A Guarantee Of The Promised Messiah
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
In Haggai 1, we read of the completion of the temple by the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity. The beginning of Haggai 2:1-9, records the discussion of the former glory of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 5-8) which was destroyed in 586 B.C.
A prophecy ensues regarding the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom, the church (Haggai 2:6-9 KJV – “a house” – Hebrews 3:6; cf. Daniel 2:44); a kingdom characterized by “peace” (Haggai 2:9; cf. Ephesians 2:14-15; Romans 14:17).
The kingdom that “all nations” would flow into (Isaiah 2:2; cf. Acts 2:1-5 – note “every nation“ in vs. 5). The kingdom “which cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).
Haggai closes his prophetic book, with God’s promise that He would take Zerubbabel, a descendent in the Messianic line (cf. Matthew 1:12-13; Luke 3:27), and make him “as a signet” (Haggai 2:23 KJV).
The signet was a symbol of power and authority (cf. Daniel 6:1-17; Matthew 27:66). Any decree documented and signed by a king’s signet ring could not be changed (Daniel 6:17).
Thus, the Lord is said to have conferred upon Zerubbabel this signet symbol, making through him, a guaranteed promise of the coming Messiah (Haggai 2:23; cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Acts 2:29-36) — the Messiah, who has “all authority” in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).