April 22nd, 2025
by Kasey Horvath
by Kasey Horvath
Welcome to Postscript! This post is meant to highlight certain elements of the previous week's sermon, aiming to help you connect your daily personal worship to the texts, themes, and topics of our weekly corporate worship.
Whether you just read along, reflect on the sermon, or use Postscript to help teach your children during family worship, we hope this weekly newsletter enhances your worship experience, grows your theological knowledge, and strengthens your faith.
Whether you just read along, reflect on the sermon, or use Postscript to help teach your children during family worship, we hope this weekly newsletter enhances your worship experience, grows your theological knowledge, and strengthens your faith.
The Rebuilding of the Temple (Haggai 2:1-9)
Throughout the history of Israel, there have been three (3) Temples built in Jerusalem:
Haggai prophesied during the building of Zerubbabel’s Temple, following Israel’s return from exile.
The Prophet encouraged Zerubbabel and Jehozadak to continue their rebuilding efforts for YAWEH’s sake.
The command to restore the Temple was indicative of God’s own desire for restored covenant renewal worship with his people. Following the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, the covenant people of God did not worship in the Temple for 70 years. In other words, for 70 years God’s people had not worshipped in His presence.
Granted, during the Babylonian exile the Synagogue was developed in which scribes and priests preserved the Biblical text through the copying, reading, and teaching of the Torah. But even with the Synagogue, God’s covenant people did not engage in covenant renewal worship. Nor did they experience the revealed presence of God dwelling amid his people.
Therefore, according to Haggai, God desired the temple to be rebuilt, so that he might dwell among his people, and they might experience his revealed presence.
The Coming Glory of the Temple (John 2:18-22)
In Haggai chapter 2:9, we are told that a coming Temple would be greater than Solomon’s Temple.
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.
Zerubbabel’s Temple did accomplish the restoration of covenant renewal worship. However, it did not surpass the glory of Solomon’s Temple. Thus, the Jews anticipated another Temple.
You can imagine the delight of the Hebrews when Herod began his massive construction project. In fact, Herod’s infrastructure policy was considered a stroke of political genius, because he appealed to the Jewish desire for a restored sense of national pride.
The grandeur and magnificence of Herod’s Temple seemed to bring about the fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy in which “the latter Temple was greater than the former”.
While this appeared to be the case, there were two (2) details which were not fulfilled during the construction of Herod’s Temple:
Even though Herod’s temple was grand, these absent details have caused bible students and teachers to speculate, “Was Haggai’s prophecy ever fulfilled?”
Following the destruction of Herod’s magnum opus, there has never been another Temple in Jerusalem. This has led some misguided Christians to believe that the vision of Ezekiel’s Spiritual Temple (recorded in Ezekiel 40-48) must be built and then Haggai’s prophecy will be fulfilled in detail.
According to this interpretation, the nations will bring their treasure in and then the Temple will experience peace when Ezekiel’s Temple is built.
However, the problem with this perspective is that the author of Hebrews explained that because of the New Covenant we no longer need a Temple in Jerusalem (Heb. 8:3). In fact, the author of Hebrews infers that another Temple in Jerusalem would be the work of the anti-Christ (Heb. 10:29). It would set the ceremonial law back in place against the New Covenant (Heb. 8:6-7). And another Temple would operate in opposition to the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist (Heb. 10:22). Ultimately, another Temple would operate in opposition to Jesus’ atonement on the cross (Heb. 10:11-14).
Therefore, the fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy WILL NOT be realized in another Jerusalem Temple. Instead, according to the words of Saint John, the prophecy of a greater Temple (and Ezekiel’s Temple) has already been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ!
In John chapter 2:21, the Apostle recorded that Jesus explicitly identified as the Temple. In other words, Jesus revealed himself as the embodiment of God’s revealed presence.
Furthermore, in John Chapter 2:22, The Apostle explained that Jesus’ death and resurrection not only fulfilled the words concerning the Temple being torn down and rebuilt in three days, but it also fulfilled the prophecy of Old Testament Scripture.
When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
When Jesus identified as the Temple, he fulfilled the prophecy of Haggai in detail and embodied Ezekiel’s perfect Temple.
