The next two prophets served the first wave of exiles from Babylon who were trying to rebuild the temple. Ezra mentions both Haggai and Zechariah together in Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 16:14. The time was about 18 years after they were in Jerusalem and everything had come to a standstill with rebuilding the temple. If you reread some of Ezra you'll see that the Jews were forced to stop building. For some reason this was a critical time in the lives of the returned exiles. Ezra wasn't there yet, nor was Nehemiah. Suddenly Haggai appears with four short messages all within a few months. Amazingly the leaders spring to life. Then before Haggai gives his final address, Zechariah begins to preach. Zechariah is an unusual prophet and what he says will look like the book of Revelation. What is interesting is that Haggai's last messages also look to the end times. For some reason this was a very critical time and as we saw with Zephaniah, in order to inspire hope the Lord lifts their eyes to the prize of what their earthly labor is working toward: the redemption of man and the coming King.
Haggai 1-2
Haggai 1
V. 1 This Darius was not the Darius from Daniel six. This is now 18 years later. Darius was a popular name among the Persians and Medes…sort of like names for popes.
Notice that the message is to Zerubbabel and to Joshua.
Zerubbabel was the governor and in the line of David. Wait until you see the good things God says about him in Haggai and then in Zechariah.
Joshua the high priest appears in a very dramatic scene in Zechariah.
To get your bearings here notice when this first message was given. Now go to 2:10. This is the day of the final two messages. As far as we know, Haggai's ministry lasted only three months, but not without impact.
Vs. 2-11 Remember that this message was given to these two leaders. As I read this, this sounds so much like what any of us are prone to do in the western world. The harvest is difficult; going to church and living in comfort is so easy. But our lives are so barren of fruit. To draw close to God as a disciple means you will become dissatisfied with a lack of fruit. Verse eight reminds me of John 15:8.
Vs. 12-15 This was a miracle and shows the power of Haggai's message and it shows the hearts of Zerubbabel and Joshua as godly leaders. It just makes you happy to read this.
Haggai 2
Vs. 1-9 This message comes a month into their work on the temple and they are discouraged. How could this temple compare to the glorious temple of Solomon? The Lord tells Zerubbabel and Joshua to be encouraged and keep working. Then in verses 6-9, God gives them a hint of the coming glory of the millennial temple. God lifts their eyes from that temple to the future temple to strengthen their hands. This is a very direct and heartfelt word to these two men.
Vs. 10-19 This message is directed to the priest to remain holy, personally and in their attitudes. God marks this day as the day He will begin to bless the exiles for their obedience.
Vs. 20-23 This is the same day, and the message is only for Zerubbabel. The best guess is that this blessing is still waiting for fulfillment in the Millennium. Zerubbabel was true to God and there will be a reward. After this time of Haggai and Zechariah, we hear nothing more about Zerubbabel. He was not present when Ezra arrived 62 years later or when Nehemiah arrived 76 years later.
Reading these prophets, it makes me aware of how important it is to keep the end in view, to stay motivated in the harvest. God showed these kings and leaders that what they were working for went beyond their challenges and beyond their generation. Their work was adding to the coming day of redemption for all peoples and nations. That is exactly what we are working toward too, as we follow Jesus in the harvest, making disciples who make disciples.
Revelation 11
Just as chapter 10 showed a heavenly event that will signify a change from the first 3.5 years of the tribulation to the next 3.5 years, chapter 11 shows us what has happened on earth as this change has taken place.
Vs. 1-2 The temple will be rebuilt in the first 3.5 years of peace in Jerusalem. Now a change has taken place and the nations will trample Jerusalem for the next 3.5 years. It is in the middle of the tribulation that the Antichrist will come into the temple and defile it and stop the worship. Both Daniel and Jesus spoke of this.
V. 3 Now we learn about the two witnesses. Notice that their ministry is for 3.5 years. I think it is obvious that neither the Antichrist nor the nations could run amok in Jerusalem with these guys on the loose. No one knows who these two guys are, but since it says in Hebrews that you only die once, it seems a good guess to think these might be two guys in the OT who never died, Enoch and Elijah. Or, of course, they could just be two guys.
Vs. 4-6 In Zechariah 4:2-14 we see Zerubbabel and Joshua referred to in the same way. The idea is that they bore witness in their generation in giving light like lampstands, and both are empowered by the Holy Spirit, as seen in the anointing oil of the olive tree.
Notice that these guys can call down disaster and no one can stand against them. I think, as the seals are being broken and the trumpets are sounding in heaven, these guys are on earth calling down all these judgments just like Moses and Aaron did. This means that they work in the first 3.5 years.
Vs. 7-10 My sense is that the angel's declaration in chapter 10 will introduce the mystery of God allowing His followers to conquer Satan by the sacrifice of their lives and testimony. This mystery will begin on earth with the deaths of these two men. It reminds me of Herod laying hands on the apostles in Acts 12. God allowed it, but it only advanced the gospel.
You've got to admit this sounds funny, that people in the world will be so happy that these guys are dead that they will give gifts. That will make it a real "black Friday." But, think of what has happened with all of the seals and the trumpets. Over a half of the earth's population is dead. A third of the land of the earth is scorched. A third of the fresh water is poisoned, a third of the ocean is poisoned, a third of the world fleet of ships is gone. There is war and famine all over the planet. Think of how long it took to clean up after Katrina hit the gulf states in the US, will all of our resources. The earth will be totally wrecked for those last 3.5 years and everything will resemble the third world. We'll all be on equal footing. The earth will be happy these guys are dead and the Antichrist and his beast will be very popular, with action figures and TV interviews, etc….
Vs. 11-13 Apparently this will be televised. Notice that this is resurrection, but after 3.5 days, it is the total recreation of their bodies. Also, notice that if people are giving glory to God, they are believing.
I would say it is after this that the Antichrist takes his place in the temple, declaring himself to be God or the messiah.
Vs. 15-19 The death of the witnesses begins the second 3.5 years. The seventh angel blows his trumpet and it is declared that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."
This is a solemn moment and there is worship, but what really happens here? Jesus doesn't return at this point and there are still events taking place and there are yet seven bowls of judgment to be poured out.
It seems to me that God is showing the power of His righteousness and the proof of forgiveness and redemption by allowing the world to be "judged," or "conquered" by the saints. What better proof to the success of the work you have done than to let the finished product speak for itself. The next chapters should make this more evident that God is giving up His own people as proof of the power of salvation in Christ. These people will carry their cross daily.
As we read these next chapters it looks pretty grim for the followers of Jesus. But imagine going through all of this and having the play book in hand. I'm sure there will be some desperate moments, but I'll bet there will be some Spirit-inspired joy and courage like the world has never seen. That is how we need to be working now in the harvest too. We have far less to be anxious about than they'll have, and we have the same assurance that we are held in the Lord's hands as we work in the harvest to reach the lost and to make disciples who make disciples.
I know I used this yesterday, but I really like it. Another Reuben Morgan song and a great declaration of our strength in Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I7PgXteyC8&feature=bf_prev&list=PL8F3FC504C539471B&lf=plpp_video
Psalm 139
As you read this psalm for the second time this year, think of how your understanding or feeling for what David is saying might be different because of what you have read since then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncIij3QDKJw
Proverbs 30:15-16
This is a rather striking image for a lack of contentment. As Paul said, "there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content."
In this Christmas season, that is a good thought. I'm afraid for many people, Christmas and life is reflected in the words of this proverb.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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