Haggai's Encouragement To Build The Temple In Jerusalem And Why It Must Be Built Again.
THE WRITING PROPHETS WROTE MESSAGES AND WARNINGS FOR OUR TIME ALSO
Some prophets primarily gave messages for their contemporaries, and they left no written messages for later generations to read and contemplate. However, prophets like Elijah, whose messages were not written down certainly got their deeds recorded by others. But writing prophets left more than just their contemporaries messages. God had the messages preserved for a divine purpose. These messages are for later generations and especially for those of us who live at the end of the age. Haggai is one of the writing prophets. What is the prophet Haggai's main message to Israel including Israel today?
Haggai 1:1-2 NKJV 1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built."
The prophet is telling the people who returned from exile that they were making a big mistake by saying it is not the time to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem. A vast amount of regional pressure existed to not rebuild the Temple. Even greater political pressure exist today to not build a Temple in Jerusalem on the sacred site.
Nehemiah 2:19-20 NKJV 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" 20 So I answered them, and said to them, "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem."
The same people from Ammon, Jordan and the Arabs, oppose the Temple then and challenge Israel's right to be in Jerusalem and even to exist just as they did in the days of the prophet. How soon will the prophet's message apply? Is God going to withhold blessings and protection to the Jews soon if they do not start to rebuild the third Temple in the next few years or is the warning way off in the future? We do not know when, but we do know that a time will come when these warnings from Haggai will apply. Haggai warned them:
Haggai 1:9 NKJV 9 "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
Probably some economic disaster must throttle Israel before they are shaken enough to rebuild the Temple. Could the Covid-19 economic crisis be the start of a global depression that could in a year or two, force Israel to make this politically difficult decision?
THE THIRD TEMPLE WILL BE BUILT NO MATTER THE CURRENT PRESSURE
The Bible leaves no doubt that a Temple will be built before the return of Jesus. If one believes in the literal statement of the Bible then the Temple must precede the second coming of the Messiah. It is a sure thing. Daniel foretold the troubling times of the return of the Messiah and described the desecration of the Temple aided by some secular traitorous Israelites. Jesus referenced the Abomination of Desolation of the much loved Temple in Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:27 NKJV 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
Jesus' disciples asked him about the timing of the end of the age. He told them to watch for the horrible desecration of the Temple like the one Daniel predicted that came true in the days of the evil Antiochus Epiphanes in168 B.C.
Matthew 24:3 NKJV 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Putting vile things in the Temple is a sign of the end of the age. One cannot desecrate a Temple that does not exist. Prophecy and Jesus himself say it will be rebuilt. The question is just when? It seems to me that the Temple has to exist a little while to gain fame and stature on the world stage before it can be desecrated and Jesus return. One could imagine the Temple existing several years before it is desecrated. Note the following:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NKJV 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
Paul is saying do not allow yourself to be rattled by every event or letter that seems to imply that the second coming is soon. They had a Temple then but if one gets built soon we in our day probably still have several years before the evil charismatic leader desecrates it like Antiochus did.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Paul tells us that the spirit world was restraining these forces of evil in his day. We can assume that the same brake is still restraining the forces of evil. But for how long?
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 NKJV 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
This congregation heard Paul preach for a number of hours and no doubt knew more of what he meant than we do today. Paul is reminding them to be cautious based on his past warnings.
TWO GREAT PROPHETS ARE YET TO COME BEFORE THE SECOND COMING
Two of the greatest prophets ever to represent God are yet to come. They are the two witnesses. They will warn and witness to the world from the Third Temple. Note that the prophecies and messages regarding them are tied up with the measuring of the Temple.
Revelation 11:1-3 NKJV 1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
It is probable that the Temple mound in Jerusalem will be shared with the Muslim shrines. The Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque may remain with a beautiful Jewish Temple near by them. This will no doubt overshadow the Dome and infuriate Muslims. These two witnesses working in and around the Temple will have even greater power than Moses and Elijah the prototype of great prophets.
Revelation 11:3-6 NKJV 3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses,...5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
They perform the kinds of miracles that the greatest men of God performed like Moses turning the Nile into blood. A Temple must exist as a stage or platform for the last great prophets of God before the end of this age. We can have no doubts.
2 Kings 1:9-10 NKJV 9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: "Man of God, the king has said, 'Come down!'" 10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
These prophets working in the shadow of the Temple God will NOT permit them to be detained or arrested in a hostile manner.
