Let’s read Haggai 2:6-9, “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) 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,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold in Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts. The GLORY OF THIS LATTER TEMPLE shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Haggai was raised up as a prophet after the invasion of Israel and their being taken into captivity for 70 years by the Babylonians The Israelites who were allowed to return to Israel rebuild the temple and the city which had been completely destroyed by the Babylonians. Here is what Haggai said to the leaders and the people after the temple was completed, “Who is left among you who saw THIS TEMPLE IN ITS FORMER GLORY? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing” (verse 3). God knew that, by comparison, the former temple, which was built by Solomon, was more magnificent that what had just been rebuilt. God also knew that there were some who had actually seen both temples and He inspired Ezra to record their reaction to what they saw in Ezra 3:11-12: “Then all the people shout with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, OLD MEN WHO HAD SEEN THE FIRST TEMPLE, WEPT WITH A LOUD VOICE when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes.” Compared to the temple’s FORMER GLORY, this temple was indeed “as nothing in their eyes.”

In verses 6-9, Haggai made another comparison. He compared a FUTURE TEMPLE that would be built with the FIRST TEMPLE and exclaimed, “This latter temple shall be greater than the former.” This must have astounded the old men present who had seen Solomon’s temple, for that temple was a “sight to behold.” (You can read about the building of the temple and its dedication in 1st Kings chapters 6-8.) It was not only amazing to the children of Israel but many came from around the world to see it. Perhaps you have heard the story of the “Queen of Sheba” who traveled hundreds of miles to see it and to hear “the wisdom of Solomon.” What did she think about what she had seen? We have the answer in 1st Kings 10:4 & 6: “And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, THE HOUSE HE HAD BUILT” and “she said to the king: ‘It was a true report which I heard in my own land…. however, I did not believe the words until I came and SAW WITH MY OWN EYES; and indeed, THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD ME.  Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.’” Yet as great as it was, “the glory of the latter temple shall be greater than the former.”

You may be thinking at this point, “Wait a minute, the temple in Haggai’s day was completely refurbished by King Herod (who was reigning in Israel was Christ was born), so wasn’t that the “future temple” that Haggai was referring to?” No, it could not have been “Herod’s temple” for Herod’s temple was eventually destroyed by the Roman armies in 70 A. D. and it is clear, from verses 6-8, that Israel’s future temple will be never be destroyed. Now you may be thinking, “So, when will that temple be built?” Verse 6 tells us that it will be built AFTER GOD JUDGES THE NATIONS: “I will SHAKE ALL NATIONS and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations.” God has never judged all nations but there is a time coming when He will send His Son to this earth to establish His kingdom here and we read in Revelation 19:15 that He will “SMITE THE NATIONS: and he will rule them with a rod of iron.” Daniel the prophet was given a vision of this where the nations and their kingdoms were depicted as “a great image of a man” and in Daniel 2:34 we read, “You watched while A STONE was cut out without hands, which STRUCK THE IMAGE on its feet of iron and clay, and BROKE THEM IN PIECES.” He went on to say in verse 35 that “the STONE that struck the image BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN AND FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.” The “stone” is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Psalm 118;22 and Matthew 21:42-44) and the “mountain” speaks of His glorious KINGDOM. He will sit on His throne (see Matthew 25:31-34 and Revelation 20:4) and when He does a NEW TEMPLE will be built (see Ezekiel chapters 40-43) and God “will fill this temple with glory…and in this place I will give peace” (Haggai 2:7 & 9). The splendor of that temple will be “beyond compare!”  (462.1)  (DO)