Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous. In this place will I give peace and prosperity

This came to the watchman today as the Bible opens and continues to reveal the truth that sets free the current captive. The requirement is be strong. The reward is peace and prosperity. All in terms of the rebuilding and refocusing of the eyes and hearts of the people on God and His plan.

“In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, in the second year of Darius the king (of Persia, including the Chaldeans), came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying,”

I have received words about Haggai several strategic times during the past decade and posted some blogs. Here is a list of links and my brief summary of the relevant blogs with revelation for today, concerning chapter two.

Prophet Haggai’s message to the ruler, high pries, and the people of the land

December 18, 520 BC. Haggai 2:18 (revelation received on Nov 22,2020)

2020-11-22 Today’s revelation received by the watchman (Nov 22, 2020) December 18, 520 BC. Haggai 2:18 Message to the priests about holiness, not getting themselves defiled by association with those defiled by sin,  and rebuilding the Temple of God 2:10 On December 18 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord sent this message …Continue reading

Revelation received on God promised a bright future to His people (including leaders who obeyed Him and rebuilt the spiritual life according to God’s plan):

Three conditions for restoration of prosperity:

1. Holiness of the priests/leaders required.
2. People to repent from their sin of defilement of their offerings.
3. Acknowledge their economic failure and return to God’s way.

Three promises/assurances:

1. Economic boom
2. Anointed leader appointed by God to lead the rebuilding and restoration of God’s temple and the people’s spiritual life.
3. The faithful anointed leader/ruler will be honored by God.

Daily Word: think carefully and focus on promise of good in rebuilding (Haggai 1818)

2017-02-21 God always speaks before a thing happens. What He has spoken always comes to pass. God makes it come to pass to show that the message is from God. What shall the hearers do? Just believe and go forward. All the great men of God in history accomplished great exploits following this simple key. Today we …Continue reading

God spoke twice in just one verse: 2:18 “Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day when the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid. Think carefully.” NLT

Haggai 2 : the faithfulness , power and glory of God

2014-10-12 Today’s 3 am class continues on to read Haggai 2. What Does God say about the rebuilding of our temple? We continue to see the faithfulness and power of God being displayed in the words of God. Summary notes: Background: the people had delayed for 17 years before this round of rebuilding!: God shows the …Continue reading

Summary notes:

Background: the people had delayed for 17 years before this round of rebuilding!:

1. God shows the urgency of the matter
2. God has fulfilled His promise through the prophet Jeremiah’s prophecy.
3. Now is the time for the people of God to rise up and rebuild.

What does God say about Himself in the rebuilding? Read the following with what Jesus has accomplished for us in mind.

1. Look at the rebuilding through His heavenly perspective.
2. God says He will fill the place with glory, a greater glory. (Jesus Himself)
3. God wants holiness and undefiled worship and sacrifice according to His holy nature.
4. Yet, God speaks of His mercy and the undeserved favor He will give to the builders: “from this day onward I will bless you.” (from the day the foundation is laid).
5. Lastly, God speaks of the prophecy about His Son, Jesus Christ who will come. He is the pure and undefiled Temple. Each individual now enters into the presence of God through the blood and body of Jesus Christ, and gives account for his own personal relationship with the holy and righteous God. Each individual believer is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Key words for 2021-05-20: BE STRONG, ALER, AND COURAGEOUS

Haggai 2:4-5 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

4 Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.

5 According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the midst of you; fear not.

ALL ABOUT JESUS

Zerubbabel is a royal descendant of David. In a way he was performing a type restoring the temple worship and sacrifice, signifying the coming of Jesus, the living Temple, the perfect Sacrifice and Atonement for sin, the Mediator between God and men, the King, the only Name by which anyone can be saved.

Hebrews 10:18-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

A Call to Persevere

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death,[b] Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

2 Corinthians 5:21 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Footnotes: a.10:19 Greek brothers. b. 10:20 Greek Through his flesh.

KAINOTES, 2021-05-20

December 18, 520 BC. Haggai 2:18 (revelation received on Nov 22,2020)

Today’s revelation received by the watchman (Nov 22, 2020)

December 18, 520 BC. Haggai 2:18

Message to the priests about holiness, not getting themselves defiled by association with those defiled by sin,  and rebuilding the Temple of God

2:10 On December 18 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord sent this message to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says. Ask the priests this question about the law…

Message to the people of God (the remnants of God’s people) to repent from their sin

2:14 Then Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin.

The consequences of their sins: economic failure

15 Look at what was happening to you before you began to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple. 16 When you hoped for a twenty-bushel crop, you harvested only ten. When you expected to draw fifty gallons from the winepress, you found only twenty. 17 I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the Lord.

God’s promise: a booming economy

2:18 “Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day when the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid. Think carefully. 19 I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.”

Promises for Zerubbabel (the anointed ruler) about giving him the authority to rule: God promises to overthrow other contending rulers, foreign power, overturn their military forces and cause confusion within the enemy’s camp so they will kill each other and self-destruct

20 On that same day, December 18, the Lord sent this second message to Haggai: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other.

23 “But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

God’s promise and encouragement for the discouraged Temple builders: the political and religious leaders (the king and the priests) and the people (the remnant of God’s people): be strong and fearless in building up for God, and He will bring victory over their enemies and physical and spiritual prosperity for His people

4 But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’

6 “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Key point of this revelation:

On December 18, 520 BC, the God-anointed political leader (Zerubbabel) and the high priest Jeshua, led the people of God to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple. And that is the day when God reminded the priests of holiness, the people to stay away from sins, and officially recognized Zerubbabel as His designated ruler for His people and their land.

Kainotes, Nov 22, 2020

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jewish history of the Hanukkah celebration and miracle

Friday, December 18, 2020 is the equivalent of 3 Tevet, 5781 Chanukah Day 8

8th Day of Chanukah Miracle (139 BCE)

On the 25th of Kislev in the year 3622 from creation, the Maccabees liberated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, after defeating the vastly more numerous and powerful armies of the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus IV, who had tried to forcefully uproot the beliefs and practices of Judaism from the people of Israel. The victorious Jews repaired, cleansed and rededicated the Temple to the service of G-d. But all the Temple’s oil had been defiled by the pagan invaders; when the Jews sought to light the Temple’s menorah (candelabra), they found only one small cruse of ritually pure olive oil. Miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new, pure oil could be obtained. In commemoration, the Sages instituted the 8-day festival of Chanukah, on which lights are kindled nightly to recall and publicize the miracle.

a fitting confession for a king to declare

1 Timothy 1:11-13 King James Version (KJV)

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

King James Version (KJV)Public Domain