II may be the ruler referred to as "Darius the Persian" <Neh. 12:22>. 
3. Darius III Codomannus, the king of Persia from 336 to 330 B. C. This Darius is probably the "fourth" king of Persia mentioned by the prophet Daniel <Dan. 11:2>. Darius III underestimated the strength of the army of ALEXANDER the Great when the Macedonians invaded Persia. He was defeated by Alexander in several major battles. He attempted to rally the eastern provinces of his empire, but he was hunted down in 330 B. C. and assassinated by his own followers. For all practical purposes, these events brought the Persian Empire to an end and marked the beginning of the period of Greek dominance in the ancient world. 
4. Darius the Mede, successor of Belshazzar to the throne of Babylon <Dan. 5:31>. He is called the "son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes" <Dan. 9:1>. Darius the Mede has not been identified with certainty; he is not mentioned by Greek historians or in any Persian literature. 
Darius the Mede was the Persian king who made Daniel a governor, or ruler, of several provincial leaders <Dan. 6:1-2>. Daniel's popularity with his subjects caused the other governors and the satraps under them to become jealous of Daniel and to plot against him. It was Darius the Mede who had Daniel thrown into the den of lions <Dan. 6:6-9>, but who ultimately issued a decree that all in his kingdom "must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel" <Dan. 6:26>. 
Much confusion and mystery have clouded the identity of Darius the Mede. Some scholars have denied the existence of such a ruler, concluding that the writer of the Book of Daniel was historically inaccurate in saying that Darius the Mede was the person who "received the kingdom" <Dan. 5:31> when Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. Persian cuneiform inscriptions show that Cyrus II ("the Great") was the successor of Belshazzar. 
One possible answer to this problem is that "Darius the Mede" was an alternative title used by the writer of the Book of Daniel for Cyrus the Persian (Cyrus II, the Great). Indeed in <Daniel 11:1>, the SEPTUAGINT-- the Greek translation of the Old Testament-- has Cyrus instead of Darius. Thus, a quite legitimate translation of <Daniel 6:28> might read: "Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian" (NIV, margin) Such a logical and reasonable interpretation silences the skepticism about this passage in the Book of Daniel. 
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) 

The name "Zechariah" is 'YHVH has remembered' or 'YAH remembers'. 

Zech 1: 
2 The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. 

Has YHVH become very displeased with that which has been handed down unto us in this final generation? 

Zech 1: 
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Instead of continuing in the ways and traditions of man which has been handed down, if we will turn again unto HIM, then HE will turn again unto us. 
But, does man, especially Israel, know the difference between that which is of YHVH and that which is the traditions of man? 

Zech 1: 
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. 

In order to turn from that which is "evil", we must know the difference between that which is righteous and that which is evil. 
You can not change that which you do not understand. 

In this final generation, what has become acceptable to man, but is against YHVH'S Way? 
And, if you were to spell out all that was evil in the sight of YHVH, but acceptable in the sight of man, will they see the difference and take heed? The people have not listened to YHVH, so what makes us think that they will listen to us. 
Yet, FATHER would have us warn them. And, if they desire to earnestly come to HIS Truth, we are to teach them. 


Ezek 3:17-21 
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a
stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul. (KJV) 

Zech 1: 
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? 

Men do not live forever in the flesh. Many who have handed down these traditions of man, and often have handed down evil ways, are no longer living in the flesh. But, those traditions they began and/or handed down are still among us. 
Even the true prophets do not live forever, but that which they brought forth which is good still is. 

Zech 1: 
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us. 

YHVH'S servants, the prophets, have given us HIS Word. 
Did our forefathers grasp YHVH'S Truth, and live by HIS Word? 

If we do good, will we not receive reward? 
If we do that which is evil, will we not be recompensed for our evil ways? 
YHVH does not have to miraculously 'zap' someone for their evil ways, for often, man brings about their own recompensation. 
The penalty for slothful ignorance of YHVH'S Word shall be acceptance of that which is evil. 

Rom 6:23 
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) 

Zech 1: 
7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 

The date "four and twentieth day of the eleventh month" is approximately February 13th. 

Zech 1: 
8 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. 

Let us read this as it is written in the Interlinear. 
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 red horses, speckled, and white. 

First, note that this speaks of a time of darkness, "by night". 

The color "red" in "behold a man riding upon a red horse" refers to 'war'. 

"and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom" 
"in the bottom" speaks of 'in the shade or shadows' ...The shade or shadows of what? 

