"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. (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. (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."
It is worthy observation, that in all these visions, as they arise in succession, the Prophet doth not behold them in one view, but he is turned from one to the other. Some have concluded, that those four chariots with different coloured horses, represent the four monarchies, which were to succeed one another, until Christ should come. But, however ingenious this may seem, I am inclined rather to believe the vision hath a full respect to the Church. Indeed, I do not hesitate to consider all monarchies, and all empires, together with their rise, progress, and fall, as designed for no other purpose, but to minister to the Church of Jesus. And we need not go further for the explanation of this vision, than to scripture, to discover, in a spiritual sense, the scope and meaning of it. Angels are spoken of as God's chariots; and as the vision is explained to the Prophet, the four spirits seem to express the services of angels as ministering spirits, to minister unto them, that are heirs of salvation. See Hebrews 1:14; Psalms 68:17. And by their passing between two mountains of brass, perhaps this may be intended to signify, that what they execute are the decrees and purposes of God, which are more sure and certain than the immoveable mountains. Psalms 36:6. And yet more especially with an eye to the covenant righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, these mountains may have respect, inasmuch as the Lord's spirit is said thereby to have quiet. Isaiah 54:10.