Haggai Chapter One

 (Now) Weekly From the Prophets

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The Book of the Prophet Haggai - is two chapters, and is third from the last book of the Old/Ancient Testament.

     Background (we last studied Daniel) — 586bc Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem, carried many off to Babylon.. Babylon later falls to Persia.

    Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son succeeded him. He was the last Babylonian king, and was the “writing on the wall” king. He was followed by Darius the Mede (of Media-Persia) ..He was otherwise known as Nabonidus? He “received the kingdom” (under?) Cyrus the Great of Persia (remember how Persia “rose higher”?) Darius the Mede ruled only two years - Darius and Cyrus ruled concurrently, and Darius was likely appointed viceroy over Babylon by his nephew, King Cyrus who ruled from 550bc to 538bc. Darius (the Mede) promoted Daniel (the prophet) to a high position and then was tricked into casting him into the lions’ den. When he saw Daniel was unhurt, Darius decreed “people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God who endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end!” And as viceroy he was, and had been, favorable to Israel.

     Cyrus had decreed all Israel in all his kingdom could, and should go home, and some/many did, led by Zerubbabel (who was a descendent of King David) and they began to “rebuild the TEMPLE” (and, side note: at the time of Cyrus’ proclamation, the massive empire included once again Assyria where the northern tribes had been carried off into captivity). [This proclamation is not the one that began the countdown prophesied by Daniel called “70 weeks”.]

     Adapted from commentary:

The name Haggai means "my feast" perhaps meaning in anticipation of the joyous return from exile. He was likely one of the Jewish exiles (of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi) who returned to the land of Israel under Zerubbabel, civil head of Isreal during the return, with Joshua the high priest. It was 536 BCE, when Cyrus (as prophecied in Isa 44:28 and 45:1) granted Israel their freedom, and supplied them with what they needed for restoring the temple (2Ch 36:23; Ezr 1:1; 2:2). The work of rebuilding went on under Cyrus and his successor Cambyses (called Ahasuerus in Ezr 4:6).

     Haggai Chapter One

1:1 - In the second year of King Darius — this is Darius the Great, not Darius the Mede who co-ruled for two years. Some time has passed, this Darius (of Persia) is listed as third after Cyrus. — In the second year of Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month [on the new moon, always a festival with a community “with God” meal] the word (message) of the Lord/Yhvh came to Haggai the prophet, to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, son of Jehozadak: 2 “Thus says Yhvh of hosts: It’s said by the people, the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 And continued the word to Haggai, 4 “Is it a time for you to dwell in your nicely built houses, while mine lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, says Yhvh of hosts - Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but you are not warm, and the workers wages go as into a bag with holes.”

     (In other words, oh nation, where are you going wrong?)

     7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be remembered, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, but behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, it blew away. Why? It is because of my house. It lies in ruins, and all are busy with only their own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 Summoned is a drought on the land and hills, and on the grain, the new wine, upon the oil, and what the earth brings forth, upon man and upon beast, and upon all your labors.” (God iS life, and every blessing.)

     12 Then Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Yhvh their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent. And the people remembered and revered Yhvh. 13 Then Haggai, messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, “I am with you, says Yhvh.” 14 And he stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the high priest, son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began work on the house of Yhvh, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius called the Great.

Fat Man and Little Boy

Fat Man and Little Boy

Were dancing in the sky

Which rolled up like a scroll

With lightning on the fly.

But “the seals” are veiled

By their fullness of detail.

Seal Six was dancing in the sky

Beginning in days gone by,

Then held in check! 

Where we still seem to be,

At Revelation seven, verse 1 and 3.

€XpLoR!n9 ReVeLaTion 3 1-6

        WeeKly BooK oF Revelation

1 - And to the angel of the church in Sardis write - These things says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars - “I know your works. You are known for being alive, but you’re dead.” (Outwardly look okay, but..) 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to fall off, for I have not found your works to be complete in the sight of my God.” (You are missing the target! Wake up!) 3 “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent [metanoeó - turn, change after (being with)]. If you don’t wake up, I’ll come like a thief, and, you won’t know at what hour. 4 Yet you have still a few among you, who have not soiled their garments.” (No radiance if not following the way of it!) “And they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” (The way is the way of grace, God’s energizing and peaceful POWER. Our part is threefold: to believe, present our self to him “as a living sacrifice” and “rest in him”. And this is summed up as “love God”. Genuinely and heartfelt.) 5 “The one who conquers [nikáō - from níkē - victory, properly, conquer, overcome, to carry off the victory, come off victorious, the verb implies a battle] will be clothed [periballó - to throw around, put on, from peri - around, and ballo - to throw, cast, toss, pour, be cloaked] in white [leukos - light, bright, radiant] and I will not erase their name out of the book of life. I will confess their name before my Father and before his angels. [Homologeó - confess, speak the same, agree, publicly declare, a Hebraism, I praise, celebrate, from homou - together, and lego - to voice the same conclusion, speak the same thing, be in full agreement, align with, endorse] [their name - onoma -  a name, authority, cause, character, fame, reputation — “According to Hebrew notions, a name is inseparable from the person to whom it belongs, i.e. it is something of his essence. Therefore, to God, it is especially sacred" - adapted from Souter.] 6 Whoever has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

