2004-10-03 - Haggai End Times

Haggai, Part 17

Verses 20-21a: December 18, 520 B.C. was certainly a busy day for Haggai. Having delivered the third prophecy, he how has a fourth to deliver. This one was delivered specifically to Zerubbabel. As we will see, this message is a final one of encouragement and by its very nature, it's focus is on the future.

Verses 21b-23: The language is apocalyptic in nature, and is similar to that found in verse six. God is speaking to a people living in fear of the nations who surround them. A fear still held today with some merit. But the day is coming when the Messiah will return and shake the earth, restoring the nation. From Jerusalem, the seat of government, He will rule in the only true benevolent dictatorship in Earth's history. Israel's enemies will be under his foot and will never again be a threat."

Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15. "He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery - just as I have received authority from my Father." … "She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne." … "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations." "He will rule them with an iron scepter." "He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty."

This prophecy, like a number of Old Testament ones, can be fulfilled twice. First, in the immediate future, which foreshadows the second, the full and final fulfillment in the kingdom age. As Feinberg notes: "The end time is in view, and the person of the Messiah is prefigured. The shaking referred to here and the overthrowing of rule in earth is the same as indicated in verses 6 and 7. The passage has been assigned to the time of the overthrow and revolt of peoples and provinces (Persians, Babylonians, Medes, Armenians, and others) who sought to destroy the Persian Empire when Darius began to reign in 521 bc. We take it as definitely prophetic. Notice that it is "throne" in the singular and not the plural. There is one supreme rule over the earth, permitted of God and carried out by Satan, and it will be replaced by that of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 11:15 "The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.'" God makes a promise to Zerubbabel, but in terms of its fulfillment, it relates to the office he holds, rather than the man himself.

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org