Filled with His Glory (By Chris Barnes)

he book of Haggai contains a series of messages from the Lord delivered to his people after the Exile. Many of them had returned to Jerusalem. They planned to rebuild their destroyed temple, but they got sidetracked fixing up their own homes. Through His prophet Haggai, God encouraged a change in priorities: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?” (1:4) The people then began to restore God’s Temple, but they soon realized with great sadness that it would never be as glorious as Solomon’s Temple had been. So God sent another message, assuring that He would once again fill His Temple with His glory:

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. I will shake all 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. (2:6-7)

How was this prophecy fulfilled? When did or will this shaking come? Like so many of the Old Testament prophecies, it is being fulfilled in stages, with a partial fulfillment in the coming of Jesus and a final fulfilment yet to come.

By the time Jesus began his ministry, Herod had rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. And the Lord did indeed fill his Temple with His glory just by Jesus stepping into it and beginning to teach.

But this was not the end of the shaking or the ultimate filling with glory that God had in mind. Jesus predicted another shaking of the Temple that would come when He was crucified. Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” …. When Jesus said “this temple, He meant his own body” (John 2:19, 21).

And we know there is more shaking and more filling with glory to come. That glory will be the reality we live in for all eternity in heaven. John described his vision of heaven, saying, “I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22).
 
Prayer – Jesus, shaker of the heavens and the earth, shake me from my complacency so I will strengthen my grip on you for the final shaking. I worship you with holy fear and awe. Thank you for giving me the undeserved gift of a place in your unshakable Kingdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf7KdRKCmOE