Haggai Week 7 October 21, 2021

Introduction

Welcome everyone.

What prayer needs do we want to share and pray for today?

Beginning of study

Let’s read

Haggai 2:6–9 ESV

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

God shakes the nations

What examples can you think of in the Bible when God “shook nations” bringing disaster, invasion, raising rulers, or bringing them down.

The rise and fall of empires between the Old Testament and Christ

The Persian empire—supreme in the time of Haggai was conquered by the Greek Empire of Alexander the great

Alexander the Great’s empire was conquered by the Roman empire.

God works through the rise and fall of nations to accomplish His purposes.

Pax Romana and the spread of the Gospel are an example of how God works through national events for His purposes.

Hebrews used this passage to talk about Jesus.

Hebrews 12:26–29 ESV

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Everything not part of Christ’s Kingdom will be destroyed.

Revelation also looks to the future to talk about God destroying nations.

Revelation 6:12–17 ESV

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

What house is God referring to in verse 9?

God promised hope for the Israelites at the end of verse nine. It was a hope fulfilled in Jesus.

Discussion

In what ways did Paul’s Roman citizenship help him spread the Gospel?

How can we use the circumstances we are in to spread the Gospel?

What is meant by “glory” in these verses?

Does God work in history today? What examples can we think of?