Let All Glorify Jehovah!

“In the region of light they must glorify Jehovah.”—ISAIAH 24:15.

1. How was Jehovah’s name regarded by his prophets, contrasting with what attitude in Christendom today?

JEHOVAH—the illustrious name of God! How the faithful prophets of old rejoiced to speak in that name! With exultation they glorified their Sovereign Lord, Jehovah, whose name identifies him as the Great Purposer. (Isaiah 40:5; Jeremiah 10:6, 10; Ezekiel 36:23) Even the so-called minor prophets were most vocal in giving glory to Jehovah. One of these was Haggai. In the book of Haggai, made up of just 38 verses, God’s name is used 35 times. Such prophecy sounds lifeless when the precious name Jehovah is replaced by the title “Lord,” as the superfine apostles of Christendom render it in their Bible translations.—Compare 2 Corinthians 11:5.

2, 3. (a) How was one remarkable prophecy concerning Israel’s restoration fulfilled? (b) In what joy did the Jewish remnant and their companions share?

² At Isaiah 12:2, a double form of the name is used.a The prophet declares: “Look! God is my salvation. I shall trust and be in no dread; for Jah Jehovah is my strength and my might, and he came to be the salvation of me.” (See also Isaiah 26:4.) Thus, some 200 years before Israel’s release from Babylonish captivity, Jah Jehovah through his prophet Isaiah was giving assurance that he was their mighty Savior. That captivity was to last from 607 to 537 B.C.E. Isaiah also wrote: “I, Jehovah, am doing everything, . . . the One saying of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and all that I delight in he will completely carry out’; even in my saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘You will have your foundation laid.’” Who was this Cyrus? Remarkably, he proved to be King Cyrus of Persia, who conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.E.—Isaiah 44:24, 28.

³ True to Jehovah’s words recorded by Isaiah, Cyrus issued to captive Israel the decree: “Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God prove to be with him. So let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of Jehovah the God of Israel—he is the true God—which was in Jerusalem.” A supremely happy Jewish remnant along with the non-Israelite Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon returned to Jerusalem. They arrived in time to celebrate the Festival of Booths in 537 B.C.E. and make sacrifices to Jehovah at his altar. The next year, in the second month, they laid the foundation of the second temple, amid loud shouts of joy and praise to Jehovah.—Ezra 1:1-4; 2:1, 2, 43, 55; 3:1-6, 8, 10-13.

4. How did Isaiah chapters 35 and 55 become a reality?

⁴ Jehovah’s restoration prophecy was to be gloriously fulfilled in Israel: “The wilderness and the waterless region will exult, and the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron. . . . There will be those who will see the glory of Jehovah, the splendor of our God.” “With rejoicing you people will go forth, and with peace you will be brought in. The mountains and the hills themselves will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry . . . And it must become for Jehovah something famous, a sign to time indefinite that will not be cut off.”—Isaiah 35:1, 2; 55:12, 13.

5. Why was Israel’s joy short-lived?

⁵ However, that joy was short-lived. Neighboring peoples sought an interfaith alliance for building the temple. The Jews at first stood their ground, declaring: “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God, for we ourselves shall together build to Jehovah the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” Those neighbors now became bitter opposers. They “were continually weakening the hands of the people of Judah and disheartening them from building.” They also misrepresented the situation to Cyrus’ successor, Artaxerxes, who issued a ban on the temple building. (Ezra 4:1-24) For 17 years the work lapsed. Unhappily, the Jews fell into a materialistic way of life during that time.

“Jehovah of Armies” Speaks

6. (a) How did Jehovah respond to the situation in Israel? (b) What is the apparent meaning of Haggai’s name?

⁶ Even so, Jehovah displayed ‘his strength and his might’ in Israel’s behalf by sending prophets, notably Haggai and Zechariah, to awaken the Jews to their responsibilities. Haggai’s name has a festal connection, for it appears to mean “Born on a Festival.” He began to prophesy on the first day of the sixth month, shortly before the Festival of Booths, when the Jews were required to “become nothing but joyful.” (Deuteronomy 16:15) Through Haggai, Jehovah delivered four messages over a period of 112 days.—Haggai 1:1; 2:1, 10, 20.

