The short fourth chapter, after verse 1, presents a glorious picture of the coming age, when once the judgments are past.
“In that day there shall be a Branch (the true meaning is Sprout) of Jehovah for beauty and glory, and the fruit of the earth for excellency and for ornament for those that are escaped of Israel.” (JND)
The Branch is the Lord Jesus. (See Jeremiah 23:5, 6, where we are told His name, — “Jehovah our Righteousness,” and Zechariah 6:12).
Every blessing, whether to the redeemed of earth, or the heavenly saints, comes through Christ, and as the result of His God-glorifying, sin-atoning death. The blessing of this earth will however not be brought about through the gospel, as some think, but by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning (verse 4).
Over Mount Zion in the Millennium a cloud by day, and brightness of a flame of fire by night, will be as a covering or canopy over all the glory. These tokens of God’s presence were over the tabernacle during Israel’s journey of old (Exodus 40:38).