The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 43: Zacharias: The Challoner Revision

The Book of Zacharias, penned by the prophet during the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, stands as one of the most visually vivid and messianic portions of the Old Testament. Through a series of eight night visions, God addresses the returned exiles' doubts about restoring the Temple and their nation. The aged prophet sees horsemen among myrtle trees, a flying scroll of judgment, a woman in a basket carried away to Babylon, and four terrifying horns scattered by four craftsmen. Yet these visions of divine wrath give way to a towering figure called the Branch, who will come as the humble king, riding on a donkey, and will purify the priesthood. Zacharias demands not fasting but justice and mercy. He promises that from one day, a fountain will open for sin and uncleanness. The latter chapters crescendo with sweeping apocalyptic imagery: the Lord God gathering all nations against Jerusalem, then appearing to save His scattered people, as nations stream to the city where the Lord reigns. For Catholic and Orthodox readers, this book provides some of the most cited Old Testament proof texts for Christ's messiahship.