                         ~*~

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See Intro - This Year’s Revelation Study

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Daniel 12 Study

Paraphrased And Condensed With 

    Suggested Interpretation

(Summation of the Matter) 1 “At that time” the angel [like a man in linen] continued, “the great prince Michael, who has the watch over your people, will stand up. And there will be a time of trouble (began with a pale horse ride?) such as there hasn’t been since there was a nation. Even to the time when your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name can be found written in the book. 2 (When?) Many of those who sleep in the dust of earth shall awaken, some to enduring life, and some to shame and of long duration contempt [deraon - aversion, abhorrence]. (Jn.5:28,29) 3 And those who are wise will shine like the radiance of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness [tsadeq or tsadoq - just or righteous, from tsedeq - rightness, righteousness, what is right], like the stars forever [olam - long duration, antiquity, futurity] and ever [ad - perpetuity, from adah - adorn, pass on, advance].

     4 But you, Daniel, close the book and seal it, until the time of the end [qets, pronounced kates - end, course, farthest border, highest peak, limit]. Many shall run-to-and-fro [shuwt - about, go quickly] and knowledge shall increase [rabah - multiply].”

     5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on one side of the stream and one on the other side of the stream. 6 And one of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “Until when (for how long?) shall be the end [limit, fulfillment] of these wonders [pele - wonders, extraordinary, hard to be understood]?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream. He raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven. And he swore by he who lives forever that it would be for a time [moed - appointed time] times, and half a time. When the power [yad - hand, reach (influence?)] of the holy [qodesh - apartness, sacred] people is spent/finished and sundered, coming to an end, then all these things will be completed. (Rev.13:5-7!)

     8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what will be the outcome of all this?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified [barar - purified, selected, purged, polished] and made white [laban - brick, white] and be refined [tsaraph - smelted, refined, tested]. But the wicked shall act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand [bin - discern] but those who are wise shall understand [bin - discern].

     11 And (it is/will be) days 1,290, from the time is taken away [sur - turned aside, removed] (the) perpetual [tamid - (the) continual] and is set up [nathan - give, put, set] (the) abomination [shiqquts - detested thing, abomination] (of) desolation [shamem - (the) desolate, apalling, devoid, barren, ruination]. [[From the time the perpetual (sacrifices/of prayers?) is taken away/removed (Lk.19:41,44?) and the (including final) abomination that desolates is set up (the final desolation upon the human temple meant for God’s Spirit/Presence?) shall be 1,290 days - which is 3.5 hebrew years, plus 30 days. Between the taking away and the setting up.]]

     12 Blessed (it is) [esher - happiness, blessedness] to wait [chakah - to wait, awaiting] and arrive/come to the day/days 1,335. 13 But go your way Daniel. You shall rest and shall arise into your allotted place at the end of days/completion.” (1,290 + 45days = day 1,335?)

What I get from the Book of Daniel, concerning prophecy for today, is - ignoring Rev.7:1,3 where the world has been for some time - but is hidden, veiled, sealed - pun intended - by “the seals” being described as their full and complete effects, from their first occassion to their very last. See? In this way, very last day conditions are portrayed at the beginning of the vision. Hiding much of the vision.

     But.. we can’t ignore Rev.7:1,3! Because everything else rests on it. For (surely?) it will be interrupted in some way, means or fashion. A crises. A consolidating of power. Then (surely?) comes the much lauded seven year treaty - not that it’s ratified to last seven years (logically) but that it shall, alas, only last seven years. It is of course broken in the middle against Israel when their perpetual (sacrifices, and, or place of?) is taken away, turned aside, stopped.. Lk.19:41,44 - “Oh Jerusalem!” - and anything in an imperfect state - “Not one stone, Jerusalem, will be left in you upon another..” (Hello?)

     And then 3.5 hebrew years of 360 days, plus 30 days (a hebrew leap year?) later -> shall be set up a final abomination (appalling and abhorrent thing - imperfection/straying is an abyss of potential, something) which desolates. And happy the one/those who wait, and come to, day/the days 1,335. Which is 45 days later?

✌🏼☮️🕊️

   …There’ll be a lot of normalcy.. try to be in all ways prepared..?

   The war is east and west.. gog and magog? ..”clay and iron won’t really cleave”.. the iron/bronze settled with the faith, but the faith has “fallen away” Dn.7:7,19, Rev.13:1.. As far as wickedness, the dove and vulture (the iron and the clay) ..be gathered as wheat, or gathered as tare (to armageddon).. “the field is the world” not just the churches.. we should be as (discreet?) watchmen on the walls.. if folks can see the truth of prophecy they will see the truth of Jesus.. who “will draw all” Jn.12:32. 1Cor.3:16.

