Welcome
In the immediate context of the above referenced verse from the Book of Haggai, the prophet Haggai prophesies the rebuilding of King Solomon's magnificent temple in Israel. This later came about.
In the larger context of Haggai chapter two, Haggai prophesies the rebuilding and restoration of the figurative "House of Israel" as a nation. This also came about in 1948. This event will meet with yet further fulfillment upon Christ's return to earth, to rule and reign for 1,000 years, with Jerusalem at the center of His earthly reign.
In contrast to the promise contained in Haggai 2:9, there presently exists a popular doctrine largely within what I call the "Americanized Church," known as "Replacement Theology." In essence, those who espouse this erroneous doctrine believe that the Church at large has replaced the nation of Israel with respect to God's prophetic promises to Israel throughout scripture. Israel therefore, according to this doctrine, becomes an allegorical picture of the Church at large, or Church Universal. Though God certainly has magnificent plans for His Church at large, He yet has been, and continues to fulfill each and every prophetic promise to the nation ("house") of Israel.
In I Corinthians 6:19, our bodies are referred to as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We do in fact house� the Holy Spirit when we invite Christ Jesus to reign in our hearts as Lord and Savior of our lives. This was God's original design for us prior to the fall of man (i.e., Adam and Eve and temptation and blame). As the result of this fall, sin entered into our DNA, creating enmity, strife, hatred, malice and all manner of evil. The perfect solution for the decay of man was that of the perfect sacrifice--the crucifixion of God's only Son.
It is through the Cross of Christ that we are redeemed from a life of emptiness and vanity, a life devoid of any substantive and lasting peace and joy. As we then embrace our Lord and Savior through the work of the cross, the Holy Spirit enters our "temple."� Then begins His life-long task of restoring our personal "house." In the same way that God is magnificently restoring the House of Israel, He is also in the business restoring our personal houses.
As we are a temple of the Holy Spirit, we are also collectively, the Church. The Church, in the literal context, is that comprised of people, versus bricks and mortar. For Acts 7:48 reads, "The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands." The Church then, is the Body of Christ universal, as opposed to a given physical building. We have however, and that over a period of roughly 1,700 years, found fit to utilize commercial buildings in which to congregate. In so doing, we have come to call them "churches."� In the same way that each of our individual houses are undergoing restoration ongoing, so the Church universal is being restored to its originally intended design and beauty. For it is referred to as the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2).
As time marches forward, and as we continue to yield to the transforming work (house cleaning) of the Holy Spirit, we conform ongoing to a greater likeness of Christ Himself. As we do so, the buildings in which we meet ("churches"�) also take-on a greater likeness of Christ Himself.
The God of Restoration is in fact restoring His House. He is doing so very pointedly within the nation of Israel, and He is also doing so collectively, by individually restoring each of his sons and daughters who embrace Him as Father God.
It is my simple hope, that in and through my offerings on this site, I may speak a small dose of encouragement to you, that I may in some way further effect your personal restoration, that the House of the Lord at large may in turn be built up, strengthened and restored.
Sincerely,
David Davenport
In the larger context of Haggai chapter two, Haggai prophesies the rebuilding and restoration of the figurative "House of Israel" as a nation. This also came about in 1948. This event will meet with yet further fulfillment upon Christ's return to earth, to rule and reign for 1,000 years, with Jerusalem at the center of His earthly reign.
In contrast to the promise contained in Haggai 2:9, there presently exists a popular doctrine largely within what I call the "Americanized Church," known as "Replacement Theology." In essence, those who espouse this erroneous doctrine believe that the Church at large has replaced the nation of Israel with respect to God's prophetic promises to Israel throughout scripture. Israel therefore, according to this doctrine, becomes an allegorical picture of the Church at large, or Church Universal. Though God certainly has magnificent plans for His Church at large, He yet has been, and continues to fulfill each and every prophetic promise to the nation ("house") of Israel.
In I Corinthians 6:19, our bodies are referred to as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We do in fact house� the Holy Spirit when we invite Christ Jesus to reign in our hearts as Lord and Savior of our lives. This was God's original design for us prior to the fall of man (i.e., Adam and Eve and temptation and blame). As the result of this fall, sin entered into our DNA, creating enmity, strife, hatred, malice and all manner of evil. The perfect solution for the decay of man was that of the perfect sacrifice--the crucifixion of God's only Son.
It is through the Cross of Christ that we are redeemed from a life of emptiness and vanity, a life devoid of any substantive and lasting peace and joy. As we then embrace our Lord and Savior through the work of the cross, the Holy Spirit enters our "temple."� Then begins His life-long task of restoring our personal "house." In the same way that God is magnificently restoring the House of Israel, He is also in the business restoring our personal houses.
As we are a temple of the Holy Spirit, we are also collectively, the Church. The Church, in the literal context, is that comprised of people, versus bricks and mortar. For Acts 7:48 reads, "The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands." The Church then, is the Body of Christ universal, as opposed to a given physical building. We have however, and that over a period of roughly 1,700 years, found fit to utilize commercial buildings in which to congregate. In so doing, we have come to call them "churches."� In the same way that each of our individual houses are undergoing restoration ongoing, so the Church universal is being restored to its originally intended design and beauty. For it is referred to as the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2).
As time marches forward, and as we continue to yield to the transforming work (house cleaning) of the Holy Spirit, we conform ongoing to a greater likeness of Christ Himself. As we do so, the buildings in which we meet ("churches"�) also take-on a greater likeness of Christ Himself.
The God of Restoration is in fact restoring His House. He is doing so very pointedly within the nation of Israel, and He is also doing so collectively, by individually restoring each of his sons and daughters who embrace Him as Father God.
It is my simple hope, that in and through my offerings on this site, I may speak a small dose of encouragement to you, that I may in some way further effect your personal restoration, that the House of the Lord at large may in turn be built up, strengthened and restored.
Sincerely,
David Davenport