Zechariah 1:21

Again in answer to the prophet’s request for interpretation, the angel repeated that the horns represented the powers that had scattered the Israelites. Then he added that the four artisans had come to terrify these horns and to overthrow them for attacking Israel and scattering the Israelites. These smiths evidently carried hammers with which they threatened to smash the horns. Probably the kingdoms of Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Messiah are in view. Each of these kingdoms destroyed the preceding one, Medo-Persia having defeated Babylonia (cf. Daniel 2:34-35; Daniel 2:44-45).

Another less likely view is that they describe kingdoms that had already destroyed Israel’s enemies. A third possibility is that they will all appear in the future to take vengeance on Israel’s end-times enemies. A fourth less probable view, I think, is that the horns represent "the full extent of human cruelty, military might, political machinations, and lust for power . . . which destroyed pre-exilic Judah." [Note: McComiskey, p. 1048.] A fifth view is that they represent the four judgments of Ezekiel 14:21: sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague (cf. Revelation 6:1-8). [Note: The New Scofield . . ., p. 965.] The Ezekiel prophecy describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., but similar judgments are predicted for the Tribulation in Revelation 6-19.

"Several features are noteworthy in this vision: (1) God takes account of every one that lifts his hand against Israel; (2) He has complete knowledge of the dejected condition of His people and the extent of their injury; and (3) He has already provided the punishment for every foe of His chosen ones." [Note: Feinberg, God Remembers, pp. 42-43.]

"As little as horns can hold their own before powerful smiths, so little can God’s enemies lastingly prevail over God’s people." [Note: Leupold, p. 51.]