The
Book of Haggai

The Book of Haggai (meaning my holiday), was written around
410 B.C. in the second year of Darius (Hystaspis), sixteen years after the
decree of Cyrus. Haggai was the first prophet by whom "God spoke" after the
return. (Hebrews 1:1). Scarcely anything is known of Haggai's personal history.
He may have been one of the captives taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. After
the return of the Jews to Judah, the work of rebuilding the temple had been put
to a stop through the intrigues of the Samaritans. After having been suspended
for eighteen years, the work was resumed through the efforts of Haggai and
Zechariah. They exhorted the people, which roused them from their lethargy, and
induced them to take advantage of a change in the policy of the Persian
government under Darius the Great.
Haggai 1
Hag 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying. It would be around August 19, 520 BC. The contents of the book of Haggai are all given between August and December of 520 BC. On August 29 of the second year of King Darius Hystaspis reign (he became king in 522 B.C.). The Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), governor of Judah, and to Joshua (Yahowshuwa, meaning Yahveh is salvation), son of Josedech (Yahveh is righteous). Joshua was the first high priest after the return.
Hag 1:2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. The Lord of Heaven's Armies says: The people are saying, "The time has not come yet to rebuild the house of the Lord."
Hag 1:3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying. The Lord sent this message to the prophet Haggai.
Hag 1:4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? This word cieled is (paneled or wainscotted), i.e. fancy houses. In other words, why are you living in luxurious houses while My house lies in ruins?
Hag 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Look at what has happened to you and what your doing.
Hag 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. You planted plenty but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but still thirst. You put on clothes, but are still cold. You wages disappear like you have holes in your pockets. Sound familiar? Just like these people, if your priorities are in the wrong place, God knows how to get your attention. "Look at this country today." For the most of us, the more we earn, the deeper we go into debt. Remember what Jesus said in (Matthew 6:19-21), Don't let your heart or mind think your salvation depends upon money or material things. Build your works in Heaven... Your works, good deeds or (righteous acts) if you will, are the only things that will follow you to Heaven. (Revelation 14:13). If your treasures are in Heaven your heart will be there too.
Hag 1:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Again, look at what has happened to you and what your doing.
Hag 1:8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Go into the hills and bring down the timber, and rebuild My house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
Hag 1:9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. You hoped for rich harvest, but they were poor. When you did bring your harvest home, it blew away. Why? Because you let God's house lie in ruins, while you build up your own fine houses.
Hag 1:10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. It's your own fault that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. (Leviticus 26:19, Deuteronomy 28:23-24, Hosea 2:9).
Hag 1:11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands. The Lord has called for a drought on the fields and hills to wither the grain and grapes and all the crops. A drought to starve the livestock and to ruin everything you have worked for. "All because they did not have their priorities in the proper order." The same goes for us today. Our priorities should be putting God first in out lives. (Matthew 6:33), The King and His Dominion. Take action and seek the truth of His Word and make Him first in your life, and He will take care of you.
Hag 1:12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. Now finally when they heard what Haggai the prophet was saying, the whole remnant of God's people began to obey the message from the Lord.
Hag 1:13 Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. Haggai reinforces his message from the Lord saying to the people: "The Lord says; I am with you."
Hag 1:14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God. Then the Lord sparked the enthusiasm (stirred up the spirit), of the whole remnant of His people and they began to work on the house of their God. (Ezra 5:2, Ezra 5:8, Nehemiah 4:6).
Hag 1:15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. They finally responded on September 21 of the second year of King Darius's reign.
Haggai 2
Hag 2:1 In the seventh
month, in the one and
twentieth day of the
month, came the word of the
LORD by the prophet Haggai,
saying,
Now it is October 17th 520
BC., and the Lord sent
another message to Haggai.
Note: On the 21st of the 7th
month would be the last day
of the Feast of Tabernacles.
(Normally a time of joyful
celebration at the end of
the harvest season). This
year the harvest would not
be so good.
Hag 2:2 Speak now to
Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, governor of
Judah, and to Joshua the son
of Josedech, the high
priest, and to the residue
of the people, saying,
Speaking again to the
remnant of God's people who
were in the land.
Hag 2:3 Who is
left among you that saw this
house in her first glory?
and how do ye see it now?
is it not in your eyes
in comparison of it as
nothing?
Does anyone remember how the
temple looked before in all
its splendor? How does it
compare now? Ezra 3:12,
Ezekiel 7:20), which should
bring our attention to what
Christ said in: (Luke
21:5-6), In the end times at
His return in the second
advent, not one stone will
be left one upon another,
they shall all be thrown
down.