The Glory of Christ as the Temple (Revelation 21:22-26)
In Revelation chapter 21, we see Haggai’s prophecy fulfilled and realized by Jesus in three (3) distinct ways:
Revelation chapter 21 describes Jesus as the embodiment of the Temple, demonstrating more glory than all the former Temples. As Haggai prophesied, “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former”.
An Epiphany Message
The word epiphany means "A revelatory manifestation of a divine being". During the season of Epiphany, the Church focuses on the divine revelation of Jesus to the world, as the Christ.
At this time, we also reflect upon our own epiphanies (the moment in which the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus as the Christ to us). Furthermore, during this season we deliberately evangelize our family members, neighbors, and coworkers with the hope that they too will experience an epiphany.
In John 14:6 Jesus said,
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This statement is both exclusive and inclusive. Exclusively, no one has access to God, but by Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. Inclusively, anyone who comes to Jesus, in repentance and faith, will experience God.
This brings us back to the ministry of Haggai. Haggai was concerned with the rebuilding of the Temple, because YAWEH wanted his people to experience His presence.
The Epiphany message we have for our family, neighbors, and coworkers is the good news that Jesus is the true Temple. Thus, in Jesus, YAHWEH dwells with his people and they experience life with Him. In other words, through Jesus the Temple, our family, neighbors, and coworkers have been granted access to the Father and the hope of eternal life (John 17:3).
Throughout the history of Israel, there have been three (3) Temples built in Jerusalem:
- The first Temple was constructed by King Solomon, the son of King David, and completed in 957 B.C. Historians and bible scholars alike have noted that Solomon’s Temple was glorious. And not for its size or magnitude, but rather for its ornate beauty and aesthetic appeal. Solomon’s Temple was so beautiful it was considered as one of the architectural wonders of the world. However, Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C. during the Babylonian conquest of Israel.
- The second Temple was a rebuilding project of King Solomon’s Temple, following Cyrus the Great’s decree in which the Jews returned to Jerusalem. Within biblical scholarship, this iteration of the Temple is often referred to as Zerubbabel’s Temple, as he was the Jewish Ruler who oversaw the project. Zerubbabel’s Temple was completed in 515 B.C.
- The third Temple was built by King Herod in 37 B.C. This Temple was the Temple that existed during the earthly ministry of Jesus. And was notable for its grand size and magnitude. Herod’s project doubled the area of the Temple Mount, which included many upgrades such as porticos, sprawling courts, and a military garrison. Herod even changed the elevation of the Temple, setting it at higher altitude than the prior structure.
Haggai prophesied during the building of Zerubbabel’s Temple, following Israel’s return from exile.
The Prophet encouraged Zerubbabel and Jehozadak to continue their rebuilding efforts for YAWEH’s sake.
The command to restore the Temple was indicative of God’s own desire for restored covenant renewal worship with his people. Following the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, the covenant people of God did not worship in the Temple for 70 years. In other words, for 70 years God’s people had not worshipped in His presence.
Granted, during the Babylonian exile the Synagogue was developed in which scribes and priests preserved the Biblical text through the copying, reading, and teaching of the Torah. But even with the Synagogue, God’s covenant people did not engage in covenant renewal worship. Nor did they experience the revealed presence of God dwelling amid his people.
Therefore, according to Haggai, God desired the temple to be rebuilt, so that he might dwell among his people, and they might experience his revealed presence.
The Coming Glory of the Temple (John 2:18-22)
In Haggai chapter 2:9, we are told that a coming Temple would be greater than Solomon’s Temple.
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.
Zerubbabel’s Temple did accomplish the restoration of covenant renewal worship. However, it did not surpass the glory of Solomon’s Temple. Thus, the Jews anticipated another Temple.
You can imagine the delight of the Hebrews when Herod began his massive construction project. In fact, Herod’s infrastructure policy was considered a stroke of political genius, because he appealed to the Jewish desire for a restored sense of national pride.
The grandeur and magnificence of Herod’s Temple seemed to bring about the fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy in which “the latter Temple was greater than the former”.
