Haggai 2:7 refers to a messianic prophecy about the coming of Christ. The full verse says: “And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.” This verse points ahead to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises to bless all nations through Abraham’s offspring.
The Context of Haggai’s Prophecy
Haggai delivered his prophecies to the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon. They had come back to Judah and rebuilt the temple, but it paled in comparison to the former glory of Solomon’s temple. God sent Haggai to encourage the people to rebuild the temple. Haggai urged them on with the promise that God’s glory would return to fill this new temple.
Haggai 2 connects Christ’s coming with the rebuilding of the temple. The Lord shook the nations through the Persian ruler who allowed the Jews to return and rebuild. Haggai promised great blessings for this new temple, declaring “the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former” (Haggai 2:9). God’s glory would surpass even the spectacular glory seen in Solomon’s temple. How could this be? Because Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, would come to this temple.
The Divine Messiah Promised
In Haggai 2:6-7, the Lord Almighty promises to shake all the nations at some future time. As a result, “the desires of all nations” will come to fill God’s house with glory. The treasures of the nations will come streaming to Jerusalem to honor the Lord. Many see this as foretelling how Gentiles would later come to worship the God of Israel because of Jesus Christ.
The “desired of all nations” is a messianic title for Jesus. He is the ultimate object of desire for all peoples. Jesus is the divine Messiah promised to Israel and Savior of the world. The apostle Paul says God’s purpose was “to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus is the glory of God and hope of Jew and Gentile alike.
The author of Hebrews also quotes Haggai 2:6 when he writes about the superiority of Christ’s new covenant (Hebrews 12:26). The writer uses it to show that Christ brings the definitive shaking and change predicted by Haggai. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus accomplishes God’s final purposes and brings salvation to all who believe in Him.
Why Christ Is the Desired of All Nations
1. Jesus satisfies our deepest needs. All people long for purpose, love, forgiveness, inner peace, meaning, and hope. Our hearts ache for acceptance, belonging, and freedom from guilt. Jesus perfectly meets these universal longings in a way no one else can. He gives hope, healing, and wholeness to all who come to Him.
2. Jesus reveals God’s love to the world. He displays the mercy, grace, and compassion of God. At the cross, Christ absorbed the wrath we deserved so we could be forgiven. His love melts hard hearts and draws people from every nation to find new life in Him.
3. Jesus brings salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. God promised Abraham that through his offspring all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). The book of Revelation pictures people from every tribe and language worshiping Jesus, the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:9). Faith in Christ removes all divisions and unites believers in one family.
4. Jesus fulfills Messianic prophecies. Many Old Testament prophecies point to the coming Deliverer of Israel who would also be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus claimed to be the promised Messiah who would suffer, die, and rise again. His resurrection vindicated this claim, proving He was the desire of all nations foretold in Scripture.
5. Jesus offers eternal life to all. Faith in Christ allows people from all nations to become children of God destined for eternal life with Him. Whoever believes in Jesus will experience the abundant life He came to give now, and live forever in God’s presence after death. He alone provides the way to eternal salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.
6. Jesus is building His multiethnic church. Christ’s death tore down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). The book of Acts shows the gospel crossing barriers and bringingtogether diverse groups in the early church. Jesus is creating one new humanity in Himself through His reconciling work on the cross. All races find unity and oneness in Christ.
7. Jesus will be worshiped by a multiethnic throng in heaven. The book of Revelation pictures believers from every nation, tribe, people and language gathered around God’s throne. They sing praise to the Lamb of God who was slain, rejoicing in His salvation. Their diversity displays the unifying power of the gospel across all cultures.
8. Jesus aligns our hearts with God’s global mission. Christ’s love compels us to share the gospel with our neighbors across the street and nations across the ocean. As we delight in Jesus, our hearts enlarge to care about God’s worldwide redemption. We join Jesus in His mission to disciple all ethnicities until He returns.
In summary, Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills God’s promises to save, bless, and gather people from all nations to worship Him. He alone is the Lord and Savior who meets our deepest needs and gives everlasting life to all who believe. Christ is gloriously building His multiethnic church across the world. One day people from every tongue, tribe and nation will gather as the redeemed people of God, worshiping Jesus forever. Haggai’s prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is truly the desire and glory of all nations.
(word count: 902)