7. How should Haggai’s opening words encourage us?

⁷ Introducing his prophecy, Haggai said: “This is what Jehovah of armies has said.” (Haggai 1:2a) Who might those “armies” be? They are Jehovah’s angelic hosts, sometimes referred to in the Bible as military forces. (Job 1:6; 2:1; Psalm 103:20, 21; Matthew 26:53) Does it not encourage us today that the Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself is using these invincible celestial forces to direct our work of restoring true worship in the earth?—Compare 2 Kings 6:15-17.

8. What outlook had affected Israel, and with what result?

⁸ What was the content of Haggai’s first message? The people had said: “The time has not come, the time of the house of Jehovah, for it to be built.” No longer was temple construction, representing the restoration of divine worship, their first concern. They had turned to building palatial homes for themselves. A materialistic outlook had diminished their enthusiasm for Jehovah’s worship. As a result, his blessing had been removed. Their fields were no longer fruitful, and they lacked clothing for the harsh wintertime. Their income had become meager, and it was as though they were putting money in a bag full of holes.—Haggai 1:2b-6.

9. What strong, upbuilding admonition did Jehovah provide?

⁹ Twice, Jehovah gave the strong admonition: “Set your heart upon your ways.” Evidently, Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem, and high priest Joshuab responded and valiantly encouraged all the people “to listen to the voice of Jehovah their God, and to the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people began to fear because of Jehovah.” Moreover, “Haggai the messenger of Jehovah went on to say to the people according to the messenger’s commission from Jehovah, saying: ‘“I am with you people,” is the utterance of Jehovah.’”—Haggai 1:5, 7-14.

10. How did Jehovah use his power in Israel’s behalf?

¹⁰ Some old-timers in Jerusalem might have reckoned that the glory of the rebuilt temple would be “nothing” in comparison with that of the former temple. However, about 51 days later, Jehovah moved Haggai to declare a second message. He proclaimed: “‘Be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and be strong, O Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and work. For I am with you people,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies. . . . ‘Do not be afraid.’” Jehovah, who in due course would use his almighty power to ‘rock heaven and earth,’ saw to it that all opposition, even an imperial ban, was overcome. Within five years the temple building was brought to grand success.—Haggai 2:3-6.

11. How did God fill the second temple with ‘greater glory’?

¹¹ A remarkable promise was then fulfilled: “‘The desirable things of all the nations must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” (Haggai 2:7) Those “desirable things” proved to be non-Israelites who came to worship at that temple, as it reflected the glory of his majestic presence. How did this rebuilt temple compare with that constructed in Solomon’s day? God’s prophet declared: “‘Greater will the glory of this later house become than that of the former,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” (Haggai 2:9) In the initial fulfillment of the prophecy, the rebuilt temple remained longer than the first house. It was still standing when Messiah appeared in 29 C.E. Further, before his apostate enemies had him murdered in 33 C.E., Messiah himself brought it glory when he preached truth there.

12. What purpose did the first two temples serve?

¹² The first and second temples in Jerusalem served a vital purpose in foreshadowing important features of Messiah’s priestly service and in keeping Jehovah’s pure worship alive in the earth until Messiah’s actual appearance.—Hebrews 10:1.

The Glorious Spiritual Temple

13. (a) What events with regard to the spiritual temple took place from 29 to 33 C.E.? (b) What essential role did Jesus’ ransom sacrifice play in these developments?

¹³ Does Haggai’s restoration prophecy have special meaning for later times? It certainly does! The rebuilt temple in Jerusalem became the focus of all true worship on earth. But it prefigured a far more glorious spiritual temple. This began to function in 29 C.E. when, at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, Jehovah anointed Jesus as High Priest, holy spirit descending upon him like a dove. (Matthew 3:16) After Jesus had completed his earthly ministry in sacrificial death, he was resurrected to heaven, pictured by the Most Holy of the temple, and there he presented to Jehovah the merit of his sacrifice. This served as a ransom, covering the sins of his disciples, and opened the way for anointing them, on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., as underpriests in Jehovah’s spiritual temple. Their faithful ministry to the death in the temple courtyard on earth would lead to a future heavenly resurrection, for continued priestly service.

14. (a) What joy accompanied the zealous activity of the early Christian congregation? (b) Why was this rejoicing short-lived?

¹⁴ Thousands of repentant Jews—and later Gentiles—flocked to that Christian congregation and shared in declaring the good news of God’s coming Kingdom rule over earth. After some 30 years, the apostle Paul could state that the good news had been preached “in all creation that is under heaven.” (Colossians 1:23) But following the death of the apostles, a great apostasy set in, and the light of truth began to flicker. Genuine Christianity was overshadowed by Christendom’s sectarianism, based on pagan teachings and philosophies.—Acts 20:29, 30.