While this appeared to be the case, there were two (2) details which were not fulfilled during the construction of Herod’s Temple:
- First, in Haggai chapter 2:7 the LORD God said, “I will shake all nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.” This picture of the nation’s bringing their treasures into the Lord’s house did not happen with Herod’s Temple. In fact, the opposite took place. Shortly after completion, Herod’s Temple was sacked by the Romans, its treasures taken out – not brought in – and then destroyed in A.D. 70.
- Second, Yahweh stated the following in Haggai chapter 2:9, “And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of Hosts”. Herod’s Temple hardly saw peace. Again, shortly after the final stages of completion it suffered the devastation of war.
Even though Herod’s temple was grand, these absent details have caused bible students and teachers to speculate, “Was Haggai’s prophecy ever fulfilled?”
Following the destruction of Herod’s magnum opus, there has never been another Temple in Jerusalem. This has led some misguided Christians to believe that the vision of Ezekiel’s Spiritual Temple (recorded in Ezekiel 40-48) must be built and then Haggai’s prophecy will be fulfilled in detail.
According to this interpretation, the nations will bring their treasure in and then the Temple will experience peace when Ezekiel’s Temple is built.
However, the problem with this perspective is that the author of Hebrews explained that because of the New Covenant we no longer need a Temple in Jerusalem (Heb. 8:3). In fact, the author of Hebrews infers that another Temple in Jerusalem would be the work of the anti-Christ (Heb. 10:29). It would set the ceremonial law back in place against the New Covenant (Heb. 8:6-7). And another Temple would operate in opposition to the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist (Heb. 10:22). Ultimately, another Temple would operate in opposition to Jesus’ atonement on the cross (Heb. 10:11-14).
Therefore, the fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy WILL NOT be realized in another Jerusalem Temple. Instead, according to the words of Saint John, the prophecy of a greater Temple (and Ezekiel’s Temple) has already been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ!
In John chapter 2:21, the Apostle recorded that Jesus explicitly identified as the Temple. In other words, Jesus revealed himself as the embodiment of God’s revealed presence.
Furthermore, in John Chapter 2:22, The Apostle explained that Jesus’ death and resurrection not only fulfilled the words concerning the Temple being torn down and rebuilt in three days, but it also fulfilled the prophecy of Old Testament Scripture.
When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
When Jesus identified as the Temple, he fulfilled the prophecy of Haggai in detail and embodied Ezekiel’s perfect Temple.
The Glory of Christ as the Temple (Revelation 21:22-26)
In Revelation chapter 21, we see Haggai’s prophecy fulfilled and realized by Jesus in three (3) distinct ways:
- First, in verse 22 it is explicitly stated that the greater Temple is Jesus. “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”
- Second, in verses 24 and 26 the kings of Nations bring their glory to Jesus, who is the Temple, by way of entrance into the New Jersulem, which is the Church: “By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it…they will bring into it the glory and honor of the nations.” (Revelation 21:24,26)
- Third, we see the fulfilment of Peace. In verse 25 the gates of the New Jerusalem are left open, because the peace of Christ is realized; “and its gates will never be shut by day…”
Revelation chapter 21 describes Jesus as the embodiment of the Temple, demonstrating more glory than all the former Temples. As Haggai prophesied, “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former”.
An Epiphany Message
The word epiphany means "A revelatory manifestation of a divine being". During the season of Epiphany, the Church focuses on the divine revelation of Jesus to the world, as the Christ.
At this time, we also reflect upon our own epiphanies (the moment in which the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus as the Christ to us). Furthermore, during this season we deliberately evangelize our family members, neighbors, and coworkers with the hope that they too will experience an epiphany.
In John 14:6 Jesus said,
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This statement is both exclusive and inclusive. Exclusively, no one has access to God, but by Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. Inclusively, anyone who comes to Jesus, in repentance and faith, will experience God.
This brings us back to the ministry of Haggai. Haggai was concerned with the rebuilding of the Temple, because YAWEH wanted his people to experience His presence.
The Epiphany message we have for our family, neighbors, and coworkers is the good news that Jesus is the true Temple. Thus, in Jesus, YAHWEH dwells with his people and they experience life with Him. In other words, through Jesus the Temple, our family, neighbors, and coworkers have been granted access to the Father and the hope of eternal life (John 17:3).
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