BBB Bible Series: Haggai? Who's That? Quiz

Answer: Feast or Festive

Not only did his name mean something closely akin to "festive", Haggai's prophecy occurred during the feast of the new moon at harvest time, and his time of birth may have likely occurred during a festival period such as the Feast of Tabernacles. The time of the book certainly focuses on that feast which occurred in the seventh month of the Jewish sacred calendar, Tishri.

Answer: Darius the First

Darius the First was also known as Darius the Great, and his name means something like "holding the good". He, along with Cyrus of Persia, succeeded in taking over the ancient city of Babylon. Darius was also responsible for creating a uniform monetary system and for establishing Aramaic as the official language of the region.
(Aramaic was the dialect that Jesus' earthly parents would have spoken.)

Answer: they had faced opposition from their enemies

Their enemies were almost relentless in their efforts to discourage God's chosen people from rebuilding the temple. (The books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Zechariah make reference to the difficulties faced by the Jewish people during this period of time as well.) Even though these books take place at different times of the re-occupation, a common theme of them all is the open and blatant opposition to the Jewish people's work of rebuilding the holy temple.

It is possible that their enemies may have sensed that if God's people were to rebuild their most important physical link to God, their willpower and strength would return, making them more formidable and harder to control.

Answer: to urge the Jews to rebuild the temple of worship

Encouraging the rebuilding of the temple was probably the single most important task facing Haggai and his fellow Jews at that time. It was not the first time, nor would it be the last that discouragement had to be overcome by the Jewish peoples.

Answer: Around 520 B.C.

Darius the First, also called Darius the Great, was the king of Persia from 521-486 B.C. and the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah both took place during that time.

Haggai was a contemporary of Daniel, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel and Jeremiah, who were also coming home from exile in Babylon (Assyria). Each of them had prophecies and work to do during the years of the returning Jews.

Answer: this is a comparison of Solomon's temple to a future temple built by God

In verse 3, God reminded Haggai of the former glory of His holy temple and asked "... is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?" (King James Version)

Later, in verse 9 we see, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."

Answer: All nations

"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts."

This is reminiscent of the kings of the nations that surrounded Israel during the time of Solomon. They brought all manner of gold, silver, brass, spices, and great wealth to contribute to the building of the temple of God. From all indications, the text says this will yet again occur at some time in the future, because Haggai's prophecy occurs after the time of Solomon's temple.

Answer: God told Haggai to tell the people to consider their ways

Beginning in verse 3 we see that, "Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house to lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways."
Verse 7 mirrors verse 5, almost verbatim - "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways."

Answer: God

In the ninth verse, it is noted that the glory of the temple yet-to-come will surpass that of Solomon's temple.

Answer: Zerubbabel

Christians believe that this was a Messianic prophecy, because Zerubbabel became the center of what they believe to be the Messianic line of Jesus -- uniting the families of both Mary, Jesus' mother, and Joseph, His earthly father. Both of these trace their lineage back to King David. In this view, Zerubbabel is like a signet ring, sealing both of these two branches together.