Hag 2:4 Yet now be
strong, O Zerubbabel, saith
the LORD; and be strong, O
Joshua, son of Josedech, the
high priest; and be strong,
all ye people of the land,
saith the LORD, and work:
for I am with you,
saith the LORD of hosts:
The Lord says be strong to
Zerubbabel, Joshua son of
Jehozadak the high priest
and you remnant of the
people. (The Lord is with
them now so there is no
reason for them not to be
strong in their faith). The
same applies to us today.
"When the Lord is with you,
who can be against you."
(God takes care of His
own).
Hag 2:5 According to
the word that I covenanted
with you when ye came out of
Egypt, so my spirit
remaineth among you: fear ye
not.
The Lord is telling them
that His Spirit (the Holy
Spirit), is with them, just
as when He promised when
they came out of Egypt.
"Don't be afraid." (Nehemiah
9:20).
Hag 2:6 For thus saith
the LORD 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;
Coming straight from the
Lord of Heaven's Armies: In
a little while I will shake
the heavens and the earth,
the oceans and the dry land.
"There had been a shaking
before; but this one would
be extreme and final."
(Hebrews 12:26-27),
He will not
only shake the earth in the
end times, but will shake
the heavens also. (Isaiah
13:13, Joel 3:16).
All earthly things since
creation will be shaken and
removed, and only the
unshakable things will
remain. "The Word remains
forever." (Matthew 24:35, II
Peter 3:10-11). All evil
will be gone and only good
will remain. "It refers to
the great tribulation."
(Matthew 24:29-30),
the coming of the Son of Man
at His return.
(By the way, have you
noticed an excessive amount
of tornados and earth quakes around the
world lately)?
Hag 2:7 And I will shake
all nations, and the desire
of all nations shall come:
and I will fill this house
with glory, saith the LORD
of hosts.
I will shake "all the
nations," and the treasures
of all the nations (i.e. the
elect of all the nations),
will be brought to this
Temple. I will fill this
place with glory, "says the
Lord of Heaven's Armies."
This refers to the future
millennial Sanctuary of
Ezekiel, as it follows after
the great shaking of this
verse and (Revelation
6:12-17). Remember
"Revelations Chapter 1 verse
10" this is the Lord's Day,
and the wrath of the Lord
has come. Who will survive
It? There is two
tribulations. The
tribulation of antichrist
which comes first (know as
the pre-tribulation), and then
the tribulation of the real
Christ. The first
tribulation we stand against
the antichrist and if you
are in Christ, you do not
need to worry about the
second tribulation, Christ
is not coming to harm you.
Hag 2:8 The silver is
mine, and the gold is
mine, saith the LORD of
hosts.
All the silver and gold is
Mine, says the Lord. (Isaiah
2:7, Isaiah 60:9).
Hag 2:9 The glory of this
latter house shall be
greater than of the former,
saith the LORD of hosts: and
in this place will I give
peace, saith the LORD of
hosts.
The future of
this Temple will be greater
than it's past glory. "In
this place I will bring
peace." (Isaiah 9:6,
Zechariah 9:9-10).
Hag 2:10 In the four and
twentieth day of the
ninth month, in the
second year of Darius, came
the word of the LORD by
Haggai the prophet, saying,
On December 18th of the
second year of King Darius's
reign, the Lord sent another
message to the prophet
Haggai.
Hag 2:11 Thus saith the
LORD of hosts; Ask now the
priests concerning
the law, saying,
Ask the priests this
question about the law:
Reference to (Leviticus
10:10-11, Deuteronomy 17:11,
33:10).
Hag 2:12 If one bear holy
flesh in the skirt of his
garment, and with his skirt
do touch bread, or pottage,
or wine, or oil, or any
meat, shall it be holy? And
the priests answered and
said, No.
If you are
carrying some meat from a
holy sacrifice in a priest
robe and the robe brushes
against another food, will
it also become holy? The
priest replied, "No."
(Reference to Leviticus
6:27).
Hag 2:13 Then said
Haggai, If one that is
unclean by a dead body touch
any of these, shall it be
unclean? And the priests
answered and said, It shall
be unclean.
Then Haggai asked, "If
someone becomes ceremonially
unclean by touching a dead
person and then touches any
of these foods, will the
food be defiled?" The
priests answered, "Yes."
(Leviticus 22:4).
Hag 2:14 Then answered
Haggai, and said, So is
this people, and so is
this nation before me, saith
the LORD; and so is
every work of their hands;
and that which they offer
there is unclean.
Haggai responded, "That is
how it is with this people
and this nation, says the
Lord. Everything they do and
everything they offer is
defiled by their sin. In
other words: They were
offering sacrifices for
sins, but they weren't
repenting of their sins.
