11.8 The Potential For The Surrounding World

11-8-1 Haggai 2

Haggai 2:6,7 clearly stated that very soon the desire of all nations would come to the temple, and Yahweh would fill the temple with His glory, just as He had when the first temple was built (this is another proof that the temple of the restoration was to be based upon the pattern of Solomon’s). This was to be brought about by Yahweh shaking all nations, with the result that in a great battle, they would kill each other (Haggai 2:22); and then Zerubbabel “my servant” (a Messianic title) would be the King of God’s Kingdom. But this didn’t happen “soon” after those words were spoken. Indeed, they are quoted in Heb. 12 as now having relevance to our last days. “I will overthrow…kingdoms” (Haggai 2:22) is the language of Dan. 2:44- perhaps it could have been that four kings arose after Nebuchadnezzar and then Babylon would have been destroyed. Thus Dan. 2:42 speaks of the singular Kingdom being divided, as if referring to the Kingdom of Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar. Thus the image stood complete when the stone hit it- the whole dynasty of Nebuchadnezzar was to be destroyed. But this didn’t happen, and so other interpretations of the image prophecy became possible, each fitting perhaps less accurately than the intended fulfilment would have done. Likewise Haggai 2:22 continues by saying that in that “overthrow”, “the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother”. This is the language of Zech. 14:13; that prophecy also could have had a fulfilment at the restoration, but it is now deferred until the last days.  

Surely what could have happened, had Judah rebuilt the temple and lived as they were commanded, was that there would have been a great invasion against the temple and Jerusalem, Yahweh would have intervened and destroyed the invaders, and then in humility all nations would have come to worship at the temple and the Kingdom would have been established with Zerubbabel as king. He had the same possibility as Solomon had- to be the king of the Kingdom of God, if he was obedient.