15, 16. (a) How was prophecy fulfilled in 1914? (b) What ingathering marked the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

¹⁵ Centuries passed. Then in the 1870’s, a group of sincere Christians began to engage in a penetrating study of the Bible. From Scripture, they were able to pinpoint the year 1914 as marking the conclusion of “the appointed times of the nations.” It was then that seven symbolic “times” (2,520 years of beastlike human rule) ended with the heavenly enthronement of Christ Jesus—the One having “the legal right” as earth’s Messianic King. (Luke 21:24; Daniel 4:25; Ezekiel 21:26, 27) Particularly from 1919 onward, these Bible Students, known today as Jehovah’s Witnesses, have been engaged in vigorously spreading throughout the earth the good news of the incoming Kingdom. It was in 1919 that a few thousand of these answered the call to action that was issued at the convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. They increased in number down to the year 1935 when 56,153 reported field service. In that year, 52,465 had partaken of the emblems of bread and wine at the annual Memorial of Jesus’ death, thus symbolizing their hope of becoming priests with Christ Jesus in the heavenly part of Jehovah’s great spiritual temple. They are to serve with him also as associate kings in his Messianic Kingdom.—Luke 22:29, 30; Romans 8:15-17.

¹⁶ However, Revelation 7:4-8 and Re 14:1-4 show that the total number of these anointed Christians is limited to 144,000, many of whom were gathered in during the first century before the great apostasy set in. From the end of the 19th century and on into the 20th, Jehovah has been completing the gathering of this group who are cleansed by the water of his Word, declared righteous through faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, and finally sealed as anointed Christians to make up the full number of 144,000.

17. (a) What ingathering has proceeded since the 1930’s? (b) Why is John 3:30 of interest here? (See also Luke 7:28.)

¹⁷ What follows when the entire number of anointed ones has been chosen? In 1935, at a landmark convention in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., it was made known that the “great crowd” of Revelation 7:9-17 was a group to be recognized “after” the 144,000 and whose destiny is everlasting life in a paradise earth. After clearly identifying the anointed Jesus, John the Baptizer, whose resurrection will be on earth as one of the “other sheep,” said of Messiah: “That one must go on increasing, but I must go on decreasing.” (John 1:29; 3:30; 10:16; Matthew 11:11) John the Baptizer’s work of preparing disciples for Messiah was ending as Jesus then took over the selection of an increasing number who would be among the 144,000. In the 1930’s the reverse took place. A decreasing number were “called and chosen” to be among the 144,000 whereas a tremendous increase began in the number of the “great crowd” of “other sheep.” This great crowd continues to multiply as the world’s wicked system nears its end at Armageddon.—Revelation 17:14b.

18. (a) Why can we confidently expect that “millions now living will never die”? (b) Why should we zealously heed Haggai 2:4?

¹⁸ In the early 1920’s, a featured public talk presented by Jehovah’s Witnesses was entitled “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” This may have reflected overoptimism at that time. But today that statement can be made with full confidence. Both the increasing light on Bible prophecy and the anarchy of this dying world cry out that the end of Satan’s system is very, very near! The Memorial report for 1996 shows that 12,921,933 attended, of whom only 8,757 (.068 percent) indicated their heavenly hope by partaking of the emblems. The restoration of true worship nears completion. But let us never slack the hand in that work. Yes, Haggai 2:4 states: “‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and work. For I am with you people,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.” May we be determined that no strains of materialism or worldliness will ever dampen our zeal for Jehovah’s work!—1 John 2:15-17.

19. How may we share in the fulfillment of Haggai 2:6, 7?

¹⁹ Joyous is our privilege of sharing in the modern-day fulfillment of Haggai 2:6, 7: “This is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘Yet once—it is a little while—and I am rocking the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry ground. And I will rock all the nations, and the desirable things of all the nations must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” Greed, corruption, and hatred are running rampant throughout this 20th-century world. It is indeed in its last days, and Jehovah has already begun to “rock” it by having his Witnesses ‘proclaim his day of vengeance.’ (Isaiah 61:2) This preliminary rocking will climax with the world’s destruction at Armageddon, but before that time, Jehovah is drawing out for his service “the desirable things of all the nations”—the meek, sheeplike people of earth. (John 6:44) This “great crowd” now ‘renders sacred service’ in the earthly courtyard of his house of worship.—Revelation 7:9, 15.