Because of this, their
sacrifices were not "holy",
but "Unclean." This kind of
reminds me of a pew potato.
One who goes to church and
goes through the motions,
but never really studies the
Word to get to know the
truth to build their
relationship with God. (If
you are going to do the work
of the Lord, we must not
neglect our personal
relationship with Him).
Hag 2:15 And now, I pray
you, consider from this day
and upward, from before a
stone was laid upon a stone
in the temple of the LORD:
Look what went on before you
began to lay the foundation
of the Lord's Temple.
(Referring to past time,
before the foundation was
laid). "Things were not so
good."
Hag 2:16 Since those
days were, when one
came to an heap of twenty
measures, there were
but ten: when one
came to the pressfat for to
draw out fifty vessels
out of the press, there were
but twenty.
During those days you hoped
for twenty bushel's of crops
but only harvested ten. You
expected to draw fifty
gallons from the winepress,
but you only found twenty.
(Production was down 50%
before the temple
construction was
restarted).
Hag 2:17 I smote you with
blasting and with mildew and
with hail in all the labours
of your hands; yet ye
turned not to me, saith
the LORD.
I sent blight and mildew and
hail to destroy your crops
and everything you worked so
hard for to produce. But,
you still refused to return
to Me, says the Lord.
Reference to: (Deuteronomy
28:22).
Hag 2:18 Consider now
from this day and upward,
from the four and twentieth
day of the ninth month,
even from the day that
the foundation of the LORD'S
temple was laid, consider
it.
Think very carefully
about this day when the
foundation of the Lord's
Temple was laid. (i.e. from
this time, subsequently,
things would be different,
and Yahveh would bless them,
as promised).
Hag 2:19 Is the seed yet
in the barn? yea, as yet the
vine, and the fig tree, and
the pomegranate, and the
olive tree, hath not brought
forth: from this day will I
bless you.
I am giving
you this promise while the
seed is still in the barn.
"You have not harvested yet
and your crops have not
produced their crops, but
from this day forward, I
will bless you." What did
God want from them? For them
to seek the "Kingdom of
God." (Matthew 6:33), The
King and His Dominion. Take
action and seek the truth of
His Word and make Him first
in your life, and He will
take care of you.
Hag 2:20 And again the
word of the LORD came unto
Haggai in the four and
twentieth day of the
month, saying,
The second message to Haggai
on this same day.
Hag 2:21 Speak to
Zerubbabel, governor of
Judah, saying, I will shake
the heavens and the earth;
Tell
Zerubbabel, I am about to
shake the heavens and earth.
(Hebrews 12:26-27),
He will not
only shake the earth in the
end times, but will shake
the heavens also. (Isaiah
13:13, Joel 3:16, Haggai
2:6-7).
All earthly
things since creation will
be shaken and removed, and
only the unshakable things
will remain. "The Word
remains forever." (Matthew
24:35, II Peter 3:10-11).
All evil will be gone and
only good will remain.
Hag 2:22 And I will
overthrow the throne of
kingdoms, and I will destroy
the strength of the kingdoms
of the heathen; and I will
overthrow the chariots, and
those that ride in them; and
the horses and their riders
shall come down, every one
by the sword of his brother.
I will overthrow royal
thrones and destroy the
power of the heathen
(nations), and overturn
their chariots and riders.
The horses will fall, and
their riders will kill each
other. (Zechariah 14:3,
Micah 5:10, Matthew 24:7),
The end is coming soon and
has already started. We are
now experiencing famines,
plagues, and earth quakes in
many places like never
before. (It's happening
around the world already).
We must also keep in mind
that the famine in the end
times is for hearing the
Word of God. (Amos 8:11).
This is another bench mark
for the end times, because
people are starving for the
truth of Gods Word.
Hag 2:23 In that day,
saith the LORD of hosts,
will I take thee, O
Zerubbabel, my servant, the
son of Shealtiel, saith the
LORD, and will make thee as
a signet: for I have chosen
thee, saith the LORD of
hosts.
But when this
happens, says the Lord of
Heaven's Armies, I will
honor you, Zerubbabel. I
will make you like a signet
ring on My finger. "I have
chosen you. I the Lord of
Heaven's Armies, have
spoken." (Isaiah 42:1,
Zechariah 4:6-14, Zechariah
6:13). It seems evident that
the Messiah is here
described under the name of Zerubbabel, as elsewhere
under that of David, whose
kingdom, after these mighty
convulsions, should
supersede all others. "The
Chosen One." Referring to
the true Prince and Governor
of: (Isaiah 9:6-7), "His
name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, The
Mighty God, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of
Peace."
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