Graphics of Haggai
Haggai's Time
| Babylon overthrown by Cyrus | Cyrus's decree allowing the exiles to return | Temple construction begins | Temple work hated | Haggai. Zechariah become prophets; Temple work resumed | Temple completed | | 539 B.C. | 538 | 536 | 530 | 520 | 516 |
Vital statistics
| Purpose: | To call the people to complete the rebuilding of the Temple | | Author: | Haggai | | Original audience: | The people living in Jerusalem and those who had returned from exile | | Date written: | 520 B.C. | | Setting: | The Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed in 558 B.C. Cyrus had allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple in 538 B.C. They had begun the work but had been unable to complete it. Through the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah, the Temple was completed (520-516 B.C.) | | Key verse: | "Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?" (1:4) | | Key people: | Haggai, Zerubbabel, Jeshua | | Key place: | Jerusalem | | Special features: | Haggai was the first of the postexilic prophets. The other two were Zechariah and Malachi. The literary style of this book is simple and direct. |
The Rulers and Prophets of Haggai's Time
| 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470 | 460 | 450 | 440 | 430 | 420 | 410 | Kings of Persia | Cyrus 539-530 | Cambyses 530-521 | | | | | | | | | | | Smerdis | | | | | | | | | | Darius the Mede 539-525 | Darius I Hystaspes 521 486 | Ahasuerus (Xerxes)486 464 | Artaxerxers I 464 423 | | | | Three Returns from the Exile | | Fall of Babylon 539 | Temple w resumed520 | Vashty deposed 483 | 2 Ezra returns 458 | | | | 1 Zerubbabel returns begins 536 | | Esther Queen 478 | | 3 Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and rebuilds the walls in 52 days. 445 | | | | Temple work stopped 534 | | Feast of Purim 473 | | | | | | | Temple finished 516 | | | | | | | | | Book of Ezra 538 516 | | | | | Book of Ether 483 473 | | Ezra457 Chapters 7-71 | Book of Nehemiah445 415 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Chapters 1-6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Daniel and 70-years Jewish Captivity | | HAGGAI 520 505 | | | | | | | Malachi 435 415? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 520 Zechariah 489 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470 | 460 | 450 | 440 | 430 | 420 | 410
|
Short-Term Consulting, Long-Term Results
1:15 Consulting tends to involve short-term assignments. A consultant signs on to a project, completes the work specified in the contract, and then moves on. In this sense, the prophet Haggai acted like a “consultant” for God in helping the stalled project of rebuilding the temple to get going again. His entire “contract” called for about four months of work, as follows:
|
Date |
Description of Service |
|
August 29, 520 b. c. |
Presented a status report of the situation and helped the people see why failure to complete the temple was a problem (Hag. 1:1–11). |
|
September 21, 520 b. c. |
Reaffirmed the Lord’s commitment to help the people; construction was restarted (Hag. 1:12–15). |
|
October 17, 520 b. c. |
Reviewed the long-term significance of the project, promising that the new temple would have greater glory than the old; this message brought hope and encouragement to the project team and its leaders (Hag. 2:1–9). |
|
December 18, 520 b. c. |
Announced that God would start blessing the people again in light of the work being accomplished (Hag. 2:10–19). |
|
December 18, 520 b. c. |
Presented a message to Zerubbabel concerning God’s plan to “shake heaven and earth, ” and the news that Zerubbabel was chosen as a part of God’s purposes (Hag. 2:20–23). |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Hag 1.15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Haggai 2:6-7 & 2:21-22
|
Salvation
(Hag. 2:6–7) |
Judgment
(Hag. 2:21–22) |
|
“Once more … I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory. ” |
“I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. ” |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Gn 1.1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Haggai
Served as a prophet to Judah about 520 B.C., after the return from exile.
CLIMATE OF THE TIMES
|
The people of Judah had been exiled to Babylon in 586 B.C., and Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed. Under Cyrus, king of Persia, the Jews were allowed to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple.
|
MAIN MESSAGE
|
The people returned to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the Temple, but they hadn't finished. Haggai's message encouraged the people to finish rebuilding God's Temple.
|
IMPORTANCE OF MESSAGE
|
The Temple lay half-finished while the people lived in beautiful homes. Haggai warned them against putting their possessions and jobs ahead of God. We must put God first in our lives.
|
CONTEMPORARY PROPHET
|
Zechariah (52-480 B.C.) |
The Blueprint
1) THE CALL TO REBUILT THE TEMPLE (1:1-15)
2) ENCOURAGEMENT TO COMPLETE THE TEMPLE (2:1-23) |
When the exiles first returned from Babylon they set about rebuilding the Temple right away. Although they began the right attitudes, they slipped back into wrong behavior, and the work came to a standstill. We need to be on guard to keep our priorities straight. Remain active in your service to God and continue to put first things first. |
Haggai Overview
The Temples of the Bible
| Identification | Date | Description | References | | The Tabernacle (mobile Temple) | About 1444 B.C. | Detailed plan received by Moses from the Lord. Constructed by divinely appointed artisans. Desecrated by Nadab and Abihu. | Ex 25-30; 35:30-40:38
Lev 10:1-7 | | Solomon's Temple | 966-586 B.C | Planned by David. Constructed by Solomon. Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. | 2Sa 7:1-29
1Ki 8:1-66
Jer 32:28-44 | | Zerubbabel's Temple | 516-169 B.C. | Envisioned by Zerubbabel
Constructed by Zerubbabel and the elders of the Jews.
Desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes | Ezr 3:1-8; 4:1-14; 6:6-22 | | Herod's Temple | 19 B.C - A.D. 70 | Zerubbabel's temple restored by Herod the Great. Destroyed by Romans. | Mk 13:2, 14-23; Lk 1:11-20; 2:22-38; 2:42-51; 4:21-24; Ac 21:27-33 | | The Present Temple | Present Age | Found in the heart of the believer. The body of the believer is the Lord's only temple until the Messiah returns. | 1Co 6:19, 20; 2Co 6:16-18 | | The Temple of Revelation 11 | Tribulation Period | To be constructed during the Tribulation by the Antichrist. To be desecrated and destroyed | Da 9:2; Mt 24:15; 2Th 2:4; Rev 17:18 | | Ezekiel's (Millennial) Temple | Millennium | Envisioned by the prophet Ezekiel. To be built by the Messiah during His millennial reign. | Eze 40:1-42:20; Zec 6:12, 13 | | The Eternal Temple of His Presence | The Eternal Kingdom | The greatest temple of all. ("The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."). A spiritual temple. | Rev 21:22; 22:1-21 |
|
|
