Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing scenes of the great day of atonement. The remnant church will then be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects; he has gained control even of many professing Christians. But here is a little company who are resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced 588 the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God. Men will be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine law.

Zakarias syn om Josua og engelen gælder i særlig grad Guds folks erfaring i den sidste del af den store forsoningsdag. På denne tid vil den sidste menighed komme ud for store prøvelser. De, der holder Guds bud og har Jesu tro, vil få dragens og dens hærskarers vrede at føle. Satan betragter denne verdens beboere som sine undersåtter. Han har endog fået magten over mange bekendende kristne. Men her er en lille skare, som ikke vil anerkende hans overhøjhed. Hvis han blot kunne udrydde dem af jorden, ville hans sejr være fuldkommen. Det var ham, der fik de hedenske folkeslag til at stræbe Israel efter livet, og i nær fremtid vil han også tilskynde ondskabens magter på jorden til at udrydde Guds folk. Der, vil blive stillet krav om, at menneskene skal adlyde menneskelige befalinger og overtræde den guddommelige lov.