ProlepsisOpen in the graph →

Prophecy

The glory of the latter house will be greater than that of the former (Haggai 2:7-9)

The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple, artist’s impression by William Holman Hunt (1854-1860): the boy Jesus among the teachers of the second Temple.
Artist’s impression The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple, artist’s impression by William Holman Hunt (1854-1860): the boy Jesus among the teachers of the second Temple. — William Holman Hunt, Wikimedia Commons · Domaine public

● Written before, according to historians

Written 520 BC according to tradition; 520–515 BC according to historians. Event: c. 30–70 AD.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. The prophet Haggai, in the autumn of 520 BC, encourages the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and announces that “the glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former”.

What happened. King Herod the Great rebuilds and enlarges the Temple with splendor. The Gospels place Jesus's teaching in its courts, around AD 30. The Temple is burned by the Romans in 70 and has never been rebuilt.

What is still debated. the text speaks mainly of riches coming from the nations, so Herod's enlargement is enough to explain it without seeing in it the presence of the Messiah.

Why it is striking

The announcement went against the evidence of the moment, and it came true at least in the material sense, which is what Jewish tradition retains. Christians also read in it Jesus’s coming into this Temple: that is a reading, the text speaks mainly of treasures.

Main objection (in French for now)

Le texte parle explicitement de richesses : « les trésors de toutes les nations viendront », « l’argent est à moi, et l’or est à moi » (Ag 2:7-8). La gloire annoncée est d’abord matérielle, et l’agrandissement hérodien suffit à l’accomplir sans messie.

The text (World English Bible)

‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of Armies; ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of Armies.”

Hag 2:9

and I will shake all nations. The treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Armies.

Hag 2:7

Sources