609 - 608 BC – King Jehoikim captured by Nebuchadnezzar 598 - 597 BC – King Jehoiachin captured by Nebuchadnezzar587 - 586 BC - Nebuchadnezzar’s forces invade the city of Jerusalem; destroyed the temple, decimated the land; burned down the palace, and all houses, destroyed the walls of Jerusalem

(II Chronicles 36:17-20)(Jer 32:42–44)(II Kings 25:8–12; Jer 39:8).

The Babylonian Empire falls and the Persian Empire rises

Cyrus – ruled Persia from 559 - 530 BC, captures Babylon in 539 BC

538 BC - Cyrus issued an edict permitting Jews who wished to do so to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Isaiah 44:28

537 BC - Altar Rebuilt536 BC - Start of rebuilding the Temple 536 - 530 BC – enemies discourage and threaten the builders. Political Leaders oppose rebuilding530 - 522 BC – King Cambyses522 - 522 BC - King Bardiya530 - 520 BC – Rebuilding of the Temple Stops522/521 BC – Darius becomes King520 BC – Rebuilding of the Temple Resumes

(Ezra 3:1-6, 9-13)(Ezra 4:1-24)

Who is this guy? Haggai

Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

Haggai 2:3

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

Haggai 2:4-5

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. 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.

Haggai 2:6-7

Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.

Haggai 2:13

Now then, consider from this day backward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, how did you fare?

Haggai 2:15–16a

 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.

Haggai 2:19

On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:23

So, where does that leave us?