"and behind" refers to 'following afterward'. 
"red horses" in "red horses, speckled, and white" speaks of even more 'war', the 2nd use of "red horses"; "speckled" speaks of 'bright red' as in the color of wine and blood (in pretense of the atoning blood of YAHSHUA); and, "white" which refers to 'religion'. 

Now, it is important to look at these "myrtle trees", for these are that which casts the shadow/shade under which this "man riding upon a red horse" was standing. 

The word "myrtle" is the meaning for Esther's Hebrew name Hadassah. 

Myrtle 
An evergreen tree with dark glossy leaves and white flowers. The leaves, flowers, and berries of the myrtle were used for perfume and as seasoning for food. The myrtle tree had a religious significance for the Hebrews <Zech. 1:8-11> and was a symbol of peace and joy. Queen Esther's Hebrew name <Esth. 2:7> meant myrtle. 
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) 

Who is Esther a type for? 
She was is referenced as an Hebrew, but she had been joined in marriage with the king of Persia. 
So, this symbol of 'joy and peace' was being utilized by this government/kingdom. 

Today, we should remain spiritual virgins, awaiting the true Bridegroom, 
YAHSHUA (YHVH'S KING of HIS Government). 
But, how many look to man's government for their joy and peace? 
And, how many shall be taken with man's government into Satan's? 

Esth 2:16-23 
16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 
18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 
19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. 
20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. 
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 
23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king. (KJV) 

Note that "Mordecai" means "little man" or "worshipper of Mars". 
And, Esther (Hadassah...myrtle) did as Mordecai instructed. 

Zech 1: 
9 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. 

What are these? 

10 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. 

Who is this answering? 
This is "the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees".

This "man riding upon a red horse" is whom? 

Job 1:7 
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (KJV) 

This should also bring the following scriptures to mind. 

Gen 8:5-12 
5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. 
6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: 
7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 
8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; 
9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 
10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 
11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 
12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.  (KJV) 

As we have looked at before, this "in the tenth month, on the first day of the month" speaks of the time of the Winter Solstice, which approximately December 21st/22nd. 
Forty days later would be the approximately January 30th/31st, which refers to the "eleventh month, the tenth/eleventh day". There is then a 21 day period that follows this. About this time (within this 21 day period)  would be the same approximate time that the "man riding upon a red horse" shall be standing in the shadows (yet unseen by men of this last generation) "among the myrtle trees". 

Zech 1: 
11 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. 

Then, the men on the four horses replied to "the angel of the LORD". 
"We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." 
The earth and the people are momentarily allayed and rather quiet. 

What does it take to get the people stirred up in this generation? 
It takes something huge, very awesome, and extremely dramatic. 

Zech 1: 
12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? 

"threescore and ten years" is a generation of 70 years. 

Dan 9:1-27 
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 
2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 
4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 
5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 
6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 
8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 
12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 
13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 
14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 
15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 
17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 
21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (KJV) 

Zech 1: 
13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 
14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 
15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. 

Remember the report from the four horseman? 
"We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." 
All the earth and it's people "sitteth still, and is at rest", but especially the heathen who are haughtily at ease. 
Why are they so haughty? 
Because they do not know Our FATHER; they love HIM not. And, because of this they have no fear of HIM. 
But, FATHER is very unhappy with these particular children, who do belong to HIM, whether they admit it or not. 
Why? Because they made YHVH'S correction of Israel much worse. And, through their evil ways, they have made it appear that YHVH'S correction was evilness. (Is there anything new under the sun?) 

Zech 1: 
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 

Because of this, FATHER shall have compassion upon Jerusalem ('the teaching of peace'). 
HIS House shall be built again in Jerusalem. 
What is this "a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem" 
We shall see this spoken of in chapter 2. 

Zech 1: 
17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. 

Zech 1: 
18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 
19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 

What are "horns"? 
Horns speak of powers. 
These powers have dispersed (scattered) the children of Judah, and of Israel, and true Jerusalem, the 'teaching of peace'. 

Zech 1: 
20 And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. 

What are "carpenters"? 
First, they are fabricators. But, destroyers are a better term. 
For, these build not that which is of YHVH, but that which is artificial. 

These speak of the 4 hidden dynasties of Government, Religion, Economy, and Education.

Zech 1: 
21 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. (KJV) 

Please note that these "are the horns which have scattered Judah", and does not refer, at this point, to all of Israel. Who are these destroyers? 
"so that no man did lift up his head" refers to, 'no man of Judah (true Judah) can be in charge. 
And, these destroyers are to discomfit Judah, making them fear. And, to cast out the powers of other nations (heathens) which have affected or have claims on the land of Judah.