20. Where is the most precious treasure to be found?

²⁰ Service in Jehovah’s spiritual temple brings gain more precious than any material treasure. (Proverbs 2:1-6; 3:13, 14; Matthew 6:19-21) Moreover, Haggai 2:9 states: “‘Greater will the glory of this later house become than that of the former,’ Jehovah of armies has said. ‘And in this place I shall give peace,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.” What do these words mean for us today? Our next article will tell.

The Greater Glory of Jehovah’s House

“‘I will fill this house with glory,’ Jehovah of armies has said.”—HAGGAI 2:7.

1. How is holy spirit related to faith and work?

WHILE preaching from house to house, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses met a Pentecostal lady who commented, ‘We have holy spirit, but you are the ones doing the work.’ Tactfully, it was explained to her that one who has holy spirit will, as a matter of course, be motivated to do God’s work. James 2:17 states: “Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.” With the help of Jehovah’s spirit, his Witnesses have cultivated strong faith, and he has ‘filled his house with glory’ by setting them to doing righteous works—principally ‘preaching this good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.’ When this work is done to Jehovah’s satisfaction, “then the end will come.”—Matthew 24:14.

2. (a) Immersing ourselves in Jehovah’s work will bring what blessing? (b) Why should we be happy about any apparent “delay”?

² From these words of Jesus, we gather that our work today must focus on preaching to others “the glorious good news of the happy God,” with which we are entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:11) The more we happily immerse ourselves in Jehovah’s service, the faster the end will appear to come. At Habakkuk 2:2, 3, we read Jehovah’s words: “Write down the vision, and set it out plainly upon tablets, in order that the one reading aloud from it may do so fluently. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late.” Yes, “the vision” will come true “even if it should delay.” In this the 83rd year of Jesus’ Kingdom rule, some may feel that we are in a period of delay right now. Should we not be happy, though, that the end has not yet come? During this decade of the 1990’s, restrictions on preaching the good news have been lifted, miraculously it would seem, in Eastern Europe, parts of Africa, and other lands. The apparent “delay” is allowing time for many more “sheep” to be gathered from these territories that have recently opened up.—John 10:16.

3. Why should our updated understanding on “this generation” stimulate us to be at God’s work urgently?

³ “It will not be late,” says the prophet. Jesus said that the present wicked generation would not pass away until “all these things occur.” (Matthew 24:34) Does our updated understanding of his words mean that our preaching activity is not so pressing?a The facts show that just the opposite is the case! Our contemporary generation is plunging into a state of wickedness and corruption unparalleled in all previous history. (Compare Acts 2:40.) We should be at our work urgently. (2 Timothy 4:2) All the prophecies on the timing of the great tribulation show that it will come suddenly, instantly, stealthily—like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; Revelation 3:3; 16:15) “On this account you too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.” (Matthew 24:44) As this godless generation of mankind hovers on the brink of annihilation, surely we should not want to throw away our precious hope of eternal life by returning to “rolling in the mire” of worldly distractions!—2 Peter 2:22; 3:10; Luke 21:32-36.

4. What situation has called for increased supplies of “food at the proper time,” and how has this need been met?

⁴ True to Jesus’ prophecy, in 1914 there was “a beginning of pangs of distress” as mankind entered “the conclusion of the system of things.” Sorrows, catastrophic events, and lawlessness have multiplied down to this day. (Matthew 24:3-8, 12) At the same time, Jehovah has commissioned the anointed faithful and discreet slave class to provide spiritual “food at the proper time” for the household of their Master, Christ. (Matthew 24:45-47) From his throne in the heavens, this Messianic King is now directing a marvelous spiritual feeding program throughout the earth.

Plentiful “Food Supplies”

5. The basic item of “food” is receiving what attention?

⁵ Consider the preparation of “food supplies.” (Luke 12:42) The basic item on the Christian menu is God’s Word, the Bible. To teach the Bible effectively, a readable, accurate translation is a primary need. Over the years this need has been progressively fulfilled, especially starting in 1950 when the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was released in English. By 1961 the New World Translation of the entire Bible had become available, and editions soon appeared in other principal languages. The 3 volumes released during the 1996 service year bring the total up to 27, of which 14 are the complete Bible. In order to handle this work on the Bible, as well as on Bible helps, some 1,174 dedicated Christians are now working full-time on translation in 77 countries.

