THE MESSAGE OF HAGGAI
Dr. David L. Cooper
Biblical Research Monthly
August 1954

THE MESSAGE OF HAGGAI

Haggai and his younger contemporary, Zechariah, were prophets of the Restoration Period, when God brought His people back from Babylonian captivity.

When the exiles—approximately fifty thousand—returned to the land of the fathers to build anew their home in the Holy Land, they were greatly discouraged on every hand. It seems that Satan and the enemies of Israel were especially active.

They came back under Zerubbabel during the first year of the reign of Cyrus. In the second year of their return to the land, they attempted to lay the foundation of the Temple of Jehovah. But they were opposed by those foreigners who had been brought over by the Assyrians and had been colonized in the land. These heathen people were always thorns in the flesh of Israel. These enemies of God's Chosen People opposed every advance movement that they attempted to make, until they became discouraged and downhearted. Then God raised up two of His prophets to encourage the returned exiles to prosecute the work of the restoration of the homeland. Haggai was an old prophet, but Zechariah, contemporary with Haggai, was a young man.

Rebuke of the People for Not Building the Temple

In Haggai 1:1-11 we have a rebuke that the prophet gave to the returned exiles for their lethargy and indifference to their spiritual interests. As stated above, the returned exiles, in the second year of their being in the land, attempted to lay the foundations of the Temple of Jehovah, but were opposed by the foreign element that had been colonized in the country. Then the people gave up the idea of rebuilding their Temple. The temple site remained a desolate wilderness for fifteen more years. Then, at the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the governor, Zerubbabel, and Joshua the high priest took a new interest in spiritual matters. The people under the severest conditions had begun to rehabilitate themselves, so far as their houses and lands were concerned. But they ceased to take any active steps in the restoration of the worship of Jehovah. Thus the prophet Haggai rebuked the people very severely for living in ceiled, painted houses, whereas the Temple, the house of God, was lying in ruins.

Haggai urged the people to consider the situation to amend their ways, to go up to the mountain, that is, Mount Lebanon, and to get timber for the rebuilding of the Temple. Then he promised that, if they would do that, God would take pleasure in them.

Moreover, Haggai called their attention to the fact that God had been of recent years smiting their crops with a blight. They would go out and plant, but the harvest was reduced by drought and other plagues until they were very small. The prophets pointed out to the people that the small harvest was the result of God's punishment of them for their lethargy and lack of interest in spiritual things.

Response of the People to Jehovah's Messengers

It was quite evident to Zerubbabel and Joshua, the leaders, and also to the remnant that these two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, were true men of God, and that they were preaching in the power of God. Thus their messages moved the entire community to resolve to rebuild the Temple and to worship God in spirit and in truth. This is seen in Haggai 1:12-15.

The Twofold Promise of Rebuilding the Temple

In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, another oracle came from Jehovah to the prophet, which he delivered to Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel and Joshua had the foundations for the Temple laid. The prophet Haggai called their attention to the fact that this Temple would be nothing in comparison with the one which Solomon had built, and which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. There were those in the audience who were alive at the time of the Babylonian captivity, and who remembered the vast, magnificent, wonderful Temple Solomon had erected. It was quite evident to them that Zerubbabel's Temple would be a mere shadow of the glory of the former majestic house of God.

Notwithstanding the reduction in size and glory of this new structure, Zerubbabel and Joshua were encouraged by the prophet to be strong. He assured them, the leaders and the people, that just as God had promised to be with Israel when He brought him out of Egypt and His Spirit abode with the nation, so would He be with His people on this occasion: "…. For I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts" (2:4). They would be starting life anew, and God would be with them, bless them, and help them in their endeavors.

Following the special message to the leaders and the people to be of courage and to trust God, who would be with them, the prophet Haggai gave a most wonderful prophecy (2:6-9) that is so very important I am constrained to quote it: "6 For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts."

This prediction envisages the time when there will be great changes throughout the entire universe. When this occurs, God is going to shake all nations and cause "the precious things of all nations" to be brought to God as memorial trophies showing the appreciation of the nations for what Jehovah is doing.

All these tokens, or expressions of confidence in God, will be used in the construction and the beautification of this house of God, which will be built, and which will be the house of prayer for all the nations during the Millennium. There will be no comparison between even Solomon's Temple and that which will stand during the Millennial age, for "The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts" (2:9).

Ezekiel (chapters 40-48) describes Palestine as it will be in the Millennial Age and gives us a marvelous description of this magnificent house of God, which will be a house of prayer for all nations.

At that time and in Jerusalem God will make peace all over the world. The statesmen of the world today are continually talking about bringing in a just, permanent, and righteous peace. They will never do it! It is not in man to do that. Only a righteous, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God, the Lord Jesus Christ, can accomplish such a mighty task. This can be done only by Him after He has incarcerated the devil and all demons in the pit of the abyss.

Spiritual Uncleanness of the Nation of Israel Because of Its Adversity

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the second year of Darius, the Word of God came to Haggai, who spoke to the priests and to the people, pointing out that it was uncleanness and filthiness from a spiritual standpoint that were the real cause of the condition of the nation. (2:13,14). But the prophet called upon the people to reform, to change their ways, and to prove God, that He might bless them as never before.

Promise of a New Epoch of Blessing

On this same twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the second year of Darius "the foundation of Jehovah's Temple was laid." Then the prophet called upon the people to watch affairs and discover if the blessing of God would replace the chastisement of and punishment which He had been meeting out to them, because of their uncleanness and their sin. But from this time forward they were to expect the special blessing of God and His benign acts (2:18,19).

The Establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth

In the concluding paragraph of chapter 2 (vss. 20-23) is a prophecy of the overthrow of the world kingdom and the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth. The prophets and the psalmist recognized that, in the end of this age, the nations will be headed up under one great, super-colossal government. Thus in verse 22 the prophet said: "…. And I [Jehovah] will overthrow the throne of the kingdoms." There will be one throne that governs and controls all the kingdoms. From Daniel's prophecy we know that there will be ten of them (Dan., chap. 7). But all the governments will be welded together into a colossal kingdom over which there will be one man ruling, namely, the Antichrist. This is seen in Revelation 11:15: "The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord; and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever."

When the kingdom of the world is destroyed and is supplanted by the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, there will be the coming forth of all the righteous, and they will inherit the kingdom of God. Then will be fulfilled the prophecy of the Lord Jesus, which states that "many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 8:11).

In the closing verse of Haggai the promise is made that Zerubbabel will stand and will have his place in the kingdom of God, which will be in fulfillment of this general promise our Lord made.

Great and wonderful things lie out ahead of us. Of course, the great Tribulation comes first. But it will pass quickly and then will be established this glorious era of righteousness and peace—when our Lord returns. May that day hastily come!