Key Message: THE TEMPLE: REBUILD IT! Haggai 1:8, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:58. Get your priorities in line, Haggai says, it is time to “build the house” for God’s pleasure and glory. He encouraged them through God’s promises. (1) God promised success through His presence (Hag. 1:13-14; 2:4-5); (2) He promised to reward their work and dedication to Him with peace (Hag. 2:6-9) and blessing (Hag. 2:18-19); (3) God promised to restore David’s throne on earth through a descendant of Zerubbabel (Hag. 2:20-23). Ezra 6:14 says that Haggai saw the successful achievement of his ministry in the completion of the post-exilic Temple. Haggai and James have much in common: a partnership of faith and works.
Where Christ is found:
THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS: Haggai says the Lord will shake Creation and the nations and the One Desired of all nations will come. Then they will come to worship at the New Temple filled with God’s Glory (Hag. 2:6-7). In Luke 2:32, Simeon saw the baby Jesus at His dedication at this same Temple. He called Him a Light for the Gentile nations and for the glory of Israel. Haggai saw a clear vision of Revelation 7:9; 21:22, the Lord Almighty and the Lamb. Our God is a missionary God who fulfills all His promises.
ZERUBBABEL is a sign of the coming Christ. Governor of Judea under the Persians. He was of the Royal House of David and by lineage was the one who would have been king of Israel. The Lord restored the signet ring (royal authority) to Zerubbabel (Hag. 2:20-23) after revoking it from descendants of Jehoiachin (Jer. 22:24) at the beginning of the Exile. Also, Zerubbabel was descended from two of David’s sons, Solomon and Nathan -- his legal father Shealtiel descended from Solomon, his biological father Pedaiah descended from Nathan (1 Chron 3:19). So was Jesus. Jesus was not only a descendant of Zerubbabel, but like Zerubbabel, He was also a descendant of both Solomon (legally on Joseph’s side – Matt. 1:12) and Nathan (biologically on Mary’s side - Luke 3:27).
THE TEMPLES IN SCRIPTURE Solomon’s Temple: 2 Sam. 7:1-29; 1 Kings 8. Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 32:28-44. Zerubbabel’s Temple: The one here in Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, & Nehemiah. Ezra 3:1-8; 4:1-14; 6:1-22. Desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes 169 BC. Herod’s Temple: The one where Jesus preached. Restoration of Zerubbabels Temple began in 19 BC, nearly completed when destroyed by Romans in AD 70. Since then, no Temple has been in Jerusalem. Present Temple: Body of Christ in hearts of believers 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16-18 Temple of Antichrist: Rev. 11; 2 Thess. 2:4; site of abomination of desolation, Dan. 9:2; Matt 24:15. To be destroyed with Antichrist, Rev. 17-18. Millennial Temple: Seen by Ezek. 40:1 - 42:20 and Zech. 6:12-13. To be built by Messiah. |