6. How has the Society met the demand for Bible publications?

⁶ Backing up the work of this army of translators, the Watch Tower Society’s 24 printing branches have been producing publications in ever greater volume. To this end, additional high-speed rotary presses continue to be installed in principal branches. Production of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines has grown month by month, reaching a combined total of 943,892,500 copies, a 13.4-percent increase for the year. Total production of Bibles and hardbound books in the United States, Brazil, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Mexico alone has increased by 40 percent from 1995 to 76,760,098 copies in 1996. Other branches have also made a considerable contribution to the overall increase in literature production.

7. How does Isaiah 54:2 take on greater urgency now?

⁷ Much of the increase has been made necessary during the 1990’s by the removal of restrictions on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eastern Europe and Africa. The hunger for spiritual food is great in these places. Therefore the call sounds forth with ever greater urgency: “Make the place of your tent more spacious. And let them stretch out the tent cloths of your grand tabernacle. Do not hold back. Lengthen out your tent cords, and make those tent pins of yours strong.”—Isaiah 54:2.

8. What generous response is helping to provide financial support?

⁸ Thus, it has been necessary to expand facilities in many of the Society’s 104 branches. Because of the harsh economic conditions in most newly opened territories, a large part of the expense for this expansion is being covered by contributions to the worldwide work from more affluent lands. Happily, congregations and individuals have been responding wholeheartedly, in the spirit of Exodus 35:21: “Then they came, everyone whose heart impelled him, and they brought, everyone whose spirit incited him, Jehovah’s contribution for the work.” We take this opportunity to thank all who have been sharing in this generous giving.—2 Corinthians 9:11.

9. How is Romans 10:13, 18 being fulfilled today?

⁹ During 1996 the publications of the Watch Tower Society have indeed glorified Jehovah’s name and purposes to the ends of the earth. It is just as the apostle Paul foretold. Quoting Joel’s prophecy and the 19th Psalm, he wrote: “‘Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.’ Nevertheless I ask, They did not fail to hear, did they? Why, in fact, ‘into all the earth their sound went out, and to the extremities of the inhabited earth their utterances.’” (Romans 10:13, 18) By thus extolling the precious name Jehovah, his people have played a significant part in filling his house of worship with glory. How, though, has this proclamation prospered specifically during 1996? Please examine the chart that follows on pages 18 to 21.

Harvesting Worldwide

10. What outstanding features do you note in the activity of Jehovah’s people, as summarized in the chart on pages 18 to 21?

¹⁰ Never have Jesus’ words found at Luke 10:2 carried greater force: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” Are you responding to that call? Millions around the earth are. This is borne out by the new peak of 5,413,769 Kingdom publishers who reported field service during 1996. Further, 366,579 new brothers and sisters were baptized. How we treasure these “desirable things of all the nations,” who now share in ‘filling Jehovah’s house of worship with glory’!—Haggai 2:7.

11. Why do all of us have reason to be overjoyed?

¹¹ Reports of expansion in newly opened fields are nothing short of phenomenal. Are others of us envious of those who now enjoy such growth? On the contrary, we rejoice with them. All countries had small beginnings. Haggai’s contemporary prophet, Zechariah, wrote: “Who has despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10) We are overjoyed that in lands where the witness work is well established, there are now millions of Kingdom publishers, and territory is covered often, even every week in many large cities. Do we have reason to slack the hand while Jehovah now extends the opportunity for salvation to areas formerly disadvantaged? Never! “The field is the world,” said Jesus. (Matthew 13:38) A thorough witness must continue to be given, just as the early disciples gave a thorough witness at the conclusion of the Jewish system of things.—Acts 2:40; 10:42; 20:24; 28:23.

Moving Ever Forward

12. What incentive do we have to move “straight forward”? (See also box, “Harvesting ‘From the Extremity of the Earth.’”)

¹² Yes, we must keep pace, moving “straight forward” with the angelic celestial chariot of Jehovah. (Ezekiel 1:12) We have in mind the words of Peter: “Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Let the exemplary zeal of our brothers in economically poor lands spur us on. Any apparent delay in the outbreak of Armageddon is allowing for hundreds of thousands to be gathered in these lands as well as many in well-worked territories. Make no mistake about it: “The great day of Jehovah is near. It is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much.” (Zephaniah 1:14) There should be hurrying on our part too in giving a thorough final witness!

