There is a verse in Haggai chapter 2 that is often used as a word of what’s to come. This is verse 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.’”
The Prophet Haggai was a porphet during the 6th century BC, known for his role in motivating the Jewish community to rebuild the after the Babylonian Exile. He is considered one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, and the Book of Haggai is the 10th of the 12 books attributed to them. He prophesied the glorious future of the messianic age and stressed the importance of rebuilding the Temple.
Haggai's prophecies, as recorded in the Book of Haggai, focused on the need to rebuild the Temple. He emphasized that the people's prosperity and well-being were tied to the completion of this task.He warned of poverty, famine, and drought if the Temple was not built. He also prophesied that the new Temple would surpass the previous one in awesomeness suggesting a vision of a future kingdom of God.
There comes a time in every journey when the weight of what was threatens to overshadow the promise of what could be. Yet, amidst the ruins of yesterday's splendor, a profound truth emerges: the glory of the latter house shall surpass that of the former. This is exactly the encouragement that Haggai was giving to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah.
This is not merely a statement of restoration but an anthem of transformation. The latter house is not built on nostalgia or the mere replication of the past. No, it rises from the fertile ground of resilience, shaped by the scars of time and the wisdom of experience. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit, a beacon of hope for what lies ahead.
In its walls, there is a quiet strength, a reminder that every setback is but a prelude to a greater surge forward. The pillars of this house are forged in the fires of perseverance, its foundation laid with the bricks of dreams deferred but never abandoned.
The light that fills this house is different—it is softer, yet more enduring. It does not merely illuminate; it heals. It whispers of peace, a kind that surpasses understanding, and of joy that is unshaken by the tempests of life.
The glory of the latter house is not found in its grandeur alone but in the meaning infused into every stone. It embodies the journey of becoming, of learning to cherish not only the victories but also the struggles that made them possible. It is a house where renewal meets vision, where the future is not a shadow of the past but a radiant bloom of possibilities.
And so, we stand at the threshold, not as architects recreating what was but as dreamers, daring to imagine what could be. For in the end, the glory of the latter house is not just in its splendor but in its promise—a promise that the best is always yet to come.
Even though Haggai was looking to a physical structure which would welcome the Messiah and bring in the Kingdom. I believe He was speaking to even a greater time that was even further in the future. The time we are living in now.
Haggai told Zerubbabel that God was about to shake “heaven and earth” and that in this shaking, kingdoms of the earth would lose their strength and be overthrown. He promises that Zerubbabel will be like a “signet ring” in the earth.
The term "signet ring," as mentioned in Haggai's prophecy, symbolizes authority, identity, and divine favor. A signet ring was historically used to seal documents, representing the authority of the individual to whom it belonged. When Haggai promises Zerubbabel that he will be like a signet ring, it signifies that Zerubbabel is chosen by God for a special purpose. This metaphor highlights Zerubbabel's role in the divine plan, emphasizing his importance and the trust God places in him to fulfill His will. The imagery also connects to the idea of God's covenant, affirming Zerubbabel as a key figure in the unfolding narrative of restoration and transformation.
Now the name "Zerubbabel" is of Hebrew origin and is traditionally understood to mean "seed of Babylon" or "descended from Babylon." This interpretation reflects Zerubbabel's lineage and historical context, as he was one of the leaders of the Jewish people who returned from the Babylonian exile to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
In the context of Haggai's prophecy, Zerubbabel is portrayed not only as a historical figure but also as a symbol of restoration and divine purpose. He is described as a "signet ring," signifying that he is chosen by God for a special mission, embodying authority, identity, and divine favor. This connection underscores his critical role in the rebuilding process and his place in the broader narrative of hope, transformation, and the fulfillment of God's covenant with His people.
Now put all that in the context of where we are now in the time. We are all like Zerubbabel, We are all “seeds” that have come out of the system of Babylon. But we also have a different seed in us. A spiritual seed deposited by Holy Spirit when we decided to die to self and become followers of Jesus. Since that day, He has been working out in us a maturity that will look like a mature representation of Jesus in the earth according to Ephesians 4. We will love like Him and hunger for righteousness like Him. We will bring His peace and healing wherever we live. In that process, He is moving us from “glory to glory” in that transforming process as written in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
It is my personal conviction that the greater glory is not in a physical building but a spiritual building as unto the Lord. The Apostle Peter speaks of this in 1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The greater glory resides in us, the present-day followers of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul again in 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (ESV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossian church in Col 1:24-27 (ESV)
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
What is the greater glory? “Christ in you, the hope of glory”!
That’s why all creation is waiting for our revealing (Romans 8:19). But here is the good news. As we gain more revelation into this mystery, He will also make us a “signet ring” in the earth. Just our being present in any given situation will change the outcome or be a portal to see His kingdom come to earth.
I believe this is what we are witnessing in the transition that is taking place in the earth right now. He is using the greater glory in us, spiritual authority, to use men with governing authority to expose, judge and bring justice to things so that His glory might be revealed in, through and around us.
Be encouraged! The best is yet to come and we’re all a part of what’s coming if you have the eyesight to see it and believe for it.