1 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.
2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 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.
6 “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.”
Black represents the death God is punishing Babylon with.
White represents the victory of God’s people returning to their own land and the victory of Babylon’s enemies over them.
The grisled (roan) horses carry bloodshed and war with their victory (roan is a mixture of red and white hairs all over the animal’s body.) Darius still had campaigns to win in the south.
7 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.
Bay is a red color with black legs, mane and tail. These horses symbolize the blood shed of war. It will not be very long before Persia and Greece (Alexander the Great) are at war.
8 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.”
Once Persia is conquered by Alexander, they will never be a major power again. They will be relatively quiet (a nuisance, as they still are today [Iran], but not a major power.)
9 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
God wants Zechariah to take a collection, focusing especially on those who just arrived from Babylon.
11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
Zechariah is to make two crowns and place one on Joshua.
12 And speak unto him, saying, “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:”
This scripture is calling Joshua “The Branch” because he is the one who will do God’s will and lead his people out of poverty, a shadow of Christ.
13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Israel and Judah have never had Priest-kings before. They were always two different offices. Now they will be combined into one.
14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Israelites and Jews came from all over the known world to rebuild the country, especially the temple. This was from as far away as Babylon in the North to southern Egypt in the south.