Daniel 11 Study

 Paraphrased with Interpretation

     1 - “Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I (arch angel) stood up to strengthen him. (I read in a commentary, “to consider the restoration of Israel and pass that on to his nephew Cyrus?”) 2 There will arise three more kings of Persia, then a fourth far richer and stronger who will stir up all against Greece. 3 Then (later) a mighty king of great dominion (vast conquest).. 4 But as soon as he has risen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds. (Alexander the Great of Greece who died young and his conquests went to four of his generals).

    Wars and intrigues, wars and intrigues..

Between the two powers of north and south, Syria and Egypt, the Seleucids and Ptolomies,  lies Israel. Then throw Greece into the mix.. the spiritual/psychological conquerer.

     15 Then the king of the north makes war. (Antiochus the great? Whose daughter was Cleopatra, which Egypt was briefly given over to?)

     21 And will come to stand up a vile person (Antiochus Epiphanies, great persecuter of Israel, an a.c. and type of the final a.c.. During the days of the Maccabees) ..he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress. He shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. (He sacrificed a pig to Jupiter on the altar of the temple.) 32 He shall seduce with flattery 33 but the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery. (I think here is where the pattern more visibly expands and repeats bringing us to the global fulfillment.) 35 And some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for the appointed time awaits. 36 And the king [melek - king, royal] shall do as he wills. He will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god (man as highest power? And some supposedly evolved superior? lol) and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is completed/spent for what is decreed/destined shall be done. 37 ..He will magnify himself above all gods. (Again, man as highest power. The stronG rise, aka, rule.) 38 He shall honor a god of strength ..a god his fathers didn’t know he shall honor with wealth and gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. (..? Plays two sides?) Those who acknowledge him he shall advance... make them rulers over many and the land he’ll divide for gain.

     40 At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind.. wars and battles.. 41 He will come into the glorious [tsbiy - beautiful, prominent] land  43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver ($$) and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall march in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy many to destruction. 45 And shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him. (One prophecy? Or at least two?)

     - North, south and east against him..

€XpLoR!n9 ReVeLaTion 2 18-29

       WeeKly BooK oF Revelation

18 - “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like polished bronze. 19 ‘I know your works, your love and faith and and your patient endurance, and that your later works are greater than your first. 20 But I have this against you, that you are tolerating the woman Jezebel (an Old Testament violent worshiper of the Baal of ancient Zidon). She calls herself a prophetess and is seducing and teaching my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. (This isn’t the leftover meat the poor bought in the marketplace, but is a joining in the decadent feasts of ‘the gods’.) 21 I gave her time to repent and turn, but she refuses. 22 Behold, will be a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds, 23 and the children (and, or fruit?) of her struck dead/abolished [abolished by death]. And all the ecclesia will know that I am he who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your own works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to this teaching, who have not learned the deep things of Satan, as they say, to you I do not lay upon you any other burden, 25 except to hold fast [krateó - be strong, prevail, hold fast] what you have until I come. 26 The one who overcomes [nikaó - conquers, prevails, subdues] (the lower self) and keeps my works to the end, to them I will give authority over the nations, 27 and they will rule with a (measuring) rod of iron (unbreakable Truth) as when earthen pots are shattered in pieces, even as I myself have received from my Father. (Truth will totally shatter untruth.) 28 And I will give to them the morning star. 29 Whoever has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches [ekklēsía -from ek - out from and to, and kaléō - to call — (to) the called out].”

                         ~*~

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See Intro - This Year’s Revelation Study

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€XpLoR!n9 ReVeLaTion 2 12-17

        WeeKly BooK oF Revelation

                paraphrased study                      

  - And to the angel [aggelos - an angel, a messenger, sometimes delegate] of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of he who has the sharp two-edged sword.’ (Truth. The tip of this sWord can delicately separate true thread from untrue thread upon the fabrics that make up the different tapestries that are in operation in the world.)

     13 “I know where you live. Where Satan has his throne. But you hold fast to my name and you haven’t denied the faith, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed there where Satan is dwelling. 14 Yet I have a few things against you - you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block in the path of the sons and daughters of Israel, so they ate food sacrificed to idols (they ended up joining the reverence of other ‘gods’) and they practiced sexual immorality (which was actually a part of the ‘worship’ and then there was human sacrifice of many babies to Molech).

     15 You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (Nicolaitans may have begun as a following of a christian in error, named Nicolaus, and their lifestyles and things they did, and taught, were scandalous and corrupt.) 16 Therefore repent [metanoeó - to change one's mind or purpose, from metá - changed after being with, and noiéō - think; think differently after being with]. If not, I will come to you quickly and war [polemeó - to make war] (the poles/extremes!) against them with the sword of my mouth. (The sWord from between his lips.) 17 Whoever has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches (believers/followers). To the one who conquers/prevails I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give them a white stone, with a new name written on it that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

“Overcomers”! Overcomers of what? ..”The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” ..But what can come “out of the heart ..evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.. anger, division..” Jesus said, “I am come that you might have joy.” Thank goodness it’s the Spirit that changes us and enables us. Our part? Is to “rest iN him”.

                         ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, facts, cross references, etc.

      (  ) - thots

See Intro - This Year’s Revelation Study

               📜🍞+🍷🕊️(+Logic)