Sun.’s Devo - Haggai

Read: Haggai 1:1-2:23; Revelation 11:1-19; Psalm 139:1-24; Provers 30:15-16 Haggai’s name means “Festive”. He prophesied during the time when the captives were coming back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. His prophecy covered the time of less than four months and was during the second year of the reign of King Darius. They had started out well in rebuilding the temple They had laid the foundation but construction had ceased when their enemies mocked them. In their discouragement, they had gone home and began building their own homes instead. Haggai was encouraging them to get back out there and finish the task because the Lord was with them. God reminded them of the splendor of Solomon’s Temple but told them that though the foundation of this temple was much smaller in dimensions, it would be so much larger in power and glory. The people were discouraged because they were not succeeding in their businesses and crops but God said that this was his discipline on them because they had stopped building his house. When they began to do this, their businesses would be blessed. We will never be blessed until we get our lives aligned with God’s priorities. First, we must build his temple inside of us and then our lives will reflect what is going on inside. In Revelation, John was given a measuring stick and told to measure the Temple of God and the altar and to count the number of worshippers. The outer courtyard would be turned over to the nations and they would trample the holy city for 42 months. God’s two witnesses would prophesy during that time. These two prophets were the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord. They would destroy anyone who tried to harm them with fire from their mouths. They would have power to turn the water to blood and strike the earth with plagues as often as they wished. When their time of prophesying was over, the beast would come from he bottomless pit to declare war agains them. He would kill them and their bodies would lie in the main street of Jerusalem for three and a half days. People of the world would celebrate their deaths but then God would breathe life into their bodies and they would come to life and stand up. This will make everyone afraid. A voice from heaven will call them to come up and they will rise to heaven. Then a terrible earthquake will destroy a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people will die in the earthquake and the people left will fear the Lord. The third terror will happen next. It would be time to judge the nations and the dead, and reward the servants of God, the prophets and God’s holy people who fear the Lord. In heaven, the same thing was happening and the Temple of God was opened and the Art of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lord, thank you that you have this all planned out and put it in your Word so we won’t be deceived and can rest in the fact that you plan the end from the beginning.