13, 14. (a) What can be said of the distribution of publications during 1996? (b) What special plans may congregations make each year, and how are you planning to have a share?

¹³ Though the details do not appear in the service chart, there has been noteworthy increase in the distribution of Bibles, books, and magazines during the past year. For example, magazine placements worldwide showed a 19-percent increase, a total of 543,667,923 copies being placed. Our magazines lend themselves to versatile preaching—on streets, in parks, at bus stops, in business areas. Reports indicate that in some territories saturated by Kingdom preaching, professional people have been impressed by the quality of our magazines and are accepting Bible studies.

¹⁴ Each year during the month of April, congregations usually organize special magazine activity, featuring a day-long campaign from house to house and in public places. Will your congregation share in this during April 1997? Outstanding April issues of The Watchtower and Awake! have been prepared, and their simultaneous presentation worldwide should certainly make its mark! In the island of Cyprus, the congregations, taking as their slogan “reach everyone possible with the Kingdom message,” even followed through every month with such scheduled magazine work, reaching a new peak of 275,359 placed for the year, a 54-percent increase.

Haggai’s Final Messages

15. (a) Why did Jehovah send further messages through Haggai? (b) What lesson should Haggai’s third message convey to us?

¹⁵ Jehovah sent Haggai, 63 days after he had conveyed his second message, with a third proclamation that we can well take to heart today. Haggai spoke as though the Jews were then laying the temple foundation, which they had actually laid 17 years earlier. Once again Jehovah saw fit to conduct a cleansing. Priests and people had slackened off and so were unclean in Jehovah’s sight. Could it be that some of Jehovah’s people have slackened their hands today, even involving themselves in the world’s permissive and materialistic ways? It is urgent that all of us set our hearts “from this day and forward” on bringing glory to Jehovah’s name, confident of his promise: “From this day I shall bestow blessing.”—Haggai 2:10-19; Hebrews 6:11, 12.

16. What “rocking” is near at hand, and what will result?

¹⁶ On that same day, the word of “Jehovah of armies” came to Haggai a fourth and final time. He made known what is involved in His “rocking the heavens and the earth,” saying: “I shall certainly overthrow the throne of kingdoms and annihilate the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariot and its riders, and the horses and their riders will certainly come down, each one by the sword of his brother.” (Haggai 2:6, 21, 22) The “rocking” will thus reach its climax when Jehovah completely cleanses the earth at Armageddon. By then “the desirable things of all the nations” will have come in, to form a nucleus of human society for the new world. What reasons for rejoicing and giving praise to Jehovah!—Haggai 2:7; Revelation 19:6, 7; 21:1-4.

17. How has Jesus been set as a “seal ring”?

¹⁷ Concluding his prophecy, Haggai writes: “‘In that day,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies, ‘I shall take you, O Zerubbabel . . . , and I shall certainly set you as a seal ring, because you are the one whom I have chosen,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.” (Haggai 2:23) Christ Jesus is now Jehovah’s antitypical Messianic King and High Priest, combining in the heavens the offices that Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua occupied separately in the earthly Jerusalem. Like an official seal ring on Jehovah’s right hand, Jesus is the one who has become “Yes” as Jehovah’s instrument in bringing to reality the many “promises of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20; Ephesians 3:10, 11; Revelation 19:10) The entire prophetic message of the Bible focuses on Jehovah’s provision of Christ as King and priestly Ransomer.—John 18:37; 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

18. How will the concluding “utterance of Jehovah of armies” have refreshing fulfillment?

¹⁸ Truly in this our day, the greatest glory is to be found in Jehovah’s radiant spiritual temple! And soon, after Jehovah has swept away all of Satan’s system, Haggai 2:9 will have further delightful fulfillment: “‘In this place I shall give peace,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.” Peace at last!—an enduring, universal peace, guaranteed by Jehovah’s “seal ring,” Christ Jesus, the “Prince of Peace,” of whom it is written: “To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end . . . The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7) For all eternity the glory of Jehovah’s house of worship will be reflected throughout the peaceful realm of his universal sovereignty. May we ever remain in that house!—Psalm 27:4; 65:4; 84:10.