IHOPKC All-Staff Meeting (April 2015)– Mike Bickle
Building the House of Prayer: A Prophetic Call to Action (Hag. 2)Page1
Building the House of Prayer: A Prophetic Call to Action (Hag. 2)
I.the context of rebuilding the house of prayer in 536–515 BC
A.The dramatic story of rebuilding the house of prayer in the days of Zerubbabel from 538–515 BC is an encouragement today. God told Jeremiah that Israel would go into captivity for 70 years (606–536 BC), and wouldthen return to Jerusalem (Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10-14; 36:23, 28).
10After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place[Jerusalem].(Jer. 29:10)
B.Daniel studied Jeremiah’s prophecy of 70 yearscaptivity followed by restoration (Jer. 29:10-14). He prayedin 538 BC, knowing that the 70 years of captivity would be complete in 536 BC.
2In the first year [538 BC]of his [Darius’] reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting. (Dan. 9:2-3)
C.Gabriel prophesied that Israel would build the temple, or house of prayer, in “troublesome times” (Dan. 9:25),even though Israel received prophetic promises from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, along with supernatural favor and activity in the initial years of its establishment (538-536 BC), such as moving on Daniel and Cyrus, providing finances, and stirring up the remnant (Ezra 1).
25“…understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem…the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. (Dan. 9:25)
1The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation…2…the LordGod…commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem…5all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord. (Ezra 1:1-5)
D.From God’s view, the temple in the past and future is His house of prayer. Isaiah referred to the temple as the house of prayer (Isa. 56:7) about 200 years before it was restored in 520 BC. Later, Jesus called the temple the house of prayer(Mt. 21:13). Zerubbabel set singers, musicians, and gatekeepers in place as an occupation, providing finances for them(Ezra 2:65; Neh. 12:45-47).
II.Overview of the story
A.This story is told in three passages (Ezra 1-6; Hag. 1-2; Zech. 1-8); it highlights four leaders who worked in Jerusalem to build the house of prayer. Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, was responsible for mobilizing the people to build the buildings (the temple complex). Joshua the high priest was responsible to oversee the administration of the day-to-day function of the priests and Levites. Haggai,the older prophet, gave four messages in five months in 520 BC (Aug.–Dec.). Zechariah received eight prophetic messagesin February 519 BC (Zech. 1:7-6:8).
B.Two Persian kings—Cyrus released the captives to return from 70 years of Babylonian captivity (538 BC) andfinanced their work of rebuilding the temple, which started in 536 BC (Ezra 1).
Dariusalso helped the remnant with finances to rebuild the temple in 520 BC (Ezra 6).
C.A radical remnant of approximately 50,000 exiles returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 1-2). The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem took five months, covering about 700 miles (Ezra 7:9).
D.After arriving at Jerusalem, they lost their zeal to work on the temple after one year because of opposition from enemies (Ezra 4:1-6) and economic pressures—they quit working for 16 years (535-520 BC). The temple (house of prayer) was rebuilt over a 24-year period (538–515 BC). Two importation dates to know are 536 BC, when they laid the foundation of the temple, but thenquit for 16 years (Ezra 3:10; 4:24), and 520 BC, when they restarted (Ezra 5:1-2).
4The people…5hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia…24Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased[536 BC], and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius [520 BC]… (Ezra 4:4-24)
III.Haggai’s prophetic message in 520 BC: a call to action
A.Haggai’s first messageon August 29, 520 BC (Hag. 1:1-11) stirred the people (Hag. 1:12-15).
2“This people says, ‘The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.’”…8Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified”…14The Lord stirred up… the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord… (Hag. 1:2-15)
B.Haggai’s second message was given on October 17, 520 BC. The issue was in how they “saw” their labors. They were to see the connection of their labors to the eternal house of prayer.
3Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? How do you see it now?
In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?... 4Nowbe strong, Zerubbabel…be strong, Joshua…be strong, all you people…and work…My Spirit remains among you; do not fear… 7I will fill this temple with glory…9The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former… (Hag. 2:3-9)
- Haggai called them to be strong or not to quit and to workwith diligencewith a sense of privilege in working on something God is zealous for. They were called not to fearbut believe that the evidences of the Spirit’s work among them would remain with them.
- Continuity: In God’s eyes, the worship sanctuary in Haggai’s generation (515 BC) referred to as “this” temple (v. 3, 7, 9) also refers to the temple that Solomon built (960 BC) and the one Jesus will build in the Millennium (Zech. 6:12). Thus, the worship sanctuary in Haggai’s generation (515 BC) had continuity with the future millennial worship sanctuary (Zech. 6:12) and thus with the heavenly worship sanctuary (Rev. 4-5).
C.Zechariah’s message (Zech. 1:7-6:8) contained eight visions in one night (Feb. 15, 519 BC).
6This is the word of the Lordto Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lordof hosts. 7“Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”…
9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it…10For who has despised the day of small things? These seven [eyes]rejoice to see the
plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord...” (Zech. 4:6-10)
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